Voice of Asia E-paper March 29, 2019 by VoiceOf Asia

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FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

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Modi declares India 'space superpower' as satellite downed by missile

Hanmi Bank celebrates grand opening of HoustonChinatown branch

India's downing of a satellite was broadcast live across the country (AFP Photo/ NARINDER NANU) by Jalees Andrabi

EW DELHI, India | AFP | Thursday 3/27/2019 - India said it had destroyed a low-orbiting satellite in a missile test that proved the nation was among the world's most advanced space powers. In a rare address to the nation on Wednesday, just weeks before a national election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had joined the United States, Russia and China in accomplishing the feat. A missile fired from a testing facil-

ity in Odisha, eastern India, downed the satellite at an altitude of around 300 kilometres (185 miles) in "a difficult operation" that lasted around three minutes, Modi said. "This is a proud moment for India," Modi added, in his first televised national address since late 2016. "India has registered its name in the list of space superpowers. Until now, only three countries had achieved this feat." Continued on Page 10

Van Gogh survey opened at MFAH

Ribbon Cutting Picture from Left to Right: Mohammad Tariq, Hanmi - EVP, Regional Chief Banking Officer, William Yeh, David Shin, C.G. Kum, Hanmi - Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Le, Senior, Harry Shani, Kenneth Lee, Annie Chang, Hanmi - Chinatown Branch Manager. Photo credit: Hanmi Bank

by Shobana Muratee

from March 10 to June 27, 2019

Vincent van Gogh: His Life in Art explores the artist through rarely loaned paintings and drawings Light and Color in the South from throughout the decade of his career READ on Page 6

OUSTON - Hanmi Bank celebrated the grand opening of its new HoustonChinatown branch on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

“Houston-Chinatown branch is a strategically important branch that will enable us to actively market our products and services in the Houston region. We hope to grow together with the community,” he said in his welcoming remark.

Hanmi CEO C. G. Kum and Regional Chief Banking Officer Mohammad Tariq hosted the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the branch which opened in December 2018.

“I refer to this branch as Texas headquarters of Hanmi Bank because of the business opportunities and our ongoing focus, and an emphasis on

the investment that we are going to make in Houston and Dallas,” Kum said. About 150 guests including VIP customers and the community leaders from Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and South Asian communities attended the event to celebrate the grand opening, which was followed by reContinued on Page 5

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FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Mueller’s Investigation creates a puzzle that needs intervention by US Congress

Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Susan Pothanikat Priyan Mathew Satish Philip

nal conduct. Dr. Chandra Mittal by Chandra K. Mittal, Ph.D.

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

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

hile President Donald Trump, in his hyperbolical demeanor, might have declared Robert Mueller Investigation Report on his purported involvement with Russian Interference in 2016 Presidential Election as a “total and complete” exoneration, in really it is anything but that. When ones close advisers and associates in an enterprise (i.e. 2016 campaign) are indicted and imprisoned for lying to a federal agency like FBI, one can’t declare himself innocent and exonerated. It is true that Mueller did not or could not indict the President of collusion with the Russians, he did not “exonerate” the President of his involvement in the “obstruction of justice”. This charge has been indeed dismissed by the Attorney General William Barr, a political appointee, who was already opposed to the Mueller’s Russian probe and who (predictably) did not find enough legal grounds to charge President Trump of “obstruction of justice”.

Fact also remains that President Trump, the principal subject of the Russian probe, could not be personally interviewed by prosecutor Robert Mueller due to noncooperation and reluctance of the Attorney General who is member of the Executive branch of the government and had authority over Robert Mueller actions. In essence this conflict of interest by the AG and inability of Mueller to interview the President might have impacted the whole complexion of the probe and the conclusions derived from it. Under these circumstance Donald Trump can hardly claim exoneration in public opinion when many of his close campaign associates are either indicted of crimes or are headed to serve the jail time for their crimi-

The Mueller Report Summary as conveyed by US Attorney General Willian Barr to the United States Congress is as murky as it is evasive. It does not answer with clarity (perhaps purposely) whether President Trump indeed committed obstruction of justice. The report lacks final prosecutorial judgement by Special Counsel Mueller. He instead left it to the Attorney General William Barr or the United States Congress to make the final determination on President Trump’s culpability in any criminal act. The quotation from Mueller’s Report “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him” as conveyed by AG Barr to the US Congress, is indeed a lightning rod and intriguing as it creates serious doubts and casts aspersions on Robert Mueller’s independence in carrying out the investigation, which might have prevented him from issuing a definitive conclusion on the criminality. It could also be that Robert Mueller was inductively influenced by the Attorney General or felt his hands tied due to Department of Justice (DOJ) rules that a sitting President could not be indicted of a crime, which prompted him to issue such a statement about the President. In either case, Robert Mueller’s Reports does not look objective. Lack of clarity in Robert Mueller’s conclusions about Donald Trump’s role in the obstruction of justice, his inability to interview President Trump, suspected manipulations and exoneration of President by the Attorney General on technical grounds, and indictments and/or imprisonment of sev-

eral Donald Trump’s campaign associates in the Russian probe have all created a national crisis of public confidence in the government and its custodians. It is hard for many Americans to believe how the principal subject (Donald Trump) of the probe could be innocent when his campaign associates have been punished for lying to the federal investigators and committing crimes. Does one ever lie if not to mask the truth? Hence, Americans in overwhelming numbers are asking for full disclosure of Mueller report in the interest of complete transparency. It is only for reasons of transparency as well as the oversight functions of the US Congress over the Executive branch that Congress unanimously passed a bill for public release of the Mueller Report even before Mueller report came out. But now with Mueller’s decision not to exonerate President Trump has complicated the matter and has given further impetus and rationale to US Congress to resolve the puzzle of “obstruction of justice” by the President. So, now Congress is demanding the US Attorney General to provide supporting documents and investigative data used by him or Robert Mueller to reach the conclusions on the whole investigation. On his part President Trump, his supporters and the conservative media continue to claim complete and total exoneration on both the collusion and obstruction of justice charges, which is not compatible with the view of majority Democrats in the Congress. And such opposite stands by the President and the Congress are likely to result in a long-drawn battle between the two sides for the

Mueller investigation documents that are all controlled by the Executive branch, and are not likely to be shared without Court’s intervention. Fact also remains that since the election of 2016 Republican majority in both House and Senate and control of Presidency led the country by alienating the Democrats. Now that Democrats have majority in the House, they are trying to settle some old scores. However, both behaviors are destructive and unacceptable. It is not since 1974, when President Richard Nixon resigned in disgraced due to obstruction of justice, that America has witnessed such a chaotic and unruly political environment which President Gerald Ford later called “national nightmare”. America can’t afford another “nightmare” in current times when the world looks up to it for both moral and political leadership. It is, therefore, perhaps time for both the Democrats and Republicans to shed the politics of revenge and retribution, and rise above the partisanship in national interest. Both parties need to come together to create an independent commission to look at all the oddities in the Robert Mueller investigation and settle/resolve them in a bipartisan manner. Only such constructive and positive approach and bipartisan spirit can bring political peace in America.

Dr. Chandra Mittal is Professor at Houston Community College, Op-Ed Columnist, and Co-Founder of Indo-American Association (IAA)-Houston. He can be reached at drckmittal@yahoo.com

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Section 1

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FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

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IACAN holds activity day for cancer survivors

ne of the major goals of IACAN is to support cancer survivors and their care givers. This provides a buddy system so survivors and their care givers get to share their experiences and hardship and thus come to know that they are not alone in this hard journey. In the survivor activities, they share good nutritional tips for good health, modified exercises, and other valuable information about different resources that are available in the community. IACAN chooses therapeutic activities that would benefit survivors such as painting, yoga, and music and other activities that would help to ease the mind and give them a sense of wellbeing. . Thus, IACAN provides emotional support, psychological and medical support such as second opinions to them. One such activity was held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Udupi, Sugar Land, TX.

of happiness and calm. The audience experienced all these benefits at the music concert conducted by Mrs. Mani Sastri and Mr. Krishna Prasad of Nada VInoda Music Academy. These two artists are not new to our IACAN. They had a fantastic music program last year and due to popular demand, they graciously agreed to treat us this year as well. These artists happily support IACAN by conducting music concerts for the survivors and care givers. Today’s program exceeded the expectations of everyone. These singers put their heart and soul when they perform. They choose the best songs – both new and old and fill the hall with nostalgia. Every song is selected with great thought, compassion and ex-

Music concert presented by Mrs. Mani Sastri and Mr. Krishna Prasad of Nada VInoda Music Academy.

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Rituals Performed: Sreemantham, Punyahavachanam, Namakaranam, Annaprashanam, Vidyarambham, Choulam, Upanayanam, Wedding, Sathya narayana puja, and all kind of Homas (Havans) and more. I can drive to your place. More than 30 years of experience as Priest in major temples including Sri Meenakshi Temple Pearland, TX. Can speak 5 languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English)

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No program is complete without food. We had tasty appetizers with hot tea. We were treated with sumptuous dinner in the mid program. Everyone enjoyed the meals and as you know the food tastes great when you are sharing with your friends. The music continued after the dinner and when Mani announced the last song, no one wanted her to stop the program. Someone at the audience said that he has attended several music programs and Mani and Krishna’s performance was

the best he had the pleasure of attending. A heartfelt thanks to Vibhutiben, one of our board members for arranging this wonderful program. Thank you President, Arlene and all the board members who in spite of your busy schedule come and support these programs. IACAN has a lot more wonderful programs in the pipe line. Please check our website and let us know what kind of programs you would be interested in attending. Let us know your thoughts so we can bring more programs that are relevant to you. IACAN contact information: iacannetwork@gmail. com; www.iacannetwork.org Phone: 713 370 3489

Property Tax Information Sessions Scheduled OUSTON — The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) and the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office are hosting a series of Property Tax Workshops to help homeowners understand the property tax system.

A section of the audience at Udupi Sugar Land.

cellent taste. So, it is no wonder, the audience enjoyed these songs to the fullest. The program was so enthralling, the participants took on the dance floor and danced for a couple of songs. This was an amazing performance.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for homeowners to get their questions answered and to make sure they are receiving all the exemptions they are entitled to,” said Roland Altinger, HCAD’s chief appraiser. “Knowing their options on the various ways to file a protest could help homeowners

reduce their tax burden.” Experts from the Harris County Appraisal District and the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office will give a short presentation on the property appraisal process and the Texas property tax system at the workshops. After the presentation, homeowners will be able to ask representatives from the Tax Office and HCAD specific questions about their property. “My office is collaborating with HCAD to present these Property Tax Workshops throughout the county to make it more convenient for residents to get their questions answered

without coming to the tax office,” said Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett. “Helping homeowners understand the payment options, the deadlines and the interest and penalties added to their bill if they miss those deadlines could help them save money.” The Property Tax Workshops are scheduled during the day and early evening at various locations throughout the county. A complete workshop schedule is available on www.hcad.org under “About > Calendar” and www.tax.co.harris.tx.us under “Property Tax > Workshops.”

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 4

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Dr. Milan Vaishnav, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to speak on India's 2019 General Elections

Vibha Holi 2019 blending Culture, Color and Cause

Vibha Holi revelers celebrate the Festival of Colors on the grounds of India House. Photo credit: Murali Santhana

Dr. Milan Vaishnav

oli - the Indian Festival of colors signifies the advent of spring, the victory of good over evil, the joy of friendship, and equality for all. On Saturday, March 16th, on the grounds of India House, we saw a perfect blend of it all at Vibha Holi 2019. Despite the weather, the grounds were awash with color as a crowd of almost 2000 people of different ages, nationalities and ethnicities came together and celebrated Holi. Amid music and dancing, there was merriment and laughter as colors and water rose in the air representing the celebration of oneness across communities. Organized by Vibha, in association with Tara Energy, the event was hosted by the rocking team of DJ Dholi Deep and Malikka Ghei. The five-hour free event included live per-

OUSTON - The largest democracy on planet earth, India is going to polls next month on 11th to elect a new government. India's electorates are as big as of 36 democracies in the world combined. For 2019 elections, about 900 million Indian citizens have registered to execercise their fundamental right to vote. It is a vast country with 22 official languages selected from more than 650 spoken languages.

Vibha Holi 2019 was hosted by the rocking team of DJ Dholi Deep and Malikka Ghei. DJ Dholi Deep and Malikka Ghei with

Radio Dabang team formances by the melodious group GlobalDesis; rocking bollywood style dance performances by local Houston dance groups including flash mob dance and others by Khushboo Dance group, Katy Bollywood Dance Academy, Goan Group, Shri Natraj School of Dance, Kusum Sharma of Kalakriti Performing Arts, Noopur Group and Arya Dance Academy. Prerana Chitlangia, Mrs. India Texas rocked the show. The delicious food booths by Mirch Masala, Godavari, Gayatri Bhavan, and Tacos n’ Frankies and lots of prizes and giveaways including Alexa by Divyendu Singh of New York Life Insurance, two Samsung Tablets by Radio Dabang, free water, T-shirts, clappers and more did not fail to keep everyone happy. The Moonwalk and Obstacle course had the kids jumping along with the Knocker Ball that had them rolling on the ground. Murali Santhana, the official photographer for the event vividly captured the mo-

ments.

opportunity for a brighter future.

At the pinnacle of it, with the sun out and everyone beyond recognition with colors on their face, hair and clothes, the mood in the ground was so catching and celebratory that it was difficult for anyone to hold still and not be moved by the gyrating dancers and rocking music.

This amazingly executed event was greatly supported by Rajesh Desai of Namaskaar Entertainment, GlobalDesis artists, Darshak Thacker of Krishna Sound, Kalakriti, Murali Santhana’s photography and Col. Vipin Kumar of India House; and sponsored by Tara Energy (Title sponsors), Sterling McCall Toyota (Platinum sponsor), New York Life Insurance, Radio Dabang (Official media partner), Manyavar Mohey of USA and Hotstar,

Vibha Holi 2019 was organized by the dedicated efforts of Vibha Houston volunteers. Vibha is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political, and a volunteer-driven organization with the mission to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of underprivileged children. All proceeds from Vibha Holi 2019 will go directly towards funding projects supported by Vibha in India and US that align with Vibha’s vision of helping every underprivileged child attain his/her right to education, health and

The state of Uttar Pradesh alone has about 145 million voters as big as Brazil's (147 million) and the state of Tamilnadu with about 59 million voters comparable to Turkey's 60 million. With so many people and such diversity, India is a world within itself. Because of the countries vastness and inadequate infrastructure in remote areas, the election process is spread out in 7 phases from 11 April 2019 to 19 May 2019. Final tallying of votes will start on 23rd. May 2019. Then only people will come to know who will get the majority in the 17th. Loksabha to form a government to rule India for the next five years. Accoding to Hindustan Times, India has now 2293 political parties. of which 149 parties were started in the last couple of months, just before the elections, presumably to convert black money into white. Accusations of political murders have also started, like in Andhra Pradesh, for example. So, what does it all mean to India's democracy? Come and listen to Dr. Milan Vaishnav who is presently touring India studying of the Indian elections. He will talk about the dynamics of political parties in India and the influence of Money and Muscle power. About the Author- presenter: Dr. Milan Vaishnav is a senior

fellow and His primary research focus is the political economy of India, and he examines issues such as corruption and governance, state capacity, distributive politics, and electoral behavior. He is the author of "When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics" (Yale University Press and HarperCollins India, 2017), which was awarded the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay New India Foundation book prize for the best non-fiction book on contemporary India published in 2017. He is also co-editor (with Devesh Kapur) of Costs of Democracy: Political Finance in India (Oxford University Press, 2018) and (with Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Devesh Kapur) of Rethinking Public Institutions in India (Oxford University Press, 2017). His work has been published in scholarly journals such as Asian Survey, Governance, India Review, India Policy Forum, Studies in Indian Politics, and PS: Political Science and Politics. He is a regular contributor to several Indian publications. Previously, Dr. Milan worked at the Center for Global Development, where he served as a postdoctoral research fellow, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He is an adjunct professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and has previously taught at Columbia and George Washington Universities. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University. An interactive Question and Answer session will follow the lecture. Free Admission by registration on EventBrite web site : https://fismarch30.eventbrite.com

Vibha Houston thanks their patrons for their support and look forward to seeing them at their future fundraising events. For more information about Vibha and for volunteering opportunities, visit www.vibha. org or https:// www.facebook. com/vibhahou/ .

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Hanmi Bank celebrates grand opening of Houston- Chinatown branch

C.G. Kum, Hanmi - Chief Executive Officer Continued from Page 1 ception. “We have been getting very positive response from local areas,” Tariq said about the new branch. “This is are best location,” having worked here for many years and knowing the community well. “I left Chinatown five years ago and always wanted to come back,” he added. “We have good, selective products, and are loan rates are better than others. We don’t want to create negative competition; our motive is to give special rates on CDs, on saving or commercial account, so they make us their bank of choice,” he added. Hanmi Bank plans to open more branches in Houston, as there is greater potential for commercial loans. Hanmi specializes in commercial real estate, commercial, SBA, healthcare, equipment leasing, and trade finance lending to small and middle market businesses. Located in the heart of Chinatown in Houston, Texas at 6588 Corporate Dr., Suite #100, the Chinatown branch is led by a Chinese-speaking branch manager, Annie Chang, and her staff. The branch also

serves as the Texas Region Headquarters and loan center. The bank was established in 1982 in Los Angeles as the first Korean American bank in the U.S. “We are community bank in our core,” Kum said. “Today, even though we are a bank with five and a half billion in assets, we serve not only the Korean community but the South Asian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Persian, Jews and the mainstream communities,” he said. “We support various community organizations and one of the ways we want to do is to sponsor seminars to educate business about how to apply for SBA loans, how to get a commercial real estate loan,” he said. Hanmi Bank serves multiethnic communities through its network of 35 full-service branches and eight loan production offices in California, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Georgia, and Washington. Hanmi has three branches in Houston and a total of seven branches in Texas. [Business Hours] Monday - Friday 9:00AM to 5:00PM,

from Left to Right: Annie Chang, Hanmi - Chinatown Branch Manager, Mohammad Tariq, Hanmi - EVP, Regional Chief Banking Officer, C.G. Kum, Hanmi - Chief Executive Officer, William Yeh, Shellie Merritt I SVP, Regional Retail Banking Manager – Texas Region and Sam Ruk. Photo credit Shobana Muratee, VOA. Saturday 9:00AM to 1:00PM [Drive Thru] Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00PM, Saturday 9:00AM to 1:00PM For more information about us, please visit www.Hanmi. com.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George Statement on Momentous Signing of MOU with Combined Arms and Fort Bend County Hanmi - Chinatown Branch staff: Ivan Zuo, Eric Chou and Hui Zhu

From left to right: Standing- Kevin Doffing- Chief Operating Officer, Combined Arms (Captain, Executive Officer, Army), Jiten Agarwal- Board Member, Combined Arms, Robert Pechukas, Manager, Policy and Administration for Commissioner Andy Myers & Former Staff Sgt. US Marine Corps, Ernest Spann, Deputy Director, Fort Bend County Veterans Services, Dwight Marshall- Director, Fort Bend County Veterans Services & Staff Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps Retired, Fort Bend Pct. 4 Commissioner Ken DeMerchant (L), Fort Bend County Pct. 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers (R) Sitting- Fort Bend County Judge KP George (D), Laura Richard, Fort Bend County Clerk (R)

ORT BEND COUNTY - Fort Bend County Judge KP George and Combined Arms, an organization providing comprehensive support to military members and their families as they transition to civilian life today signed a momentous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement today. Today’s signing marks the most significant implementation of programs for veteran services in Fort Bend County history. Through this agreement, we are tapping into a vast infrastructure of veteran resources while also saving the County and taxpayers at the minimum $400, 000 not including a $100,000 annual maintenance fees for

scope of services. “Our veterans have gone above and beyond in serving our county. This is why I initiated this partnership with Combined Arms, a Veteran run organization, and Fort Bend County to lead with a new, data driven approach in providing even more services in an effective, efficient, and more engaging way. As we expand our network in providing our veterans with more jobs, mental health support, housing options, and a whole host of additional resources, we will be able to track every metric and act accordingly. I take no responsibility more seriously than supporting our veterans, and they

deserve nothing less than a modern and accountable Veteran Services Office.” stated Fort Bend County Judge KP George "Combined Arms is excited to expand our innovative programs and services provided by our 47 member organizations to better serve the veteran families of Fort Bend County. This partnership with Fort Bend will be our first county to bring into our system and will undoubtedly lead the way for other counties to join in order to accelerate the impact of veterans on our community." stated John W. Boerstler, CEOCombined Arms

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ART & CULTURE

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Van Gogh survey opened at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in March 2019

The exhibition will be on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), from March 10 to June 27, 2019.

incent van Gogh: His Life in Art explores the artist through rarely loaned paintings and drawings from throughout the decade of his career

in such idyllic scenes as Peasant Woman Binding Wheat Sheaves (1889), once again inspired by the work of Millet. In May of 1890, Van Gogh left Saint-Rémy for Auvers, seeking out the care of the doctor Paul Gachet at the suggestion of painter Camille Pissarro. Van Gogh spent his last weeks painting landscape after landscape, including Ears of Wheat in June 1890, one of the latest of his works in the MFAH exhibition. He died from suicide on July 27 of that year.

Organized by the MFAH in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and the Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo HOUSTON—March 2019— Few artists have left behind as complete an account of their life and work as Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, presents Vincent van Gogh: His Life in Art, an exhibition showcasing key passages in the artist’s life, from his early sketches to his final paintings, and chronicling his pursuit of becoming an artist. The Museum is the only venue for His Life in Art, presenting more than 50 portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. The exhibition will be on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), from March 10 to June 27, 2019. In a major collaboration, the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and the Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, which, together, hold the largest collections in the world of Van Gogh’s work, lent pieces to Houston. Significant works also traveled from Musée d’Orsay, Paris; Wallraf–Richartz Museum, Cologne; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond; Art Institute of Chicago; the Dallas Museum of Art; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio; and private collections. “This exhibition will offer visitors a vivid portrait of Van Gogh’s evolution as an artist,” commented MFAH Director Gary Tinterow. “We are grateful to the Van Gogh and Kröller-Müller museums for lending so many of these rarely traveled masterworks from their collections for this exclusive presentation here in Houston.”

Publication This exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue highlighting the 50 drawings and paintings, drawn primarily from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and the KröllerMüller Museum, Otterlo.

Self-Portrait, March–June 1887. Image: MFAH

Exhibition Overview The exhibition explores Vincent van Gogh’s early years as an artist in the Dutch village of Nuenen from 1883 to 1885; his renewed inspiration following exposure to fellow artists and city life in Paris; his further development in Arles, where he created series of landscapes and vibrant portraits; and lastly his inspiration from nature, reflected in the paintings he created toward the end of his life in Saint-Rémy and Auvers. In addition, facsimiles of Van Gogh’s letters will build out the narrative of the artist’s life. Incorporated throughout the exhibition, they trace his hopes of becoming a marketable painter in Paris, his longing to live among a community of artists, and his struggles with his personal relationships and his mental health. Early Years as an Artist

“The popular story of Van Gogh has tended to focus on his last few years and his death,” said David Bomford, curator of the exhibition and chair, Department of Conservation, and Audrey Jones Beck Curator, Department of European Art, MFAH. “But there is a rich and complex narrative that starts much earlier, one that is defined by Van Gogh’s tremendous drive to become an artist.”

Vincent van Gogh became an artist at 27, taking up painting in 1881 after stints as an art dealer, teacher, bookseller, and minister, all unsuccessful. His brother, Theo, encouraged him to concentrate on drawing, spurring Van Gogh to work on his technique and connect with other artists. He was largely self-taught, and his early work reflects an engagement with Realism and an interest in conveying both the physical and psychologi-

cal conditions of his subjects. Van Gogh sent his work to Theo in exchange for the financial support his brother offered. “I’m sending you three scratches that are still awkward, but from which I hope you’ll nonetheless see that there’s gradual improvement. You must remember that I haven’t been drawing for long, even if I did sometimes make little sketches as a boy,” Van Gogh wrote in a letter to his brother on April 2, 1881. His development as a painter continued, as he produced farm scenes in the village of Nuenen following in the footsteps of admired artists such as Jean-François Millet. He studied and recorded every facet of rural life, realistically portraying with the harsh circumstances of farm laborers rather than idealizing them. During this time, Van Gogh’s character studies culminated in portrayals of rural life. Three of Van Gogh’s studies for The Potato Eaters (1885), his first major painting and one of his best-known, will be on view, alongside sketches of the day-to-day life of villagers. Van Gogh’s works from his time in Nuenen also feature an old church tower, which he painted as a tribute to those who had been laid to rest among the fields they had planted. In Search of Renewal

Regional Premiere Spotlights Post-9/11 American Muslim Experiences in Ping Chong’s Innovative Production Beyond Sacred: Voices of Muslim Identity Fri 05 Apr 2019 - Sat 06 Apr 2019

Image credit: Adam Nadel

OUSTON, TX — Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) is pleased to welcome Ping Chong + Company to present the regional premiere of Beyond Sacred: Voices of Muslim Identity for two performances, April 5 and April 6.

Featuring five non-actors weaving together their own true stories into a powerful narrative, Beyond Sacred illuminates the daily experiences of young Muslim Americans who came of age in a post-9/11 society in NYC, and who are building their lives in a time of continued fear of and violence

towards Muslims. Beyond Sacred was developed through a community-engaged process as part of Ping Chong + Company’s Undesirable Elements series of oral history theater works exploring the effects of history, culture, and ethnicity on the lives of individuals in a community.

About the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Irises, May 1890. Image: MFAH From Nuenen, Van Gogh left for Antwerp to enroll in an art academy and take drawing classes in November 1885. Abandoning the theme of rural farm life, he shifted his focus to portraiture. Shortly following, he left for Paris where he moved in with Theo. The city inspired a brighter palette, while his friendships with Emile Bernard and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec had a major influence on his work. Featured in this section is a portrait of Agostina Segatori, the owner of Café du Tambourin, a gathering spot for Parisian artists that Van Gogh frequented. While in Paris, he discovered a new source of inspiration in Japanese woodcuts, which he had begun to collect. Their influence is reflected in the bold outlines, dramatic cropping, and color contrasts of Van Gogh’s work.

on February 21, 1888. With this return to the countryside, Van Gogh developed a recognizable style of his own, characterized by long, rhythmic brushstrokes and thick layers of paint in increasingly brighter colors. Inspired by the bright light and the colors of southern France, he painted fields of wheat, vineyards, and vibrant portraits. But months of personal crisis followed. Still Life with a Plate of Onions (1889) was one of the first paintings Van Gogh completed after returning home from the hospital where he was treated after slicing off his ear. On that day, January 17, 1889, he wrote to his brother Theo that he intended to begin working to get used to painting again and had already done a few studies. But Van Gogh’s mental health continued to fluctuate. He admitted himself to Saint-Paul-deMausole psychiatric asylum in Saint-Rémy in May 1889.

Light and Color in the South After two years in Paris, Van Gogh grew weary of city life and longed for a setting like those in the Japanese landscapes he admired. He hoped to find it in the south of France, and relocated to Arles. “I noticed some magnificent plots of red earth planted with vines, with mountains in the background of the most delicate lilac. And the landscape under the snow with the white peaks against a sky as bright as the snow was just like the winter landscapes the Japanese did,” he wrote to Theo

Nature as a Source of Enduring Inspiration At the asylum in Saint-Rémy, Van Gogh created dozens of paintings of the gardens of the institution, the fields outside his window, and of the few possessions that he had in his room. During this period, in which he produced some of his most iconic masterworks, including Starry Night and Irises, he also ventured into the wheat fields and olive groves. In his studio, he made a series of paintings after prints, resulting

Established in 1900, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is among the 10 largest art museums in the United States, with an encyclopedic collection of nearly 70,000 works dating from antiquity to the present. The main campus comprises the Audrey Jones Beck Building, designed by Rafael Moneo and opened in 2000; the Caroline Wiess Law Building, originally designed by William Ward Watkin, with extensions by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe completed in 1958 and 1974; the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, designed by Isamu Noguchi and opened in 1986; the Glassell School of Art, designed by Steven Holl Architects and opened in 2018; and The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza, designed by Deborah Nevins & Associates and opened in 2018. Additional spaces include a repertory cinema, two libraries, public archives, and facilities for conservation and storage. Nearby, two house museums—Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, and Rienzi—present American and European decorative arts. The MFAH is also home to the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA), a leading research institute for 20thcentury Latin American and Latino art. mfah.org

Organization & Funding This exhibition has been organized in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam; the Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

YLDP students get an insight into technology from Shell's Bert Natalicchio

YLDP Batch 2019 with guest spekaer Bert Natalicchio major concern is energy. As digital technology is making its way into every pocket and household in the world, we as a society search to harness energy in any way possible. Bert Natalicchio, VP Engineering & SMART Technologies at Shell by Smaran Garlapati Our world is in a state of constant change. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pro-

liferating population demands more and more each day to fuel and sustain life. A resource of

On March 17th, 2019, in the bustling facilities of India House, Bert Natalicchio, a top executive at Shell, spoke with several YLDP students regarding this growing demand for energy. He explained that as

our world and society changes, so do our needs and demands. The hard part is getting our technology to catch up to these demands. Mr. Natalicchio explained that with our entire lives becoming digital, data is becoming bountiful, the speed at which tasks are completed is rapidly increasing and costs are decreasing. He explained that science and technology require constant adaptability;

they must constantly improve to match the changes in our world. Mr. Natalicchio encouraged the room full of aspiring STEM leaders to pursue careers in technology and to never be satisfied with the most modern technology. He gave the students some very wise advice regarding their futures in whatever field they pursue. Emphasizing leader-

ship, Mr.Natalicchio stated that effective leaders lead from a sense of purpose, not power, and that we should lead through influence more than authority. He also emphasized the importance of resilience and teamwork, lessons that the students will hold dear to their hearts as they progress on their journeys to become the next leaders on the forefront technological advancement.

Get you Get you Bollywood Community News News online online at your at your community news source community news source voiceofasiaonline.com voiceofasia.news Guest spekaer Bert Natalicchio addressing the students

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TAXES & PERSONAL FINANCE

Fiscal Notes: Texas Cybersecurity — Protecting Data Systems

Analysis: Property tax relief — but not for all Texas taxpayers

Giving every property owner in Texas a significant tax cut is expensive, but there are less ambitious plans under consideration along with the big ones. by Ross Ramsey The Texas Tribune, March 27, 2019.

utting taxes is expensive.

And there are not many viable options for state leaders hoping to reduce Texans’ property tax bills. Raising sales taxes to cut property taxes — an approach proposed by the public education chairmen in the House and Senate — isn’t the only way to get there.

USTIN — In the March edition of Fiscal Notes, released today, the Comptroller’s office examines the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity, an industry spurred by a new breed of criminal: the cyberthieves and fraudsters who use technology to prey on others. Nearly 8,200 Texans worked as information security analysts in 2017, and that number is expected to rise by 40 percent in the next decade.

“Cyberattacks on companies are becoming more common and costlier,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. “With billions of dollars’ worth of economic activity humming along cables and through wireless connections each day, organizations are investing in information security capabilities and staff on an un-

precedented scale. Demand is outpacing supply for these specialists, as our educational institutions simply can’t turn them out fast enough.” The March issue of Fiscal Notes also looks at Texas government’s own efforts at cybersecurity, which received a major boost in the last legislative session. Fiscal Notes is available online and can be received by subscribing via the Comptroller’s website. Fiscal Notes furthers the Comptroller’s constitutional responsibility to monitor the state’s economy and estimate state government revenues. It has been published since 1975, featuring indepth analysis concerning state finances and original research by subject-matter experts in the Comptroller’s office.

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

You can always increase the size of homestead exemptions, giving homeowners a path to lower taxes without giving the benefit of that tax loophole to renters or to business property owners — one option the Texas Senate is working on. But it looks like a dinky tax cut. This one would add $10,000 to the state’s mandatory homestead exemption — meaning a total of $35,000 would be deducted from the value of your home for taxable purposes instead of the current $25,000. That works out to be a tax reduction of just about $230 per year, given the state comptroller’s estimated average property tax rates for school districts, cities and counties in Texas. That’s under $20 a month; it’s not nothing, but it’s not the kind of property tax break some voters have demanded. They’d get the money by diverting some of the oil and gas severance taxes that now go into the economic stabilization fund — the fancy-pants name

for the state’s savings account. That diversion, over the first two years, would total $1.49 billion, according to the fiscal note on Senate Bill 5. Even if you think it’s good policy to divert rainy day money that’s generated from a tax on business to give a minimal tax break to homeowners, it’s a questionable political move. The recipients might never even spot the windfall, spread over a year’s mortgage escrow payments and maybe consumed quickly by tax increases and rising property values. It could anger some, particularly if lawmakers leave Austin crowing about tax cuts, creating expectations that taxpayers are in for something really good. This is the problem with property tax relief. It’s expensive. This particular plan is not only smaller than some others, but it has a smaller impact on a much smaller group of property owners. Another idea, floated in the House by state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, and in the Senate by state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, would cut school property tax rates by about 20 cents, which would cut the taxes on $250,000 in taxable property by $500. That’s great, but it would cost around $5 billion, and the money would come from a onepenny increase in the state’s already high sales tax. When it comes time to vote in 2020, the danger of a big tax

swap is that taxpayers won’t remember the property tax that was cut but will remember the sales tax that went up. The danger in the homestead exemption is that it’s small; that it ignores renters, commercial and industrial property taxpayers; and that it redirects money that now goes into the state’s savings — even as lawmakers are using that account to cover costs from Hurricane Harvey, catch up on teacher pensions and handle other one-time “emergency” expenses. Business groups want an across-the-board tax cut, if there is a tax cut. Some are also pushing an idea — “compression” — that’s in the House’s school finance package and was also in the report from the governor’s commission on school finance. It doesn’t cut taxes, but it adjusts school finance formulas so that increases in property value benefit local school districts instead of the state’s budget. Right now, when property values increase faster than enrollment, state funding drops. If those value increases were used to “compress” or lower tax rates, with the state making up the lost funding, it would lessen pressure to raise local property taxes. “Property taxes are still too damn high,” said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, which represents businesses on fiscal policy. “But at least they wouldn’t be getting higher as fast.” So far, limits on property tax

increases have dominated lawmakers’ attention more than cuts. A Senate committee approved a bill that would require voter approval of property tax revenue increases of more than 2.5 percent, but that’s languishing on the Senate calendar, for now, for lack of support. A House committee could act as early as today on a related bill. But note the caveat above: “It doesn’t cut taxes.” Limiting future increases might help make future property tax increases less onerous, but a lot of Texas lawmakers are scratching around for ways to give taxpayers a noticeable cut in the price of government. They’ve proposed other ideas, like raising sales taxes on gasoline — on top of the gas tax already in place — to letting local voters swap out property taxes for local sales tax increases. Some proposals get more attention than others, but it would be a leap to say anything has really caught on. And there is significant support in the Legislature for using any available money not for tax cuts but for public education. It’s hard to sort out, Craymer acknowledges. “Some people call it crazy,” he said. “I call it March.” Disclosure: The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism.

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Modi declares India 'space super- Pakistani journalist receives power' as satellite downed ..... AFP's Kate Webb Prize Islamabad, Pakistan | AFP | Tuesday 3/26/2019 - 11:55 UTC-6 | 408 words Freelance reporter Asad Hashim received the 2018 Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize Tuesday, recognising his intrepid coverage of the plight of ethnic Pashtuns and blasphemy issues in his native Pakistan. The award, named after one of AFP's finest correspondents, highlights journalism by locally hired reporters across Asia working in risky or difficult conditions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India destroyed a low-orbiting satellite in a missile test that makes the country a space 'superpower' (AFP Photo/Prakash SINGH) Continued from Page 1 It comes a month after Indian and Pakistani fighter jets engaged in a dogfight over the disputed border in Kashmir -a serious military escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals. Modi said the anti-satellite missile (ASAT) test was peaceful, and not designed to create "an atmosphere of war". "I want to assure the world community that the new capability is not against anyone. This is to secure and defend... fast-growing India." But analysts said it would not go unnoticed in China and Pakistan, India's chief rivals in the nuclear-armed region, and could be interpreted as a show of New Delhi's advancing military capabilities. "This is less about shooting down satellites and more about proving high-altitude 'hit-tokill' proficiency, which is the core competency required to get good at a range of things -- including defence against nuclear-capable ballistic missiles," Ankit Panda, of the Federation of American Scientists, told AFP. "This is how the message is going to be perceived in Islamabad." A spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry said countries that had "strongly condemned" the demonstration of similar technologies in the past should work towards preventing the

militarisation of space. "Boasting of such capabilities is reminiscent of Don Quixote's tilting against windmills," the spokesman said. - Star wars The United States and the former Soviet Union carried out their first successful antisatellite missile tests in 1985, and China in 2007. All are now said to be working on so-called Star Wars laser weapons to destroy satellites. With satellites increasingly important because of their intelligence gathering role -and major nations seeking to gain a foothold in space -- the United States in 2014 rejected a Russian-Chinese proposal for a treaty to ban weapons in space, saying it was "fundamentally flawed" because of the lack of weapons verification measures. India's foreign ministry said the country "has no intention of entering into an arms race in outer space". "We have always maintained that space must be used only for peaceful purposes," the ministry said. "At the same time, the government is committed to ensuring the country's national security interests and is alert to threats from emerging technologies." Modi said the test did not violate any international treaties and was for the betterment

and safety of India's 1.3 billion people. But NASA and the Pentagon warned that ASAT tests create potentially dangerous debris fields in Earth's orbit. "Some people like to test anti-satellite capabilities intentionally, and create orbital debris fields that we today are still dealing with," NASA chief Jim Bridenstine told Congress Wednesday. "And those same countries come to us for space situational awareness, because of the debris field that they themselves created." Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan said not having rules was "worrisome". "We all live in space. Let's not make it a mess," Shanahan said. "Space should be a place where we can conduct business, space should be a place where people have freedom to operate. We cannot make it unstable, we cannot create a debris problem that ASAT tests create." - Elections The test comes ahead of a national election starting April 11 in which Modi -- whose Hindu nationalist party stormed to power in 2014 -- is seeking a second term in office. Under election laws, the government is forbidden from announcing new policies or other major developments that could benefit the ruling party.

Pakistan hands India findings on Kashmir militant attack

Pakistan has denied any role in the Pulwama attack, and offered cooperation in investigation if credible evidence was provided by India

SLAMABAD, Pakistan | AFP | 3/27/2019 - 1Islamabad said Wednesday it had handed New Delhi "preliminary findings" over a major suicide attack in Kashmir claimed by Pakistan-based militants, adding it would now seek more evidence from India for its investigation into the bombing. Relations between the two nuclear-armed South Asian countries nose-dived after a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir last month killed 40 Indian security personnel and was later claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-eMohammad. Pakistan has denied any role in the Pulwama attack, and Prime Minister Imran Khan offered cooperation in investiga-

tion if credible evidence was provided by India. "The Government of Pakistan has shared preliminary findings with the Government of India after examining the Indian report on Pulwama incident," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "We have sought further information/evidence from India to take the process forward," it said without giving further details including the nature of evidence sought. The information was shared with the Indian high commissioner, who was summoned to the foreign ministry for the purpose. Days after the Pulwama attack, New Delhi -- which has long accused Islamabad of

harbouring militants who launch attacks on its soil -- demanded Pakistan take "credible and visible action". Soon after it launched a crossborder air raid on Pakistan that kicked off a quick succession of attacks and dogfights between the arch-rivals over the disputed Kashmir frontier that spurred fears of wider war erupting. Pakistani and Indian soldiers have continued to fire over the Line of Control -- the de-facto border dividing Kashmir, killing several civilians on both sides. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over it.

Hashim, 33, was honoured for an illuminating series of articles on ethnic Pashtuns and other minority groups caught in the crossfire of Pakistan's bloody battle against militants. These included an investigative report into enforced disappearances allegedly conducted by the country's powerful military and a reporting mission to the South Waziristan tribal region â&#x20AC;&#x201C;- the birthplace of Pakistan's Taliban â&#x20AC;&#x201C;- to look into the civilian toll from landmines. Pakistan has battled homegrown militancy for nearly 15 years, with tens of thousands of people killed. Insurgents still retain the ability to launch devastating attacks despite dramatic improvements in security in recent years.

Asad Hashim, 33, was honoured for an illuminating series of articles on ethnic Pashtuns and other minority groups caught in the crossfire of Pakistan's bloody battle against militants. (AFP/ AAMIR QURESHI). gerous countries for media workers, and coverage critical of the powerful military is considered a red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed for running afoul of the security establishment. "(He is) a very good writer, a very good storyteller, and a very brave journalist," said AFP Asia-Pacific regional director Philippe Massonnet during a ceremony in Islamabad Tuesday. The award also recognised his work on other highly sensitive issues, such as Pakistan's blasphemy laws and its judicial system. "I feel like this award is not just a recognition of my work," said Hashim.

Pakistan also routinely ranks among the world's most dan-

"It's recognition of the environment and particular dif-

"The timing and the manner of the announcement, with elections around the corner, will certainly lead to speculation," Dhruva Jaishankar, Delhi-based fellow in foreign policy with Brookings India, told AFP.

scientists on the feat but also wished Modi "a very happy World Theatre Day" -- referring to celebrations also marked around the globe on March 27.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated India's

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley defended the announcement, saying for "a deterrent of this kind there is no better

ficulties that all Pakistani journalist are facing." The Kate Webb Prize, with a 3,000 euro ($3,400) purse, honours journalists working in perilous or difficult conditions in Asia, and is named after a crusading AFP reporter who died in 2007 at the age of 64, after a career covering the world's troublespots. "The award means continuation of Kate's name... and the continuation of what she did as a journalist. I think all those things are very important," said Rachel Miller, Webb's sister. The award, which in 2017 went to Myanmar journalist Mratt Kyaw Thu for his brave coverage of ethnic and religious conflict in his homeland, is administered by AFP and the Webb family.

than the prime minister to inform the world". India has made giant strides in its space journey in recent years. It launched a record 104 satellites in a single mission in 2017, and has also built a reputation for low-cost space exploration and science missions.

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nut St, Houston, TX 77074 •Memorial Hermann Hospital Pearland 16100 South Freeway Pearland, TX 77584 • Mezbaan Restaurant 6655 Harwin Suite A-108, Houston 77036 • Mirch Masala 10758 Cypress Creek, Houston 77070 • Mogul Indian Restaurant 2416 Bay Area Blvd, Houston 77058 • Naseeb Indian Rest 11920, Hwy 6 S, Ste 1200, Sugar Land 77478 • Navya Indian Groceries 10128 F S Texas 6, Sugar Land, TX 77498 • Neeta Indian Cuisine 6688 Southwest Fwy, Houston 77074 • New Awami Markaz 5812 Hwy 6.North, Houston 77084 • New India SuperMarket 445 FM 1092, Stafford 77477 • Nirmanz Food Boutique 16338 KENSINGTON DR., SUITE # 160, Sugar Land, 77479 • Palm India 732 Murphy Rd, Stafford 77477 • Parivar Grocers 6655 Harwin Suite A-103, Houston 77036 • Patel Brothers 5815 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Premier Indian Grocers 12155 Shadow Creek Pkwy #118, Pearland 77584 • Raj Grocers 15210 Hwy 3, #112, Clear Lake 77598 • Raja Sweets & Restaurant 5667 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Rani Foods 12821 Duncan Rd., Houston 77066 • Rani’s World Foods 16711 Hollister St, Houston 77066 • Royal Grocers 11919 Bissonnet St., Houston 77099 • Royal Restaurant 11919 Bissonnet St. Houston 77099 • Sangam Chettinad 11398 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 • Shahnai Restaurant 5920 Hillcroft, Suite D, Houston 77036 • Sallam Namaste 10732 W Bellfort St, Houston 77099 • Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir 6640 Harwin Dr, Houston 77036 • Saravanaa Bhavan 8350 Westheimer Rd, Houston 77063 • Saree Sapne 5651 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Savoy Restaurant 11246 Wilcrest Houston 77099 • Scarsdale Grocers 12415 Scarsdale Blvd. Webster 77089 • Shalamar Sweets 15142 Hwy 3, Clear Lake 77598 • Shahnai Restaurant 5920 Hillcroft St D, Houston 77036 • Sheikh Chilli’s Restaurant 6121 Hillcroft St, Houston 77081 • Shiva Restaurant 2514 Times Blvd., Houston 77005 • Shivangani Rest 14543 Memorial Dr, Houston 77079 • Shiv Sagar Restaurant 6662 SW Freeway, Houston 77074 • Siddhivinayak Temple 5645 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Signature India 14800 Westheimer Rd, Houston 77082 • Spice Bazaar 16338 Kensington Dr Ste-150, Sugar Land, TX 77479 • Standard Sweets 5696 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Subhlaxmi Grocers 6006 SW Fwy, Houston 77074 • Sugar Land Marriott 16090 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479 • Sunrise Grocers 620 Katy Fort Bend Rd Suite 320, Katy, TX 77494 • Suprabath 5600 Hillcroft, Houston 77083 • Thai Spice Express 8282 Bellaire Blvd, Houston 77036 • Touch of Asia 2253 Smith Ranch Rd., Pearland 77584 • Udipi Café 5959 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Udipi Café 3559 Hwy 6 S, Sugar Land 77478 • Victor’s Deli 1425 NASA Rd I, Houston, TX 77058 • Vishala Grocers 9410 TX-6, Houston 77083 • Vishala Grocers 5205 S. Mason Rd., Ste #220 Katy 77450 • Vishala Grocers 13314 Westheimer Rd. Houston 77077 • Vishala Grocers 2881 Dulles Ave, Missouri City 77459 • Voss Halal Meat 11920 S Texas 6 # 100, Sugar Land 77498 • Welcome Food Center 9180 Bellaire Blvd, Houston 77036 • Welfresh Market 4635 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478 • World Food Warehouse 14625 Beechnut St, Houston 77083 • zTAO Marketplace 1525 S Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450

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Syria requests UN Security Council meeting on Golan

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Winter Walk

NZ green lights 'intrusive' spy ops after mosque attack

ELLINGTON, New Zealand | AFP | Tuesday 3/26/2019 - New Zealand's intelligence minister said Wednesday he was allowing spy agencies to carry out "intrusive" activities following the Christchurch mosque shootings that claimed 50 lives. The government this week ordered a judicial inquiry into whether the South Pacific nation's intelligence services could have prevented the March 15 attack amid criticism the white supremacist gunman went unnoticed as they were too focused on Muslim extremists. Members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) use binoculars to look at the Syrian side of the Golan Heights in this file picture. On March 21, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed United States President Donald Trump's pledge to recognize Israel's disputed annexation of the Golan Heights, which it seized from Syria in 1967. (AFP/Jack Guez)

NITED NATIONS, United States | AFP | Wednesday 3/26/2019 - Syria asked the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to hold an urgent meeting on the US decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Monday in which the United States recognized Israel's annexation of the strategic plateau, despite UN resolutions that call for Israel's withdrawal from the Golan. In a letter seen by AFP, the Syrian mission to the United Nations asked the council presidency, held by France, to schedule an urgent meeting to "discuss the situation in the occupied Syrian Golan and the recent flagrant violation of the relevant Security Council's resolution by a permanent member-state." The French presidency did not immediately schedule the meeting and diplomats said there would be a discussion at the council about the request. On Friday, Syria wrote a separate letter urging the council to uphold resolutions demanding that Israel withdraw from the Golan. The council is scheduled to discuss the latest crisis on Wednesday during a meeting on renewing the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force deployed between Israel and Syria in the Golan, known as UNDOF. Five European countries with seats on the council earlier rejected Trump's decision and voiced con-

cern that the US move would have broad consequences in the Middle East. Two of Washington's closest allies -- Britain and France -- joined Belgium, Germany and Poland to declare that the European position had not changed and that the Golan remained Israeli-occupied Syrian territory, in line with international law enshrined in UN resolutions. Three UN Security Council resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from the Golan, which it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, in a move that was never recognized internationally. US Acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen told a council meeting on the Middle East that Washington had made the decision to stand up to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iran. "To allow the Golan Heights to be controlled by the likes of the Syrian and Iranian regimes would turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the Assad regime and malign and destabilizing presence of Iran in the region," said Cohen. There "can be no peace agreement that does not satisfactorily address Israel's security needs in the Golan Heights," he added. China and Russia spoke out against the US decision during the council meeting, as did Indonesia and South Africa, two countries that strongly support the Palestinians, along with Kuwait, a US ally in the region.

Trump administration pushes to completely gut Obamacare in dramatic escalation Government shifts from previous aim to strike down parts of the ACA, endangering healthcare for millions of Americans by Erik Durkin EW YORK, Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - The Trump administration now believes that the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down, a major shift in the federal government’s position and one that could endanger health coverage for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. In a letter on Monday night, the justice department said it is now backing a Texas judge’s controversial December ruling that the healthcare law known as Obamacare is unconstitutional. Throwing out the law would end healthcare coverage for millions of people – getting rid of publicly subsidized health insurance plans sold on exchanges, the expansion of Medicaid, protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and rules letting children stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26. “The Department of Justice has determined that the district court’s judgment should be affirmed,” wrote Joseph Hunt, the assistant attorney general, and other lawyers in the new court filing. Until this week, the government’s position was that only part of the law – like its rules prohibiting insurance companies from denying health insurance or charging more to people with pre-existing conditions – should be struck down. The supreme court ruled in 2012 that the landmark healthcare law is constitutional. But Texas and other states sued, arguing that Congress’s decision to end a tax penalty for people who don’t have health insurance as part

of the 2017 tax overhaul made all of Obamacare invalid. The judge agreed. A group of 21 Democratic states are appealing, since Trump’s justice department would not defend the law. “This lawsuit is as dangerous as it is reckless. It threatens the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans across the country,” said Xavier Becerra, California’s attorney general, on Monday. Experts said the justice department’s new filing represented a dramatic shift in policy. “The sheer reckless irresponsibility is hard to overstate. The notion that you could gut the entire ACA and not wreak havoc on the lives of millions of people is insane,” wrote the University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley. Republicans tried to repeal Obamacare through legislation, but the bill failed in Congress. Trump has repeatedly vowed to protect patients with pre-existing conditions, calling it a “major priority” in his State of the Union speech this year. Meanwhile, House Democrats plan on Tuesday to unveil legislation to expand Obamacare. The bill would make more middleclass people eligible for subsidies to buy health insurance plans, and increase subsidies for lower-income Americans who already qualify, according to the Associated Press. It would also block the Trump administration from giving states waivers allowing them to weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions. - The Guardian

Andrew Little -- the minister responsible for the GCSB and SIS intelligence services -- said he had signed powerful surveillance warrants as information gathering continued in the wake of the attack. "I have given authority to the agencies to do intrusive activities under warrant, the number of those (warrants) I'm not at liberty to disclose," he told Radio New Zealand. Little said intelligence services typically monitored 30-40 people but that number had now increased, although he was unwilling to reveal by how much. He said a warrant permitted anything from physical surveillance to the monitoring of telecommunications activity. "The whole gambit of what would otherwise be described as intrusive activity," he told the New Zealand Herald. "The purpose of a warrant is to authorise and effectively make lawful what would otherwise be unlawful activity." Little denied New Zealand had proved a "soft target" for the accused gunman, an Australian with apparent links to right-wing groups who reportedly moved to the country with the intention of carrying out an attack. Little said he maintained confidence in the intelligence services and until the inquiry into their actions was complete it was "premature" to say they had failed. "Until there's a very microscopic look at what the agencies have been doing and whether they've missed anything, I can't say for certain," he told RNZ. "It's important for me, the agencies, but ultimately for public confidence that we let that commission of inquiry do its job and reach its conclusions." Meanwhile, police remained tightlipped about two raids conducted by armed officers in Christchurch overnight. The raids took place at opposite ends of the city centre, the first at 8:00 pm Tuesday and the second around 1:00 am Wednesday.

The Nenets are a nomadic people in Russia, who base their lives around the migrations of reindeer herds. Two women are seen here trying to keep warm in December, when the average temperature is well below zero. (Photograph by Stefano Cestari)

US lawmakers challenge Pentagon diversion of $1 bn for border wall

ASHINGTON | AFP | Wednesday 3/26/2019 - A Democrat-led congressional committee challenged Tuesday the Pentagon's plan to divert $1 billion to support President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Less than one day after acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan authorized moving the funds from existing Defense Department projects to border construction, the House Armed Services Committee said this move was not permitted. It was the newest challenge to Trump's February 15 declaration of a "national emergency" at the border in order to obtain more than $5 billion to build a frontier wall to keep out illegal immigrants and drug smugglers, after Congress denied him the funds. The Defense Department "is attempting to circumvent Congress and the American people's opposition to using taxpayer money for the construction of an unnecessary wall, and the military is paying the cost," said committee Chairman Adam Smith. "This needs to stop... The administration should stop using our service members as a political tool and instead focus on building military capabilities and readiness and areas where we should focus our defense resources." "Congress will act as necessary to defend its Constitutional prerogatives," Smith warned in a statement. Late Monday, Shanahan said he had authorized the move of the funds to help the Homeland Security Department build 57 miles (92 kilometers) of 18-foot (5.5-meter) fencing, to construct and improve roads, and install lighting to support Trump's emergency declaration.

Addressing concerns that the US military was straying out of its mission into domestic civilian operations, Shanahan cited US law that authorizes the military to support the counterdrug activities of other federal agencies. For two years, Trump has battled Congress for as much as $25 billion in funds to fortify the Mexico border with a massive wall. After Congress voted earlier this month to nullify the emergency declaration, Trump vetoed it, allowing the Pentagon to reallocate billions of dollars to the border "emergency." Smith said some limited amount of "reprogramming" of Pentagon funds for emergency needs without congressional approval is normally allowed. But the shift of $1 billion, he said, is "a violation of that trust." The House of Representatives narrowly failed to override the veto as it did not reach the required two thirds of votes (288), falling short at 248. "Thank you to the House Republicans for sticking together and the BIG WIN today on the Border," Trump said in response on Twitter. - Court showdown The emergency declaration has also been challenged in court by 16 states that contend that the order was contrary to Congress's power over the budget. Their lawsuit also questioned Trump's categorization of illegal border crossings as a national emergency, saying data issued by the administration itself refuted the notion. Should the states prevail, the case could work its way up to the Supreme Court, setting up a precedent-setting showdown on the separation of powers.

Pompeo blasts China 'shameful hypocrisy' on Muslims

ashington, | AFP | 3/27/2019 - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday denounced China's "shameful hypocrisy" over its treatment of Muslims as he met a former prisoner and relatives who recounted abuses as part of Beijing's widespread detention of its Uighur minority. "China must release all those arbitrarily detained and end its repression," Pompeo tweeted. "The world cannot afford China's shameful hypocrisy toward Muslims. On one hand, China abuses more than a million Muslims at home, but on the other it protects violent Islamic terrorist groups from sanctions at the UN," he said. Pompeo was referring to China's efforts at the United Nations to prevent the blacklisting of Islamist extremist Masood Azhar, based in Beijing ally Pakistan. Azhar's group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility over a deadly attack last month on Indian troops in Kashmir that triggered military skirmishes. The top US diplomat met Tuesday with Mihrigul Tursun, a Uighur who has spoken publicly in the United States about what she said was widespread torture in China's prisons for the minority group. She has said she was separated from her children and detained in a cramped cell with 60 other women, suffering electrocution and beatings during round-the-clock interroga-

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused China of "shameful hypocrisy" on its treatment of Muslims. AFP Photo.

tions. The State Department said that Pompeo also met with three other Uighurs whose relatives are held by China, which according to a UN report has detained a massive one million Uighurs as it seeks forcibly to integrate the minority group. Pompeo, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, said that "certainly" at least hundreds of thousands of Uighurs had been detained. "We're working to convince the Chinese that this practice is abhorrent and ought to be stopped," Pompeo said.

According to the State Department as well as international human rights groups, China has confiscated Korans from Uighurs and forced them to drink alcohol and eat pork, which are forbidden by Islam. "It's one of the most serious human rights problems in the world today," State Department official Michael Kozak said of the Uighurs' detention as he presented the latest annual human rights report. China denies the accounts of mass detention, saying it is running educational training centers as part of a fight against Islamic extremism in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

VOICE OF ASIA 13

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

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

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

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Walker Station Elementary raises more than $10,400 to support Pennies For Patients

UGAR LAND, (March 26, 1019) – In their usual caring spirit, Walker Station Elementary students took part in a school-wide service project to support individuals with blood cancer. With assistance from WSE teachers and staff, the students raised $10,405 to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Pennies for Patients fundraising campaign.

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Section 2

Tel: 713-774-5140

Parents invited to attend Care To Chat speaker series on Friday, April 5

The school’s goal was to raise $7,000, and the “Stallions” surpassed that amount by $3,405. “We are so excited that our school raised money to support Pennies for Patients,” said WSE Counselor Cathy Collins. “It was a great effort by our students, teachers, and staff.” Collins, along with Victoria Pringle and Maryann Hall, coordinated the fundraiser. To inspire students to support the campaign, the school held a friendly challenge among classes, with the top classes earning awards, such as a popsicle and pasta party. After counting all the classroom pennies, Jennifer Johnson’s fourthgrade class was named the top fundraising class. Her students raised more than $730 and received an Olive Garden pasta party.

Free income-tax help at local librairies

Learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients at www.lls.org.

Fort Bend ISD approved attendance boundary changes for 2 middle schools

Income-tax forms are not available at the libraries, but patrons may use the libraries’ computers and printers to download and print out the forms from the IRS website during regular library hours. A library card is needed to use the printers, and the cost to print is 10¢ per black-and-white page.

ICHMOND, Monday, March 25 - Fort Bend Independent School District gave the green light Monday on attendance boundary changes for two schools. The changes impact Fort Settlement and First Colony middle schools. There was mixed reaction from parents. The district said the attendance boundary shift will prevent overcrowding at either middle school. New bus routes will not be required because of the changes. Detailed maps may be seen at: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5780841/FCMS-and-FSMSProposed-Boundary-Overview.pdf

An overall view of the areas affected. (Illustration: FBISD/KPRC)

Sugar Land’s newest Korean barbecue restaurant has arrived Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ made its debut over the weekend cake, kimchee, beef intestines, and more. Korean barbecue is obviously on offer with dishes like spicy barbecue pork, pork belly, and bulgogi, alongside noodle and bibimbap rice dishes.

by Alaena Hostetter

n Asiatown favorite for Korean barbecue just opened in Sugar Land over the weekend.

& BBQ’s Sugar Land outpost seats about 90 people between booth and table seating and offers up a plethora of Asian dishes including two dozen types of tofu soup with squid, fish-

This corner of Sugar Land is rapidly becoming a dining destination for Asian fare. As Eater previously reported, a Taiwanese chain for crispy chicken, Monga Fried Chicken, will open its first Houston-area location inside the Jusgo Supermarket food court which is set to arrive soon. Also slated to debut inside the supermarket are Chinese dim sum spot Mala Sichuan Bistro, as well as Sweetie Bakery Cafe among other new dining options: Courtyard Cuisine, Xing’s Kitchen, Manila Sizzling Plate, Meizhou Dongpo, and Poke Sushi, according to an Eater tipster. - Eater.com

Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ is now open at 3528 Hwy 6, offering up the same menu of dishes that’s made it a favorite Bellaire Boulevard destination for Korean barbecue for more than 10 years. The new Sugar Land location follows in the footsteps of another smaller outpost that just opened in Katy several months ago. Jang Guem Tofu

ort Bend County Libraries will again host representatives from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), who will provide free income-tax-preparation assistance for low-income taxpayers at several locations in the Fort Bend County library system through April 15.

Photos: Facebook

Patrons should bring the following information to the session if possible: a photo ID; Social Security card(s) for self, spouse, and all dependents; last year’s tax return; W-2, 1099s, and any other compensation received in 2018; unemployment compensation statements; and any other documents that are necessary to complete your return. The March/April schedule is as follows: George Memorial Library, Richmond, Room 2C: Saturdays, March 30; April 6, 13; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm; Mondays, April 1, 8, 15; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm; Thursdays, March 28, April 4, 11; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm; Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library, Meeting Room: Fridays, March 29, April 5, 12; 1:00 to 4:00 pm; Wednesdays, April 3, 10; 1:00 to

4:00 pm. Cinco Ranch Branch Library, Meeting Room 1: Mondays, April 1, 8, 15; 1:00 to 5:00 pm. First Colony Branch Library, Conference Room: Tuesdays, April 2, 9; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Wednesdays, April 3, 10; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Sugar Land Branch Meeting Room:

Library,

Mondays, April 1, 8, 15; 1:00 to 4:00 pm; Thursdays, March 28, April 4, 11; 1:00 to 4:00 pm. University Branch Library, Conference Room 1: Saturdays, March 30, April 6, 13; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Houston Community College (HCC) Southwest-Missouri City Campus, 1600 Texas Parkway, Missouri City; Room 118 (This site is offered as an alternative to the Missouri City Branch Library, which is closed for renovations): Tuesdays, April 2, 9; 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm; Thursdays, March 28, April 4, 11; 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. The income-tax-preparation assistance is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call the library system’s Communications Office at 281-633-4734.

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VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

BOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD Section 2

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www.voiceofasia.news

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Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Elizabeth Hurley recreates iconic safety pin dress that put her in the spotlight 25 years ago

‘Can’t wait,’ says Varun Dhawan as he praises Deepika Padukone’s Chhapaak look

Priyanka, Kartik react too

by Amman Khurana

hile fans are totally in awe of Deepika Padukone’s transformation for Chhapaak, her peers in Bollywood can’t stop praising it. A host of them took to Twitter to hail DP’s new avatar and send her good wishes.

Deepika Padukone, on Monday morning, unveiled her first look from Chhapaak, her next with director Meghna Gulzar. The film is based on the life of Delhi-based acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal and the actress, we must say, looks like a mirror image of the subject. In the first instance, it is hard to believe that the lady in the photo is not Laxmi but Deepika.

t’s been more than two decades since Elizabeth Hurley first stepped onto a red carpet bearing lots of skin in a black Versace dress featuring risqué cutouts held together by gold safety pins. Now, 25 years later, the 53-year-old actress is slipping back into a reimagined version of the same dress — and looking just as striking as before.

while paying homage to the piece that skyrocketed her career.

Hurley wore a version of the dress for a feature in the April issue of Harper’s Bazaar. And although she told the publication that the pre-fall 2019 collection piece is a “more demure” interpretation of what she once wore, Hurley still manages to pull off a number of cutouts in the updated number

Luckily, she was given a contact for a public relations agency that would eventually lend her something to wear. When the dress was presented to her in a white plastic bag, however, she didn’t realize just what impact it would have on her life.

“I was so unprepared for what happened that night,” Hurley said of the 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere that she attended as Hugh Grant’s date. “I urgently needed to find a dress to wear for Hugh’s premiere, and in those days I had no idea about fashion.”

- Yahoo! News

‘Game of Thrones’ star Emilia Clarke reveals near-fatal brain aneurysms

As one would have expected, the look has created ripples all over social media. #Chhapaak, in fact, is trending on second spot on Twitter even as we write this. While fans are totally in

The British actress -- who plays Daenerys Targaryen on the blockbuster show about to enter its final season -- wrote that the first aneurysm rupture struck while she was at the gym in February 2011, just after filming the first season. “At some level, I knew what was happening: my brain was damaged,” the 32-year-old wrote in The New Yorker magazine in her piece entitled “A Battle For My Life.” “For a few moments, I tried to will away the pain and the nausea,” she continued. “To keep my memory alive, I tried to recall, among other things, some lines from ‘Game of Thrones.’” Clarke was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage -- a form of stroke triggered by bleeding into areas that surround the brain, which kills about one third of the patients it strikes. She was 24 at the time of her first brain surgery, and said the recovery period in which she could not even recall her own name -- a condition called aphasia -- gave her “a sense of doom.”

“In my worst moments, I wanted to pull the plug. I asked the medical staff to let me die,” Clarke said. “My job -my entire dream of what my life would be -- centered on language, on communication. Without that, I was lost.” The condition passed and Clarke left the hospital one month after her admission -- but doctors had found she had a second aneurysm that could rupture at any moment. “Even before we began filming Season 2, I was deeply unsure of myself. I was often so woozy, so weak, that I thought I was going to die,” Clarke wrote, saying she took morphine between interviews while promoting the acclaimed show. During a routine brain scan doctors found her growth had doubled in size and decided to operate -- a seemingly simple procedure that resulted in major complications and another month in the hospital. Today, Clarke says she has “healed beyond my most unreasonable hopes,” and helped develop a charity to offer treatment to patients recovering from stroke and brain injuries. “There is something gratifying, and beyond lucky, about coming to the end of ‘Thrones,’” Clarke wrote. “I’m so happy to be here to see the end of this story and the beginning of whatever comes next.”

Alia Bhatt, who was among the first ones to react to the look, used the clapping hands emoji to compliment DP. Vicky Kaushal wrote, “How amazing is this! Can’t wait already. Best wishes to Team #Chhapaak ...@ meghnagulzar @deepikapadukone @ masseysahib”

Rajkummar Rao, who was rumoured to have been cast opposite Deepika in the film before Vikrant Massey came on board, posted, “This is brilliant. Can’t wait to see you as #Malti. It’s path breaking. More power to you Deepika.” Chhapaak is a joint production venture between Fox Star Studios, KA Entertainment and Mriga Films. The film has gone on floors in New Delhi today. It is scheduled to release on January 10 next year. - Times Now News

EW DEHLI | AFP | Tuesday 3/26/2019 - India’s main opposition Congress party has petitioned election officials to delay the release of a flattering new Bollywood biopic about Prime Minister Narendra Modi until after upcoming elections. Critics have said the film, due for release on April 5, is blatant propaganda and an attempt to woo voters before polls open six days later in India’s almost six-week election. Congress, which hopes to unseat Modi in the vote, said on Monday that screening the movie, “PM Narendra Modi”, would break election laws and that it should not hit cinemas until after voting ends on May 19.

The movie relates the Hindu rightwing leader’s journey from his childhood days selling tea at a railway station to becoming chief minister of his home state Gujarat and leading his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a thumping victory against the Congress in 2014 elections.

ONDON | AFP | Saturday 3/23/2019 - “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke suffered two nearly fatal brain aneurysms in the early years of filming the hit series, she said in an essay published Thursday.

awe of Deepika’s unbelievable transformation, her peers in Bollywood can’t stop praising it. A host of them took to the micro-blogging platform to hail Deepika’s new avatar and send the actress good wishes.

India opposition urges delay to Modi biopic as election looms

“This is no artistic venture. It is a political venture and that is what we have told the Election Commission and should not be allowed,” senior Congress figure and former minister Kapil Sibal told reporters.

Emilia Clarke was 24 at the time of her first brain surgery, and said the recovery period in which she could not even recall her own name -- a condition called aphasia -- gave her “a sense of doom.” (© AFP Photo/Angela Weiss)

- Twitter/deepikapadukone

Under Indian election rules now in effect, the publication of any content deemed as campaign material -- including advertisements, films and even social media -- requires the election commission’s prior approval. Another election silence law bans all campaign material, even if approved by the commission, 48 hours from the opening of polls. The commission said they have asked the makers of the Modi film to respond to the Congress’s claims.

The much-vaunted Narendra Modi bio-pic PM Narendra Modi has become the brunt of the biggest troll-torrent in recent times. Its producers would have to show that the film is an artistic rather than a political work. The movie has also become embroiled in another controversy, with two top lyricists publicly denying penning songs for the soundtrack after their names were mentioned in the film poster. The makers released a two-minute trailer of the film last week saying it is “based on a true story”, with Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi playing Modi through various stages of his life. The trailer depicts Modi as a child selling tea and his transformation to a young stick-wielding member of Hindu supremacist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It covers his days as a Hindu “sage” in the Himalayas, and later as a nationalistic politician issuing warnings

to India’s arch-rival Pakistan. The trailer also shows Modi lamenting the deadly riots that erupted in Gujarat when he was chief minister in 2002. Critics and victims’ families have accused Modi of doing little or nothing to stop days of rioting that left more than 1,000 people dead, a majority of them Muslims. Congress’s petition came as Eros Now, an online video platform, on Tuesday released the trailer for its own hagiographical biopic of Modi. “Modi: Journey Of A Common Man”, directed by Bollywood filmmaker Umesh Shukla, releases on the site next month. The ten-part series will “highlight many important incidents that made Modi devote his life for the service of the country,” said a press release announcing the trailer.

Ahaan Panday all set to enter Bollywood!

hunky P a n day’s beautiful daughter, Ananya Panday, is all set to enter Bollywood this year in Student Of the Year 2. But, seems like yet another member of their family is ready to enter the world of glitz and glamour. According to the latest reports in a leading daily, Ahaan Panday, Chunky Panday’s nephew, will soon start his career in Bollywood. The young internet sensation has apparently been roped in as an assistant director for the second part of Rani Mukerji starrer Mardaani. Ahaan is already quite a rage among the youth because of his boyish charm and has a good following on social media too.

Photo: Men’s World India

Earlier it was reported that he had signed a three-film deal with Yash Raj Films. However, it seems like acting will come later for him as he is kick-starting his career as an assistant director soon. Well, keep watching this space for more updates on B-town. - Filmfare

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Mala Sharma

oncussion injuries are very common as a result of automobile collisions and also one type of traumatic brain injury. TBIs may lead to long-term or permanent mental and physical problems, difficulty with daily activities, and possibly death. Thus, it is imperative to understand this injury, symptoms and signs, getting treatment quickly, and knowing your rights to recover these damages, including cost of medical care, lost income, mental anguish, and physical pain. It is in your best interest to contact an experience personal injury attorney as soon as possible to help you recover the maximum compensation you are entitled. Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury caused from auto accidents and slip and falls. The other types of brain injuries include: contusion, coup-contrecoup, and diffuse axonal injuries. Concussions occur when the brain is jolted and strikes the skull due to a forceful blow or impact on the head. Symptoms

Those who have suffered from a traumatic brain injury during any type of car or trucking accident are entitled to get all necessary treatment immediately, hold the at fault party accountable, and recover full compensation. Treatment begins with going to the hospital emergency center, letting your doctor know about your head trauma, receiving a CT scan, and also seeing a neurologist. When a brain injury claim is filed, recoverable damages include: past medical treatment, cost of future medical

treatment, medical equipment expenses, rehabilitation, cost of long-term care, lost income, loss of earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Please contact a qualified personal injury attorney immediately after an accident to pursue your brain injury claim again for the maximum recovery! About Mala Sharma Mala Sharma has been practicing family law and personal injury with her family at the Law Offices of Sharma & Associates, founded in 1997. Mala is President Emeritus of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, Board member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and South Asian Bar Association. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association. Disclaimer: This material is available for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. If you require advice on any particular legal question, you may contact Sharma & Associates at 281-893-8644 or by email at mala@sharmalaws.net to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

by Charlotte Plantive

ASHINGTON | AFP | Tuesday 3/26/2019 - The US Supreme Court appeared sharply divided on Tuesday as it heard a politically charged case about gerrymandering, the dark art of drawing electoral maps to extract partisan advantage. The nine justices of the nation’s top court seemed split along ideological lines as they heard arguments in a case that could reshape the future of American politics. The five conservative justices appeared inclined to let the states continue to work out solutions to the vexed question, which has sparked calls for reform from public figures including action star and erstwhile politician Arnold Schwarzenegger. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, noted that some 20 states have already taken measures to crack down on gerrymandering. “Why should we weigh into this?” Gorsuch asked. The four liberal justices, however, seemed ready to wade in. The latest gerrymandering cases to come before the court are from North Carolina, where Republican lawmakers are accused of devising electoral maps to favor themselves, and Maryland, where Democrats have allegedly done the same. Under the US constitution, congressional seats are redrawn every decade during census years to account for population growth. But the party in power at the time frequently tilts the playing field to their own advantage by carving out districts packed with voters that benefit their candidates. In the North Carolina case, the Republican authors of the

2016 congressional map explicitly stated their intentions. - ‘People are bragging’ “I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats,” said a member of the redistricting committee, “because I do not believe it’s possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.” The plan was successful: in the 2018 congressional vote, Democrats won a majority of votes statewide, but only three of the 13 districts. The Maryland case hinges on one rural district which remained in the hands of the same Republican for 20 years. It underwent a redistricting exercise in 2012, which added more urban voters, and flipped to the Democrats two years later. Elena Kagan, one of the four liberal justices, said it appeared wrong for the court to “leave all this to professional politicians” who “have an interest in districting according to their own partisan interests.” “People are bragging,” Kagan said, “because they think it’s perfectly legal to do so.” Another liberal justice, Stephen Breyer, said he feared the amount of gerrymandering would only get worse over time. “Politicians consider politics, yes,” Breyer said. “Our problem is ‘When is it too much?’” “There was not that much gerrymandering in the past compared to what there might be with computers in the future,” he went on. “What I am trying to do is to figure out if there is a way to catch real outliers.” - ‘Workable standard’ Gerrymandering came before the Supreme Court in cases related to Wisconsin and Maryland last year, but both were kicked back to lower courts on

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

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT K-1 FIANCE(E) VISA

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Q: visa?

procedural grounds. When it last considered such a case in 2004, the court voted 5-4 against reforming the system. Judge Anthony Kennedy tipped the balance by voting against reform -- but said he might be persuaded in future if courts were presented with a “workable standard” by which to assess whether a district had been gerrymandered. With Kennedy’s retirement however, the make-up of the court has changed.

A: The Fiance(e) visa, also known as the K-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa which allows your foreign citizen fiancé(e) to legally come to the United States to marry you within 90 days of his or her entry. Q; I am a Legal Permanent Resident. Can I petition for my Fiancee? What are the requirements to apply for a Fiancé(e) visa? A: Only US Citizens can petition for their fiancé or fiancée. The requirement for the Fiance(e) visa are as follows: You and your fiancé must have met in person at least one time in the last 2 years prior to filing the petition for the K-1 visa (but this can be waived based on prevailing cultural customs or extreme hardship); you must intend to marry your fiancé(e) – within 90 days of his or her arrival in the US and you both must also be legally free to enter into the marriage and remain unmarried until your fiancé(e) arrives here in the United States to marry you.

O O R P

“We must terminate gerrymandering,” Schwarzenegger said. “This scam has been going on for too long. “Both parties have been gerrymandering,” he said. “It is a national disgrace, a national scandal.” The portmanteau “gerrymander” was coined after Elbridge Gerry, the governor of Massachusetts, who signed a law in 1812 that created a voting district in Boston that resembled a salamander.

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A: If you came to the United States on a K-1 visa, but end up not marrying your current K-1 Petitioner, you cannot adjust status through marriage to another US Citizen at this time. Your K-1 status automatically expires after 90 days and you will need to leave the United States at the end of the 90 day period. The other US Citizen to whom you now wish to marry can then petition for a new K-1 visa for you to come to the United States to marry her.

Disclaimer: Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case.

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

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www.richardsimmigration.com

At the same time, he said the US Constitution does not say there has to be “proportional representation” in the US Congress.

Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California best known for playing ruthless cyborg assassin “The Terminator,” joined protestors outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday to argue for an end to gerrymandering.

A: Your fiancee will be the K-1 visa holder and her minor children receive K-2 visas. After the K-1 visa holder marries you, the K-1 visa holder will apply for adjustment of status and her minor children under 21 years of age will also be eligible to adjust their status to permanent residence.

Q: I came on a K-1 Fiance visa two months ago. I discovered some serious issues with my Fiancee and I do not wish to marry her. I like to eventually settle here and marry another US Citizen whom I met and obtain my permanent residence that way. Can I do this?

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Kavanaugh appeared somewhat sympathetic on Tuesday to opposing gerrymandering in extreme cases.

“If gerrymandering is defined as a deviation from proportional representation, the Constitution does not contain such a guarantee,” Kavanaugh said.

Q: My fiancee was previously married and she has three minor children. Can her children come with her to the United States? Can the children subsequently become permanent residents?

A: The US Citizen petitioner will first file a petition on Form I-129 F. You will need to provide evidence of your US Citizenship such as copy of biographic page of your US passport, of copy of your Naturalization Certificate or copy of your US Birth Certificate; proof of having met your Fiance(e) at least once in the past two years and this may include

His replacement is conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was appointed by Trump last year.

Read the latest articles and news on IMMIGRATION & LEGAL MATTERS

proof of travel to meet your fiancé(e), hotel reservations in that country, photos with your fiancé etc. If either party was previously married, then also submit proof of legal termination of that prior marriage. You and your fiancée(e) will also need to furnish USCIS with separate proof intent to marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e)’s arrival in the US and this can be in the form of a letter from each of you stating your intention to marry within that period of time and that you are both eligible to marry. In addition, the instructions require for one passport photo from the petitioner and also the beneficiary. The current Filing Fee for the Form I-129F is $535.00. Once the petition is approved, your fiancé(e) will then need to file for issuance of the nonimmigrant K-1 visa at the US consulate abroad by submitting Form DS-160 which can be obtained online. Your fiancé(e) will then need to attend an interview for the K-1 visa issuance. Your fiancé(e) then enters the United States with the K-1 visa and you and your fiancé must marry within the 90 day period. After the marriage has taken place, your fiancé(e) will then need to file her adjustment application with USCIS in order to become a permanent resident.

What is a Fiancé(e)

Q: What immigration Form to use to apply for a Fiance(e) visa? What documents do I need to submit for the petition and how much is the Filing Fee? Can you also explain the process involved to get the K-1 visa?

US Supreme Court divided over gerrymandering case

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PERSONAL INJURY: CONCUSSIONS AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES FROM MOVING VEHICLE ACCIDENTS are not always noticeable immediately after an accident and a person does not need to lose consciousness to receive a concussion. Contusions are bruises on the brain, as a result from a hard impact that causes swelling and then blood clots. Coup-contrecoup results when a contusion forms on the side of impact as well as opposite. Diffuse axonal injuries occur when the axons in the brain tear as a result of the brain shifting inside the skull during a traumatic head injury. Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include unending headaches, pain, nausea, dizziness, ringing in the ears, problems communicating, and fatigue. More serious side effects include seizures, loss of coordination, mood shifts, depression, difficulty with memory, vomiting, numbness, confusion, and inability to sleep.

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Judge recommends partial ban on iPhone imports

AN FRANCISO | AFP | Tuesday 3/26/2019 A US trade judge ruled Tuesday that Apple had violated a Qualcomm chipmaker patent and said she would recommend banning imports of some iPhones. International Trade Commission administrative law specialist MaryJoan McNamara wrote in a ruling that she would be recommending a “limited exclusion order together with a cease and desist order” against Apple. The company will not be required to post a bond while the order is under review by

US President Donald Trump because the iPhones don’t directly compete with any Qualcomm products, according to the ruling. The Californian tech giants have been locked in a longrunning battle over patents and royalties that has played out in courts and administrative bodies worldwide. Apple accuses Qualcomm of charging for invalid patents and claims the chipmaker was seeking a disproportionate amount for a single component. Last week, Qualcomm won a $31 million verdict in its multi-front war with Apple

over patented technology used in iPhones. A jury in a federal court in Southern California ordered Apple to pay Qualcomm for patent infringement for chips used on iPhone 7, 8 and X models. Patents at issue in that case involved “flashless booting” that allows devices to connect quickly to the internet after being turned on and technology that lets smartphone apps move online data efficiently. A third patent related to promoting rich graphics in games while protecting battery life, according to Qualcomm.

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Body of Indian student killed in New Zealand attack returns home

Students Compete at 2019 Texas Science and Engineering Fair

OCHI, India | AFP | Monday 3/25/2019 The body of an Indian student killed in the Christchurch mosque attacks was returned Monday to her grieving family in Kochi, where relatives remembered a bright young woman dedicated to her studies.

18th Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF)

Masters student Ansi Alibava, 25, was among at least five Indians shot dead by a white supremacist in New Zealand on March 15 and her body was the first of two to be repatriated.

he Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) continues its commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and the success of tomorrow’s workforce by co-sponsoring the Texas Science and Engineering Fair for the 18th consecutive year with ExxonMobil. More than 1,400 Texas middle and high school students

Her body arrived at an airport in Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala early on Monday where it was received by relatives and government officials.

The body of Ansi Alibava, who was killed during the New Zealand mosque attacks, is carried upon arrival at Cochin International Airport in Kochi on March 25, 2019. (AFP photo)

It was then taken to her nearby hometown of Kodungallur and put on display -- her mother Razia and brother Asif Ali weeping over the coffin -before a funeral.

When gunfire broke out, Nazer managed to flee through an emergency exit but his wife did not make it.

“She hails from a poor family and her whole family counted on her. She was a girl who took up the challenge to succeed in life in all adverse circumstances,” said K. I. Noushad, Alibava’s uncle. She was praying at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch with her husband, Abdul Nazer, when the Australian gunman opened fire on worshippers, killing 43. Another seven were murdered at a separate mosque when the shooter later turned his weapon on Muslims there in the worst violence of its kind ever seen in New Zealand. Some families have opted for burials in Christchurch itself, where a national remembrance service for the victims will be

held on Friday, two weeks after the tragedy that shocked the world. Alibava started supporting her family after her father died five years ago in Saudi Arabia where he had been working. She took out thousands of dollars in loans to fund her studies in business agriculture at Christchurch’s Lincoln University. Alibava’s cousin, P.H. Niyas, told AFP the dedicated student was soon to finish her studies. “She had gone there last year, the course was due to finish by April. There was to be a sixmonth training (course) after which she was to return home by December,” said Niyas. - Supermarket job Alibava also worked parttime at a supermarket with Nazer, who she married two years ago. On March 15, they went to the Al Noor Mosque and sat separately in the men and

women’s sections.

When he returned to look for her, Nazer found his young wife motionless and face down, according to Indian media reports. He was officially informed of her death 24 hours after the massacre. Another Indian family who lost relatives in the attack opted for burial in Christchurch. Father and son Asif Vora and Rameez Vora hailed from Gujarat, in western India, and were visiting family in New Zealand when they were killed. The body of another victim also from Gujarat, Maheboob Khokhar, was expected to arrive late Monday at Ahmedabad airport. The body was due to be taken to a mosque for prayers and then to a burial ground.

by Chris Quintana

ayna Achmar, who had been studying clinical psychology at the Chicago branch of Argosy University for three years, was blindsided when the college closed this month. The last days were “chaotic and emotional,” she said. Professors emptied out their offices, while students ran around trying to get their academic records. Even the library was giving away its books. None of this had been on her mind when the 32-year-old enrolled at the university years ago, hoping to get her doctorate. Several people close to her had gone to the for-profit university, and it was accredited, so she thought it was safe. Over the past semester, Argosy crumbled, it seemed, with little notice.

There were warning signs, though students unfamiliar with the world of higher education may not have known where to look for them.

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In many cases, that unfamiliarity was what brought them to an Argosy branch in the first place. Here’s what many of them didn’t know. For-profit or nonprofit? Most American colleges are tax-exempt. Whether they’re public or private, revenue from tuition and donations are supposed to go back into the university. For-profits like Argosy University are supposed to make money. (Argosy tried to convert to a nonprofit college in 2017, but the U.S. Department of Education rejected that change before the college closed.) Those universities often appeal to students for their ease of access and flexible hours: They often offer classes close to where students live and at night, to accommodate work schedules. They make enrolling easy andmarket to students a clear career path and a better life in an attainable time frame.

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In the fall 2018 semester, U.S. four-year for-profits enrolled nearly 765,000 students. (That’s down about 15 percent from fall 2017.) They advertise with great gusto and capture attention in a way that, say, a community college can’t. They also have a reputation for high-profile closures. In 2018, the Education Corp. of America’s 75 campuses shut their doors. In 2016, ITT Technical Institute closed. In 2015, it was the for-profit Corinthian College that fell. The list goes on: More than 100,000 students have been displaced by closings of colleges chains since 2015, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Often, the closures came after the federal government had started monitoring the colleges’ use of student-loan money.

HOUChildrenFest

The fair is hosted by Texas A&M University and begins with registration and project set up at the Ford Hall of Champions (HOC) and the All-American Club (AAC) on Friday, March 29, culminating with an awards presenta-

tion on Saturday, March 30, at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station. Alie Ward, Daytime Emmy Award-winning science correspondent for CBS’s “The Henry Ford Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca,” and host of the CW’s “Did I Mention Invention?” will deliver the keynote address at the awards presentation on Saturday evening.

A college closed, leaving thousands without a degree. How to keep it from happening to you

“I am not just devastated for myself, but for the professors and everyone else affected,” Achmar said.

MARCH 30 & 31

will present their outstanding projects in science and engineering at the 2019 Texas Science and Engineering Fair.

But why? The reason dozens of for-profit colleges closed in December When colleges close, stu-

dents must pick up the pieces. And while they can in many cases get their federal student loan forgiven, there is no making up for lost time or the income they gave up while they were in class. It’s also unclear if other institutions will take the credits they earned. Even those who complete their programs might still find themselves at a disadvantage. More debt, lower salaries Those who attend a for-profit certificate program are 1.5 percent less likely to be employed, compared with peers in a public program. The for-profit students, if they find employment, also earn 11 percent less than their counterparts, according to a study co-authored by Stephanie R. Cellini, a professor at George Washington University who studies for-profits. Research is clear, Cellini said: Students at for-profit universities take on more debt, and often the future gains don’t materialize. But those enrolled don’t seem to know that. In many cases, they don’t even know if they’re enrolled at a public or private institution. In a study by the Department of Labor, students were asked to identify if they attended a public or private university. Many failed, Cellini said, to properly identify what kind of college they attended. Students at for-profit schools also have the hardest time paying back their federal students loans. According to the Department of Education, from fall 2014 to fall 2017, 15.6 percent of for-profit students who started to repay their loans eventually defaulted. In contrast, only about 10 percent of students who went to public schools defaulted, and roughly 7 percent of privateschool students. Then why enroll? It’s easy — and the degrees make more sense “Flexible learning,” an “affordable tiered tuition plan” and more than “$16 million in scholarships” in the past academic year, Argosy University’s website boasted as recently as Feb. 20. The site also touted nearly 101,000 graduates and small class sizes. “Perhaps your next step should be on our campus,” the site read. Argosy made a good pitch, and it made enrolling easy, too. Many for-profits forgo a drawn-out admissions process or long waits for acceptances. “The admissions offices at for-profits are often ‘one-stop’ shops that make it easy to enroll,” said William Tierney, a professor of higher education at the University of Southern California. “But the student is frequently not aware of what they have gotten themselves into.” What’s more, for-profits offer what appear to be clear connections between degrees and jobs.

That’s helpful to students who may be unfamiliar with college and the value of a traditional degree. People with a degree in English, for example, don’t work in “English.” They may be technical writers, teachers or even journalists. “There are an awful lot of kids who have no idea how to proceed,” said Guilbert Hentschke, a professor of education at the University of Southern California. (If that’s you, a great place to start is by asking a college admissions office for help navigating the application process or for examples of which degrees can lead to certain careers.) Still, for-profits can fill an important need in preparing students for careers not typically associated with a traditional university education, said Steve Gunderson, president of the Association of Career Education Colleges and Universities, which are for-profit schools. His group has been pushing for an oversight group, preferably through the U.S. Department of Education, that would monitor struggling for-profits and oversee transfers of students when a for-profit suddenly closes. Some warning signs include institutions that are bleeding students or bad student outcomes, which could include low graduation rates. So what’s the best way to avoid an institution that might go belly-up? Research, said Cellini. The College Scorecard, which is run by the U.S. Department of Education, collects important metrics about universities such as their graduation rates, the average annual cost and how much students earn after graduating. It also details if the school is public, private or for-profit. Accreditation alone shouldn’t put people’s mind at ease, both Cellini and Hentschke said. Different accrediting groups have different criteria. Regional agencies tend to have stricter standards than national accrediting groups, Cellini said. Information about Argosy’s financial health likely would have benefited Achmar. She has identified some schools that might take all her credits, though others may require her to take additional classes. She again fells in limbo, and the stress has inflamed a chronic medical condition. But it seems like all she can do now is wait. “Maybe if I understood more of the business side of things, I would have been more of an informed consumer,” she said. “I am definitely more cautious now. I have been screwed by a system. I expected that system to advocate for me and make things right, and they didn’t.” - USA Today

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Millions malnourished in Pakistan despite abundance of food

Health Insurance Exchanges 2019 Open Enrollment Report

by Ashraf Khan

ARACHI, Pakistan | AFP | Sunday 3/23/2019 - A frantic mother cradling her sevenmonth-old baby rushes towards the special paediatric ward in a desolate Pakistan town, his eyes are blank and he is smaller than most newborns. He is starving in a country that has no shortage of food, but which has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world and where malnutrition is rife. The infant weighs just 2.5 kilograms -- the average for a healthy child of that age is almost three times that. His case is not unique for the doctors at the Mithi Civil Hospital in hungerstricken Sindh province where millions survive on less than $1 a day. Of the 150-250 patients who come in each day, roughly one fifth are suffering from malnutrition, Dr Dilip Kumar, head of the paediatric department, tells AFP. Inside the ward, nine other malnourished infants are crying inside glass incubators. A young mother, Nazeeran, clutches the hand of her toddler. “Her weight is dropping, even though we consulted many doctors,” the 25-year-old says. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a poverty and hunger watchdog, estimates around one in five of Pakistan’s more than 200 million people are malnourished. And yet, the nation is not short of food -- in fact, according to the US Department of Agriculture, it is projected to export 500,000 tons of wheat from May 2018 until April 2019, and 7.4 million tons of rice in the same period. Dawn, the English-language daily newspaper, even reported a potato glut earlier this month. - Extreme deprivation The issues, experts say, are socioeconomic -- that is, just because food is available, does not mean people can access it. “There are four key pillars of food security in Pakistan: The first is availability, then accessibility, utilisation and stability,” says Dr Ambreen Fatima, senior research economist at the Applied Economic Research Centre of the Karachi University. In Tharparkar, where Mithi Civil Hospital is, all four are lacking, she explains, adding that in other parts of the country they are present only to varying degrees. “Pakistan is quite well off in wheat production,” comments Dr Kaiser Bengali, a veteran economist, who has done field research on poverty and hunger in the country, but adds that much of it is sold for export. This means ordinary people in the country may not have access to it, and if they do they may not have the resources to pay for it. “Affordability is the biggest challenge here in Pakistan,” he says. Karachi is Pakistan’s financial capital, but Bengali says he has seen alarming examples of poverty and deprivation there.

The International Food Policy Research Institute estimates around one in five of Pakistan’s more than 200 million people are malnourished. (AFP Photo) “In our surveys we came across the kids who had never eaten an apple, and when we offered him an apple he was reluctant to take the bite wondering whether it was an edible thing or not,” Bengali reveals. “In another case a family had never had eggs in their whole lives,” he adds. A survey of the state-run Planning Division in 2017 found that 40 percent of Pakistan’s population lives in multi-dimensional poverty. That means they are not just short of money, but are also facing a shortage of basic needs, including health, clean water, and electricity, among other factors -- all of which can impact their access to food. - Cycle of malnutrition “Poor physical infrastructure, particularly in the remote rural areas throughout Pakistan is also a limitation on access to food and influences market prices,” according to a recent statement from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “This is also linked to inadequate water and sanitation, education and health service delivery, which together with the lack of awareness of appropriate dietary intake contributes to greater food insecurity and malnutrition.” Tharparkar district is frequently highlighted in Pakistan’s media because of its high rate of child deaths, with politicians blaming the situation

on drought -- but economists and physicians say that is not the sole explanation. “Causes of malnutrition are multiple pregnancies, young-aged marriage, iron deficiency in mothers, (lack) of breastfeeding, weak immunization, and early weaning,” Dr Kumar insists. Bearing large numbers of children from a young age takes its toll on women’s health, but also impacts the well-being of the foetus and ability to breastfeed a newborn. In Pakistan, only 38 percent of babies are fed breast milk exclusively during their first six months in line with UN recommendations. This low figure is blamed on local traditions, the heavy workloads of mothers and powerful marketing by the milk industry. Many mothers are told to feed their newborns tea, herbs, which can stunt growth. Some are unnecessarily persuaded to use formula instead of breastmilk by doctors. This can introduce health problems if the water use to make it is unclean, or if poor families scrimp on the amount of powder to create the drink. Sindh’s high number of child deaths are the result of a vicious poverty cycle that begins with malnourished mothers, agrees Bengali. He adds: “An infant is not fed with wheat or solid food.”

Bayer announces settlement to resolve Xarelto litigation

ERLIN, Germany | AFP | Monday 3/25/2019 - German drugs giant Bayer said Monday it and its US partner Janssen Pharmaceuticals had agreed in principle to jointly pay nearly $800 million to settle a legal dispute over anticoagulant Xarelto. The cost would be shared equally by both companies to resolve almost all of the “approximately 25,000 Xarelto claims in the United States,” Leverku-

sen-based Bayer said in a statement. Both companies reserved the right to withdraw from the $775 million (685 million euro) settlement if an insufficient number of plaintiffs accept it, Bayer said. “More than five years after the Xarelto litigation began, and with Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals prevailing in all six cases that went to trial, the companies have reached an agreement in principle to settle in the amount of 775 million US dollars,” Bayer said in a statement. While plaintiffs have claimed side effects, the German company has insisted that its medication has been successfully prescribed to 45 million people around the world. “Bayer con-

he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released the Health Insurance Exchanges 2019 Open Enrollment Report. With the Trump Administration’s focus on making healthcare more affordable, the report confirms another successful open enrollment period coinciding with a stabilization of premiums after years of substantial increases. Specifically, the report shows plan selections in Exchange plans in the 50 states and D.C. remained steady at 11.4 million. This represents a minimal decline of around 300,000 plan selections from the same time last year. Also, as outlined in the report, average total premiums for plans selected through HealthCare. gov dropped by 1.5 percent from the prior year, the first decline since the Exchanges began operations in 2014. In addition to this report, as part of the Administration’s commitment to ensure access to affordable coverage options, CMS is also issuing guidance extending for one additional year, the non-enforcement policy to allow issuers to continue certain health plans, often referred to as “grand-mothered” plans, which do not meet all the many mandates and restrictions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). These plans can be more affordable for people who choose to renew coverage with them. Extending these grand-mothered policies will allow consumers to maintain more affordable coverage than they would have access to through PPACA plans. “Not extending the grand-mothered plan policy would cancel plans that are meeting people’s needs today and, as a result, force people to decide between buying coverage they cannot afford on the individual market or going uninsured,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “By extending the grand-mothered plan policy, we are following through on our commitment to protect those left behind by Obamacare.” While the overall number of plan selections decreased from the previous year, this decrease in plan selections could likely be attributed to a lower demand for Exchange coverage. The strong economy and growing employment likely increased the number of people with access to employer-sponsored coverage and, in turn, reduced demand for subsidized health coverage offered on the Exchanges. Another factor that reduced demand for Exchange coverage, were the roughly 100,000 people who were enrolled in the Exchange in Virginia at the end of 2018 and reported incomes that would make them eligible for the new Virginia Medicaid expansion in 2019. Demographic data provided in the report also demonstrate stability on the Exchanges. The percent of young adults aged 18-34 who selected a plan through HealthCare. gov remained unchanged from the prior year at 26 percent. The demographic proportions by gender, race,

tinues to believe these claims are without merit and there is no admission of liability under the agreement,” it said. “However, this favourable settlement allows the company to avoid the distraction and significant cost of continued litigation.” Bayer and Janssen, a subsidiary of

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900 income, and rural and non-rural also remained largely unchanged. “Another year of stable enrollment through the Exchanges directly reflects the strong work CMS staff put into ensuring that Exchange consumers experience a seamless enrollment process free from unnecessary hurdles and IT glitches,” said Administrator Verma. “It is no coincidence enrollment remained strong when the Exchange call center maintained a record high 90 percent satisfaction rate and no waiting rooms were needed in the final, busiest days of enrollment.” The report also shows the average monthly premiums for plans purchased through HealthCare.gov before taking advantage of advanced payments of the premium tax credits available to eligible consumers was $612, down from $621 for the previous open enrollment period (OEP). After these advanced payments are applied, the average premium was $87 compared to $89 for the prior OEP. This decline in premiums, however, follows a 23 percent average premium increase in 2017 and another 31 percent increase in 2018. Such large premium increases in previous years made premiums substantially less affordable for people who do not qualify for subsidies. This small decline in premiums in 2019 moves in the right direction, but, for unsubsidized people, premiums remain considerably higher than before the PPACA’s main requirements were implemented in 2014. Recognizing individual health insurance premiums are no longer affordable for a great many Americans, the Trump Administration is committed to expanding more affordable coverage options to this group of people left behind by the PPACA, which spurred recent actions to expand access to association health plans and short-term health plans, as well as the extension of the grand-mothered plan policy issued in guidance today. Source: CMS To select Medicare Plan, Individual Healthcare Plan or Small Business group plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

Johnson & Johnson, jointly developed the oral anticoagulant drug, and Janssen markets it in the United States. The deal comes as Bayer faces far bigger legal troubles following its takeover of agrochemicals giant Monsanto, whose glyphosate weedkillers Roundup and Ranger Pro have been linked by litigants to cancer.

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VOICE OF ASIA 18

Follow this diet and save the earth, experts say

DIET & EXERCISE

There’s a new diet which has nothing to do with body weight, but rather the ‘weight of human consumption’ on our planet. Here’s what it entails and why we should change our habits.

e’ve all come across our fair share of diets, but for the first time ever medical experts are suggesting that all humans follow the same diet – not for the sake of our waistlines, but for the survival of the earth.

variety of plant-based foods, and there are excellent sources of plant proteins that provide our complete amino acid requirements. Getting used to eating less meat, eggs and dairy doesn’t mean we won’t be eating delicious meals. “Every little

It took me years to separate working out from trying to lose weight. Here’s how I did it by Louise Green

or many years exercise was, to me, purely a tool to manipulate my body. For me, the purpose of exercise was to burn calories or to create an energy deficit so I could “cheat” and eat the foods I really wanted, which I had decided (with some help from diet culture) were “bad” to eat and even morally “wrong” to want in the first place. Exercise was how I punished myself for what I’d eaten and sometimes what I wanted to eat. Whether I considered a workout a success was totally conditional and tethered to the calories I burned or the numbers I was seeing on the scale. And fitness wasn’t the only thing that I judged by whether I was losing weight; my self-worth got the same treatment. My whole vibe around exercise was negative and harsh; it’s no wonder I had a hard time sticking with it consistently. My mind always went back to debits and credits of calories and fuel. It was a mind-set I couldn’t shake.

Eating in a more sustainable manner is not only healthier for us, but also guarantees a future for the generations to come. (Image: AdobeStock) According to a press release, the EAT-Lancet Commission brought together more than 30 world-leading experts to figure out if we can feed a future population of 10 billion people a healthy diet within sustainable planetary boundaries. The healthy eating plan they subsequently developed, and are now promoting to governments and other agencies around the world, is closely aligned to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for healthy diets and the current trend of prioritising plant-based foods over a diet rich in meat products. Lecturer at North-West University and spokesperson for ADSA (Association for Dietetics in South Africa) Dr Mariaan Wicks describes the planetary health diet as “…rich in plant-based foods, with fewer animal source foods and limited amounts of added sugars”. The planetary health plate consists of approximately half a plate of nonstarchy vegetables and fruits, preferably locally produced, fresh and in season. The other half of the plate should primarily consist of whole grains, plant protein sources such as legumes and nuts, with only modest amounts of unsaturated plant oils and animal sources of proteins. Why is the planetary health diet good for the earth? The world’s food systems are grappling with the issues of needing to produce more food for a growing population on a planet where the sustainable boundaries have already been breached. The EAT-Lancet researchers looked at how to feed more people while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preventing further species extinction, curbing the expansion of farmland and conserving water. Their recommendation to reduce our consumption of animal protein is based on the fact that its production has the highest detrimental impact on the environment. Not big on meat, but eating a lot of packaged treats? Processed foods have the same far-reaching effects on the planet. According to Dr Wicks, our will to create a more sustainable world for future generations makes changing our diets inevitable. “The composition of our diets determines the impact of food on the environment, and the food system is where the domains of our health and the health of the environment meet,” she says. “Earth is our home, and it is the only one we have. The responsibility to take care of the planet falls on each one of us, and therefore, dietary adaptions are essential.” How do we change to the planetary health diet? Following the planetary health diet will demand different changes for different peoples and different countries. In South Africa, the biggest impacts would be the reduced intake of animal proteins, added sugars and starchy vegetables. Globally, the eating plan aims to halve the world’s consumption of red meat, and to achieve that goal, the world’s top red meat-eating countries, such as the USA, need to reduce their consumption by 80%, which equates to eating one hamburger a week, or a big steak once a month. Dr Wicks advises that South Africans can take small steps towards eating more sustainably rather than making sweeping changes. The planetary health diet offers an incredible

change can make a big difference,” says Dr Wicks. “Start with little easy changes, and then as you become more comfortable and familiar, add new changes.” Dr Wicks points out that eating more sustainably is not just about food choices but also includes food packaging issues and how we can reduce food waste. Her examples of simple changes that we as South Africans can make to eat more sustainably include: Rethink the amount of meat you consume in your regular diet. Little changes such as reducing your portion size and the amount of times in a specific day or week that you consume meat, especially red meat, can contribute greatly to reducing your carbon footprint. Try to include at least one meatfree day in your week, for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Experiment with beans, lentils and chickpeas in place of meat. There are fantastic recipes available online that are easy and affordable. My personal favourites are tomato-based wholewheat pasta dishes and a chickpea, black bean and cauliflower curry with brown rice. Exchange your breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausage for a delicious vegetarian omelette with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and peppers. Develop a week menu and plan your meals and food shopping for the week. By having a clear plan for what you want to buy, you will not only save money and time but will also limit your food waste. Limit the amount of meat included in your weekend braai to only one meat option. You can always add other items such as black mushrooms with a garlic butter filling, brinjals in barbeque sauce and vegetable sosaties made with onions, peppers, cherry tomatoes and baby marrows. To reduce dependence on refined starches, experiment with other starchy foods such as brown rice, couscous and whole-wheat pasta. You can replace your starchy vegetables and maize meal side dishes by creating other fantastic side dishes simply by adding these starchy foods to your salads and vegetables. Include some lentils or chickpeas for a complete meal. Rethink what you do with food waste. Using leftovers for the next day’s lunchboxes or freezing the remaining sauces as a basis for a next meal is a good start. Buy fresh, seasonal, locally-produced fruit and vegetables, and limit pre-cut and pre-packaged fruits and vegetables. By doing this you will not only save money but will also dramatically reduce your plastic use. Choose water instead of sugarsweetened beverages. Use reusable bottles to limit your single-use plastic items.” While the planetary health diet focuses on a sustainable global food system that is better for the environment, it has also been specifically designed to be beneficial to human health. The EAT-Lancet researchers believe that the planetary health diet can save 11 million human lives by reducing overweight, obesity and other diet-related health issues. Because all life is connected and interdependent, what is good for the planet is also good for us. - Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA)

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

If I’m honest, after looking at the National Eating Disorder website, I see now that my unhealthy relationship with exercise definitely checked some of the boxes for symptoms of compulsive exercising. And to be clear, I don’t think that my relationship to exercise was that much different or more severe than the relationship lots of us have to exercise while living in the reality of diet culture. Over many years and through a lot of self-work, my mind-set and behavior have completely changed. I now coach women to reframe their relationship with exercise from punitive and perfectionistic to joyful, empowered, and celebratory. What I know now—that I never could have imagined then—is that exercise can simply be about feeling good in your body or the pure joy of achievement. The rush I feel after finishing a tough workout, maybe one that I didn’t feel like doing in the first place; what if that was enough to make exercise “worth it?” But making this shift in how you relate to exercise doesn’t happen overnight and it definitely doesn’t happen just because you want it to. In my experience, it’s something you have to work at. I had to change a lot of behaviors in order to start thinking about exercise in a new way. But the good news is that it worked for me and I’ve seen it work for my clients. Here’s how I overcame my unhealthy relationship with fitness and weight: 1. I stopped following media or influencers that reinforced diet culture. I started following accounts that celebrated movement and body diversity. If you’re awash in images that reinforce the value of thinness, it’s really tough to stop valuing thinness. That’s it. Of course often times this content is meant to be “fitspo,” but it’s only ever inspired me to feel like however much I did would never be enough. I ditched it all and replaced it with accounts of women who were celebrating their bodies and achievements at all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities. I filled my news feed and inbox with nothing but body positivity and it changed my thought patterns around what it means to achieve fitness milestones in a diversity of bodies. Some of the people I started following are: ultramarathoner Mirna Valerio (@themirnivator), personal train-

Amber Venerable ers Roz the Diva (@rozthediva) and Morit Summers (@moritsummers), and yoga teacher Jessamyn Stanley (@mynameisjessamyn). I started to read books like: Triathlon for Every Woman by Meredith Atwood, Slow Fat Triathlete by Jayne Williams, A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio, Eat, Sweat, Play by Anna Kessel, and Embrace Yourself by Taryn Brumfitt. 2. I started tracking everything other than calories. As someone with a long history of dieting, the only tracking I was accustomed to was logging everything that went in my mouth and any kind of exercise I did. Each day my goal was to make sure those numbers meant that I’d created a caloric deficit. If they did, I would deem the day a good one. If the numbers didn’t line up or worse, if the calories consumed were greater than those burned, it was a bad day. I still can’t believe how much power I gave to numbers! Fortunately there are tons of ways to keep track of things we do for our health. I like to track my moods, mental health, and how I feel about my body. I also keep a log of the exercise I did along with how I slept and how much water I’ve drunk. These are the things that help me keep track of how I’m feeling physically and mentally. If you’re interested in trying a new way of tracking, check out this page from the fitness journal I offer my clients. It will guide you through tracking your workouts (and more) in a way that will focus you on your emotional wellbeing. 3. I planned for the ride to get bumpy every now and again by literally writing extra rest days into my training schedules. In every fitness journey there will be peaks, valleys, and plateaus. For me the peaks are when I’m feeling great, I’m crushing my workouts, and everything is aligned. But when I hit a valley, I’m just not feeling it as much. Then there are plateaus, those frustrating times when you feel like working out just isn’t getting any easier. Guess what? This is normal. Having these ebbs and flows to how you feel and how your workouts feel doesn’t mean you’re failing. In fact, it means you’re succeeding at having an organic, authentic relationship with exercise. Here are some ways I do this is: When I plan my training schedules, I incorporate a plan for potential valleys and prepare programs with some extra

The key to brain health: Light but frequent exercise Researchers are finding new evidence that exercise — even low-intensity, casual physical activity — can boost brain health in the short- and long-term. by Maria Cohut

vidence that exercise can benefit the brain and help maintain cognitive function — including memory — is accumulating. One study, for instance, suggests that engaging even in low-level phyisical activities, such as doing household chores, can help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older adults. Now, a team led by Michelle Voss — from the University of Iowa in Iowa City — has found evidence in support of the notion that the benefits of just one workout can predict the benefits of frequent physical activity in the long run. The team presented these findings at this year’s Cognitive Neuroscience Society’s symposia in San Francisco, CA. As symposium chair Wendy Suzuki, of New York University in New York City, explains, “There is a strong and direct link between physical activity and how your brain works.”

“People still do not link physical health to brain and cognitive health; they think about fitting into a bikini or losing that last pound, not about all the brain systems they are improving and enhancing every time they work out.” However, the new research aims to encourage people to view exercise differently, and other studies presented aim to find better strategies to encourage people to become more physically active — even in communities that may struggle to offer their members the motivation, context, and facilities they need. - Both short- and long-term benefits According to Voss, this study is the first of its kind; it looks at both the short- and long-term benefits that exercise brings to brain health, whereas normally, scientists focus on these two aspects separately. In the study, volunteers agreed to undergo functional MRI scans measuring brain activity and take tests assessing their working memory. - Medical News Today

time to allow for illness or potential injury, just in case. I stopped being so harsh with myself and honor my body when my energy is lower. I ask myself, What would be the best thing for my body right now? Sometimes it is to push through but other times it’s about taking some time to rest. I also have flexibility within my training plans and sometimes move scheduled workouts around. This way, I am still getting the training I need without completely blowing it off. And by the way, if you track and compare those good days against the bad days with the journal sheet, you sometimes can start to see some behavioral patterns and when we have knowledge around our behavior, we have power to change. 4. I totally re-evaluated my relationship to my scale. Truth be told, I didn’t get rid of my scale entirely because I occasionally weigh myself. But it’s gone from my sight line and that puts weighing myself out of my mind, too. It means that if I want to weigh myself I have think through whether it’s a good idea in the moment to follow through with that. This is a really personal decision and we all need to figure out what’s right for ourselves when it comes to weighing ourselves. However, I strongly recommend really thinking through your relationship to the scale. For example, how often do you weigh yourself? Does the number on the scale have a pretty big effect on your mood or your day? Does your weight at a given time influence how much you’ll eat or workout? If you answered yes to any of these, (like I did previously) you may want it gone all together. 5. I stopped doing exercise I didn’t truly enjoy. I remember once doing a fitness program where I worked out intensely for six days a week and followed a fairly stringent meal plan. The main objective of the program was to shed pounds quickly, (yes, I fell for it). For the first time in my life, my knees hurt from all the jumping, my body was taxed, and I was starving. It felt wrong and just plain sucked. Plus—and maybe you already know this from personal experience—fitness geared towards rapid weight loss doesn’t often lead to a sustainable workout routine. So, I stopped doing this program because I was in it for all the wrong reasons. I went back to fitness I enjoyed and returned to training for events such as 5k and 10k races and sprint and olympic triathlons. I found the variety in workouts, mostly in the outdoors, suited my personality. These goals weren’t about weight loss and shredding pounds but more about athletic victory and for me. That is the only motivator that keeps my fitness routines sustainable. It’s really important to align your fitness routine with what makes you feel good. Choosing something that’s too severe can trigger all sorts of unhealthy habits or extreme behaviors. Remember long-term sustainability is the key. Choose something that interests you, that challenges you in a healthy way; find something that you enjoy, and you will be set up for long and happy (although sometimes bumpy!) relationship with working out. And remember that the only person who gets to decide what a sustainable fitness routine is for you is you. There is a fine line between mindful tracking and dedication to your health, and obsessiveness, over-exercise, and chronically standing on the scale. Of course, staying on the emotionally healthy side of that line can be easier said than done. If you find yourself unable to break unhealthy habits or thinking way too much about eating and exercise, consider working with a professional like a therapist or registered dietitian who can help you implement some of these changes. I really think it’s worth it; reflecting not only on the workouts you do but also how you mentally manage the results of your workouts are both equally important in the health equation. Louise Green is a plus-size trainer, founder of the fitness program Body Exchange, and author of Big Fit Girl: Embrace the Body You Have.

VOICE OF ASIA 19

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Tyrannosaurus rex found in Canada is world’s biggest

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Apple TV+ is intriguing, but its success will hinge on pricing by Yoni Heisler

A dinosaur skeleton nicknamed ‘Scotty’ (shown) is the mother of all dinosaurs according to researchers who say they’ve identified the biggest T. Rex in the books. The massive skeleton presents clues as to how the dinosaur lived and died. (Image: Amanda Kelley)

ONTREAL, Canada | AFP - The towering Tyrannosaurus rex discovered in western Canada in 1991 is the world’s biggest, a team of paleontologists said Friday, following a decades-long process of reconstructing its skeleton.

and some were more robust. Scotty exemplifies the robust,” Persons said.

Nicknamed Scotty for a celebratory bottle of scotch consumed the night it was discovered, the T. rex was 13 meters (yards) long and probably weighed more than 8,800 kilos (19,400 pounds), making it bigger than all other carnivorous dinosaurs, the team from the University of Alberta said.

Only now have they been able to study it and realize its uniqueness, which is not limited to its size.

While the giant carnivore’s skeleton was discovered in 1991, paleontologists spent more than a decade just removing the hard sandstone that covered its bones.

“Scotty is the oldest T. rex known,” having lived into its 30s, Persons said.

“This is the rex of rexes,” said Scott Persons, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences.

“By Tyrannosaurus standards, it had an unusually long life. And it was a violent one,” Persons said. “Riddled across the skeleton are pathologies -- spots where scarred bone records large injuries.”

“There is considerable size variability among Tyrannosaurus. Some individuals were lankier than others

An exhibit featuring the dinosaur’s bones is to open in May at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

NASA publishes images of the meteor no one saw

ASHINGTON, United States | AFP - NASA on Friday published satellite photos of a powerful meteor which appeared just above the Bering Sea on December 18 but went unnoticed until months later.

took another sequence of photos at 2355, which NASA collated into a GIF that shows the orange trail

AN DIEGO, California, March 25, 2019 - After months of speculation, Apple earlier today finally gave us a glimpse into its TV plans. As previously rumored, Apple is jumping head first into the world of original programming with an impressive list of movies, TV shows, and documentaries from an array of A-list creators and actors. From Steven Spielberg and J.J Abrams to Jennifer Aniston and Oprah Winfrey, Apple certainly used its bank account liberally when inking deals with a list of prominent Hollywood talent. Whether Apple TV+ takes off or not, you can’t dispute that Apple is at least putting its very best foot forward. Early on, I was skeptical of Apple’s TV initiative, especially amidst reports that Apple executives like Tim Cook were giving notes to content creators regarding excessive use of violence and profanity. More recently, though, reports have suggested that the higher-ups at Apple are taking a more hands-off approach, which is a good thing when one considers that some of the more popular programs on TV today — with Game of Thrones being one prime example — aren’t exactly family friendly. Though much of what we saw regarding Apple’s original programming plans came in the way of speeches from various TV stars, the shows we learned about all seem to have intriguing premises. Further, the trailer Apple played at the end of its event — which included brief snippets from a number of its upcoming shows — looked quite compelling. While the content on Apple TV+ will likely feature a lot of hits given Apple’s army of top-notch creative talent, the success of Apple TV+ will, not surprisingly, boil down to pricing. And, in a move that didn’t come as a shock to anyone, we learned nothing of how Apple plans to price its new

From Steven Spielberg (pictured above) and J.J Abrams to Jennifer Aniston and Oprah Winfrey, Apple certainly used its bank account liberally when inking deals with a list of prominent Hollywood talent to promote Apple TV+. (Image: Apple) selection of original programming. Indeed, all we learned was that an announcement on pricing will come sometime this fall. The problem Apple faces, though, is that the selection of content currently available from rival services is already priced incredibly low. A non-HD plan from Netflix, for example, costs $8.99 while an HD stream with support for two concurrent streams costs $12.99. Apple’s content will presumably be available exclusively in HD and it will have to be priced aggressively in order to take off. Consider all of the TV streaming options one has to contend with today. Sure, there’s Netflix and Hulu, but you also have competition from the likes of Amazon, HBO, and eventually, Disney. Further, Apple isn’t starting out with a massive library of content given that it’s not licensing third-party TV shows and movies in the same way that Amazon and Netflix do. All that said, Apple’s selection of movies and TV shows, no matter how good they might be, will be sufficient-

ly small as to warrant an affordable price point. Hopefully, Apple prices Apple TV+ appropriately and doesn’t try to stick the service with a monthly subscription rate that rivals a Netflix subscription. In short, Apple will have to undercut everyone — at least at first — if it wants Apple TV+ to make an immediate splash. Apple’s TV initiative hasn’t gotten fully off the ground just yet and the company certainly has time to advertise its nacsent service and generate hype in the months ahead. That notwithstanding, many consumers already belong to a number of streaming services and Apple — as a late comer — won’t be able to stroll in and make an impact unless it comes with a relatively cheap subscription rate. While this may seem like a no-brainer, Apple historically has never shied away from pricing its products and services at a premium. Hopefully, this time around, Apple will appreciate that it’s smarter to amass a large user base and then raise prices after the fact, a la Netflix. - BGR.com

New world record set is Texas: 2,500 HP Ford GT hits 300mph, breaks new standing mile speed

NASA estimates that the meteor occurred at 23:48 GMT. Meteors are rocks from outer space

The M2K Mototsports Ford GT at an event late last year. (Photo: Facebook)

The shadow of the meteor’s trail (about 100 miles long), and the hot air glowing in its wake. (Photo: NASA/GSFC/LARC/JPL-CALTECH, MISR TEAM) The explosion unleashed around 173 kilotons of energy, more than 10 times that of the atomic bomb blast over Hiroshima in World War II. Images captured minutes after the fireball disintegrated in the atmosphere show the shadow of the meteor’s trail cast on top of clouds, elongated by the sun’s low position. The super-heated air turns the clouds to an orange tint in the meteor’s wake. The photographs were taken by two NASA instruments on board the Terra satellite. A still image was taken at 2350 GMT, while five of the of nine cameras on the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument

that become incandescent upon entering earth’s atmosphere as a result of friction. They are also known as shooting stars. Pieces which survive intact and hit the ground are known as meteorites. It was the most powerful explosion in the atmosphere since the fireball that burst over the Russian town of Chelyabinsk in 2013. That was 440 kilotons, and left 1,500 people injured, mostly from glass flying out of smashed windows. This time around, the blast occurred over waters, hundreds of kilometers off the Russian coast. The first photo of the event was taken by a Japanese weather satellite and published only this week.

ICTORIA, Texas, March 25, 2019 - M2K Motorsports got it done over the weekend! In a previous-gen Ford GT hit a speed of 300.4 MPH at the Texas Mile. The car set the new standing mile record on just its third run. The run was verified by the event’s

Louisiana State University Department of Physics & Astronomy Associate Professor Thomas Corbitt and his team of researchers now present

the first broadband, off-resonance measurement of quantum radiation pressure noise in the audio band, at frequencies relevant to gravitational wave detectors, as reported today in the scientific journal Nature. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, or NSF, and the results hint at methods to improve the sensitivity of gravitationalwave detectors by developing techniques to mitigate the imprecision in measurements called “back action,” thus increasing the chances of detect-

The team crowed about the world record on their Facebook page: “It’s official we have finally went over 300

in the standing mile!!!! Cannot thank everyone enough for all the support and encouragement over the years!! It takes so many people to make this happen you can’t even imagine. We are all beyond excited!!!!!” - PowernationTV

NASA scraps all-women space walk for lack of well-fitting suits

tasks in space Friday with fellow American Nick Hague -- instead of Anne McClain as originally planned.

Christina Koch will now perform

Until now, male-only or mixed male-female teams had conducted spacewalk since the space station was assembled in 1998 -- 214 spacewalks until now.

ASHINGTON | AFP | Tuesday 3/25/2019 - The US space agency NASA scrapped Monday a planned historic spacewalk by two women astronauts, citing a lack of available spacesuits that would fit them at the International Space Station.

Researchers measure quantum behavior at room temperature, visible to the naked eye ince the historic finding of gravitational waves from two black holes colliding over a billion light years away was made in 2015, physicists are advancing knowledge about the limits on the precision of the measurements that will help improve the next generation of tools and technology used by gravitational wave scientists.

timing and scoring. This is a second victory for the M2K crew. THey successfully set the previous record run by the same car back in March 2017 at 293.6 mph.

ing gravitational waves. Corbitt and researchers have developed physical devices that make it possible to observe—and hear—quantum effects at room temperature. It is often easier to measure quantum effects at very cold temperatures, while this approach brings them closer to human experience. Housed in miniature models of detectors like LIGO, or the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, located in Livingston, La., and Hanford, Wash., these devices consist of low-loss,

Had Koch and McClain done their spacewalk together, it would have been the first ever by two women astronauts.

McClain worked outside the station last week -- with Hague -- when she realized that a “medium”-sized upper half of her spacesuit fit her better. “Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday,

single-crystal micro-resonators—each a tiny mirror pad the size of a pin prick, suspended from a cantilever. A laser beam is directed at one of these mirrors, and as the beam is reflected, the fluctuating radiation pressure is enough to bend the cantilever structure, causing the mirror pad to vibrate, which creates noise. - Physci.org

March 29, Koch will wear it,” NASA explained. The spacesuits aboard the ISS are in fact assemblies of several parts put together as best adapted to each astronaut’s body, explained Brandi Dean, spokeswoman of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas where American astronauts are based. She said two upper parts in each of the three available spacesuit sizes are currently held at the ISS: medium, large and extra large. “We do our best to anticipate the spacesuit sizes that each astronaut will need, based on the spacesuit size they wore in training on the ground, and in some cases astronauts train in multiple sizes,” she said in explaining the problem that hampered Friday’s planned spacewalk. “However, individuals’ sizing needs may change when they are on orbit, in response to the changes living in microgravity can bring about in a body. “In addition, no one training environment can fully simulate performing a spacewalk in microgravity, and an individual may find that their sizing preferences change in space.”

TRAVEL & LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 20

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Easy items to pack The Palestinian YouTuber bridging east that will save you and west with travel videos money on your trip by Alexandra Talty

A selection of great tips for summer travel by Rebecca Carhart

raveling can get expensive no matter how short your trip is. Between flights, hotel rooms, sightseeing, food, and drinks, things can quickly add up. One easy way to save money while traveling is to set an attainable budget and stick to it. Using credit cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees, looking out for deals, and keeping track of your daily expenses are all easy ways to stay on budget while traveling. Another way budget-conscious travelers can save money is by packing strategically. By traveling with only a carryon bag, you can save hundreds of dollars in baggage fees. And packing the right travel gear inside your carry-on can help you cut costs as well. Whether it’s bringing your own snacks to avoid expensive airport food or packing a subway map to prevent spending money on taxis, there are certain items that you should always have stashed in your luggage to help make your trip much more cost-effective. And the more money you save, the more money you have to spend souvenirs, sightseeing, or even your next getaway. From a collapsible water bottle to a digital luggage scale, keep reading to see the costcutting (and stress-reducing) items you should pack for your next trip. Collapsible Water Bottle

TV shows, and podcasts to the device to stay entertained throughout your trip. Plus, it will take up much less space in your bag.

To Go pens help eliminate food and drink stains on the spot. Plus, they are so small you can easily keep one in every travel bag you have.

To buy: amazon.com, $150

To buy: walmart.com, $7

Universal Power Adapter

Snacks

If you’re traveling to a different country, invest in a universal power adapter to ensure you’ll never have to buy extra chargers. We like this compact option because you can plug up to four USB cords in at once. It is also compatible with over 150 countries’ sockets, including U.S., U.K., Australia, and EU plugs. To buy: walmart.com, $15 Travel Umbrella Don’t let an unexpected rainy day sneak up on you again. Keeping a portable travel umbrella packed in your bag at all times will help you avoid having to run out and spend money on a new umbrella or poncho while traveling. This lightweight Fidus option is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and comes in 17 stylish colors and prints.

Another easy way to save money is to pack your own snacks. Not only is airport food notoriously expensive, but stopping for quick bites while walking through a new city can also add up fast. These healthy Clif Bars are made with a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber that will give you enough energy to get through a busy day of sightseeing. To buy: amazon.com, $31 Reusable Baggies Reusable baggies are another great cost-cutting item to pack while traveling. Not only will they stop any liquids from leaking on the rest of your stuff, but you can also use them to pack snacks like fresh fruits and veggies for day trips. The best part? They are super easy to clean and can be reused on all your upcoming trips. To buy: amazon.com, $15 Public Transit Map

Solid Sunscreen

Staying hydrated while traveling is key, but buying bottled water can quickly add up. Instead, pack a reusable water bottle that you can refill throughout the day. We like this option by HDYWAY because it is collapsible and folds down to be only one-inch tall, making it super easy to pack. To buy: amazon.com, $22 Luggage Scale

To buy: amazon.com, $8 Stain Stick Let’s face it, stains happen. Avoid spending money on dry cleaning and laundry services while traveling by packing a stain stick. These handy Tide

et ready SF, Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels San Francisco is officially open for business.

Even the most affordable flight can become costly when unexpected luggage fees are involved. Avoid having to pay for overweight bags at check-in by packing a handy luggage scale. This digital option by Etekcity should give you an accurate reading every time you use it. To buy: walmart.com, $12 Tablet Don’t waste money on paperback or hardcover books at the airport every time. This lightweight and portable Amazon Fire HD Tablet can hold hundreds of ebooks and digital magazines at once. You can also download movies,

The much-anticipated property, which is situated in SoMa (South of Market), is the second Virgin Hotels location in the U.S. after the first opened in Chicago in 2015. Featuring 192 rooms — “Chambers,”this link opens in a new tab as they’re called in the Virgin lexicon — and two penthouse suites, this hotel was designed with an eclectic energy that merges “San Francisco’s Victorian-era past, the city’s 1960s rock ’n’ roll appropriation of Victorian styling, and a 19th-century British feel.” “I’m confident that Virgin Hotels San Francisco — and future properties — will differ from our existing location in Chicago because of the huge focus on ‘local,’” Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal exclusively told Travel + Leisure. “Through its culinary offerings, design partners, and entertainment, we’ll be infusing local flavor into the offerings, while ensuring they have the Virgin thread embedded throughout.” Chambers at Virgin hotels are designed in a signature two-room style that separates “The Dressing Room” from “The Lounge,” and San Francisco is certainly no exception. In The Lounge, guests will find

- She wanted to be on camera However, Beseisso was told that the only way she could be on television was if she took off her hijab and spoke a Gulf dialect of Arabic. Not one to follow the crowds, she decided to make her own travel television show on YouTube. She would speak in both English and the Palestinian dialect of Arabic, using subtitles to translate from one to the other, so that audiences all over the world could follow along. And she’d most definitely wear her hijab. Although many associate the word hijab with the head covering or veil worn by some Muslim women, in reality, the meaning is much broader and encompasses a religious code that dictates how both men and women show their devotion to God.

See, for Beseisso, her YouTube channel is more than just entertainment: she hopes to spread love and bring the world together. Using public transportation will not only help you save money while traveling, but it also allows you to see a new city like the locals do. Unless you’re paying for an international plan on your phone, you’ll want to avoid using Google Maps (or download ahead of time). Be sure to bring a paper public transit map with you so you’ll never get lost or waste money on a taxi again. To buy: amazon.com, $10 - Travel+Leisure

Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels is finally open in San Francisco by Tanner Saunders

A fresh graduate from the American University of Dubai’s digital production and storytelling program, the position was supposed to be all that she wanted in life; she’d even used social media to petition her idol Ahmad Al-Shugairi to land the gig. Touring Asia, she visited nine countries in a month and half, but there was one thing missing.

Beseisso herself describes the hijab as her best friend and connection to God wherever she goes. She enjoys that it is a conversation starter while she is traveling and likes being seen as a positive representation of her faith.

To buy: amazon.com, $17 If you’re headed somewhere with a warm climate, packing sunscreen is a must. If you are only traveling with a carry-on, you will be limited to a threeounce bottle which, depending on the length of your trip, might not be enough. Avoid buying sunblock at the hotel gift shop or airport (where it is typically much more expensive) and instead pack a few sticks of solid sunblock to last through your trip.

hen she was 22, Haifa Beseisso landed her dream job: being paid to travel the world.

plenty of amenities fit for a tech-minded, forward-thinking traveler: ergonomically designed lounge bed, a retro-style fridge with snacks at street pricing, a yoga mat, and more than enough outlets to charge. The Dressing Room, separated by a sliding door with keyhole, is home to a massive shower with a bench, a vanity, makeup desk, and closet for two that would make any Kardashian jealous. And if that’s not enough, the room comes with a virtual personal assistant named Lucythis link opens in a new tab, who can order you room service, control your thermostat, or give you dinner recommendations and then make reservations straight from your phone. The Commons Clubthis link opens in a new tab, the brand’s flagships restaurant and bar, gives guests an elevated lounge experience that feels members only, but is touted as “open to all.” Modern takes on California classics are served up by chef Adrian Garcia, and cocktails are as elevated as the 30foot velvet curtains adorning the space. At Everdene, the 12th-floor rooftop bar, visitors will find nearly 360-degree views over San Francisco from an indoor/outdoor space, and if lucky, a VIP lounge hidden behind a Virgin-red garden gate. “Personally one of my favorite parts of the hotel is the Commons Club situated on the ground floor,” said Leal. “This is where work and play inter-

“A lot of people in the beginning didn’t get, they were like, ‘why are you speaking English? We are all Arab here,’” recalls Beseisso. “But I always had a vision and a dream of being a bridge and in order to do that I needed to speak in English.” Although it is very costly and time-consuming to feature both Arabic and English subtitles in all her videos, it’s imperative to her mission. “ I travel for love and to break stereotypes,” says Beseisso. “Arabs are more similar than different… it is not just what you see [on the news].” A Palestinian who was raised in Dubai, Beseisso has been straddling international boundaries her whole life. When she created her show, she wanted to celebrate cultural exchanges and let people know that they shouldn’t have to change themselves to follow their dreams. - Building a career on YouTube The first year of her YouTube career, she was broke and her family helped support her, something that she is still thankful for today. But now it’s been nearly four years since her first video in Japan and the 27-year-old has no signs of stopping.

No matter how far she travels, Haifa Beseisso likes to have fun. (Photo credit: Aqib Anwar for Gibsterg) like Icona Pop and Sting for the event. - Getting married... to life Known for her fun and socially relevant videos, she recently garnered international headlines for getting married to life. She first came up with the idea on a three-day silent retreat in Bali, Indonesia, and then, after meeting Malala at the YouTube Creators for Change event, decided to make a video. Traipsing around Dubai in a white dress, she goes to the beach, rides a roller coaster and takes photos with tourists. Although she hopes to one day meet the right person, she wanted to take a stand against social pressure to be married by a certain age.

mingle, where live entertainment and entrepreneurial conversations take place.” The San Francisco opening is a long-awaited chapter in the hotel brand’s massive expansion plan over the next few years, with locations coming to Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, New York, New Orleans, Washington D.C., Silicon Valley, and Palm Springs.

“[The Palestine videos] were difficult to make because I didn’t want to make it political,” says Beseisso. “I just wanted to show the journey of a girl who visited her country for the first time in 24 years.” For others interested in building a career on YouTube, Beseisso says it is really important to focus on what you know. Instead of doing popular viral challenges, she focused a niche: traveling to bridge cultures. “It is much harder to make content with a message that is still entertaining,” admits Beseisso. “You think about their finger not clicking away.”

Traveling to places like Morocco, India and Ethiopia, her channel features some vlogstyle videos, like when she surprised her mom and aunt with a trip to the Maldives, as well as quick guides, like when she went shopping in Bangkok, Thailand. She also often polls strangers in the street, asking Londoners for their thoughts on the women who wear the hijab or offering Arab snacks to South Koreans.

Sometimes the pressure to create great content can be difficult. She says, “every week you need a fantastic video.”

While many travel YouTubers are known for quick visits to well-known destinations or lots of beach shots, Beseisso believes she should use her voice for change. She describes herself as a “heart guide” rather than a travel one.

Through her videos, Beseisso has become a role model for many hijabi women. She never intended for that, but is heartened by the messages she sees. Laughing, she says that sometimes her comment sections on social media make her “feel like a hijab shop.”

“I make sure to always say I am Palestinian. I have two passports and I live in Dubai,” explains Beseisso. “I have to use that word [Palestinian] because the least I can do is just talk about it and remind people where it is on the map.” Some of her most poignant videos are incredibly personal, like when she visited Palestine for the first time in her life. She’s also worked with United

As she looks to the future, Beseisso’s next big project is to have ten single mothers from around the world travel to Bali, Indonesia for a retreat. Her mother raised her alone, and Beseisso says that the project “means a lot to her.” Right now she’s working on securing brands to finance this idea.

But the 27-year-old wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m everything spicy,” says Beseisso, referring to how the West perceives her Arab Muslim Palestinian identity. “When I have all this combined in me and then I have a smile and wear colors, I am saying so much. I like to make use of that.” - Forbes

An Aristocratic Party Hall With Democratic Price Birthday Party Wedding Anniversary Baby Shower And Other Party Celebrations

The Canon ambassador for the Middle East, Beseisso estimates that around 85% of her income is from campaigns with brands like Dove, Lipton and Pandora. She also does voiceover dubbing and MCes events. YouTube ad revenue is constantly changing, so she can’t just rely on it. A career highlight for the millennial was the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, where she met Conan O’Brien as well as the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway. Beseisso was the first Arab YouTube presenter and host, interviewing stars

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to showcase the plight of refugees around the world.

For More Information Call

Sasidharan Nair

832 225 2989 nairplaza525@gmail.com

525 Dulles Ave, Stafford, TX 77477 And while visitors and locals alike can expect plenty of classic Virgin charm — Virgin red details and the Commons Club — each property, like San Francisco, will be tailored to “inject local customs” into the property. “Virgin Hotels has always been about providing a better product for our guests and the idea of ‘membership without dues.’ Consumers continue to be ripped off with resort fees,

overpriced minibars, and more, and we’ve always worked to provide an incredibly inclusive experience with a ‘no nickel and diming’ mentality,” said Leal. “These things we are not changing, but our guests’ needs are developing, and we’ve taken notice of that. We’re offering even more opportunity to personalize their experiences in Chicago and now San Francisco and at all future properties.” - Travel+Leisure

VOICE OF ASIA 21

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

SMALL BUSINESSES

VOICE OF ASIA 22

RESTAURANTS India’s Restaurant & Catering

INCOME TAX

For special parties and corporate events. Preferred Wine list, authentic vegetarian & nonvegetarian dishes, finest Indian cuisine with chef’s special dishes Ph: 713-266-0131/0805

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

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Tel: 832-877-9625 Free Consultation asu2020.com

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

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

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visit us at: www.mdassociatescpas.com

When you find some time, READ!

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTANTS BOOK-KEEPING

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

List Your Business Today! 713-774-5140.

10758 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070

281.955.9878 216.338.3940 (cell)

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

COMPUTER SERVICES Networking and Computer Repair

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

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

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

READ DAILY! 15 - 30 minutes of reading daily helps your brain focus better. Grab a novel! A Community message from Voice of Asia Group

Texas

Week of March 29, 2019 21 March to 20 April

astrology.com

23 September to 22 Oct

Will the real Aries please stand up? With love goddess Venus in creative Pisces to start the week, you have lots of romantic options. The more imaginative you are the better. Your power planet Mars spends time in restless, sometimes erratic Gemini at the end of the week, making you more indecisive and slightly tentative.

There are some restrictions and limitations on your ability to learn and teach as well as travel. Though you may be chomping at the bit to get going, there’s no use in fighting this influence. he good news is that there are favorable aspects, too. It’s your friends and social contacts.

ou may notice a difference in your well-being now. Even though you’re faced with challenges, you’ll feel a lot more optimistic. It’s as though the challenges don’t affect you in the same way. You’re prepared to believe you can handle anything.

21 April to 20 May

21 May to 20 June This week beauty is in the air in a big way! Your home life may need a bit of sprucing up, so there’s no shame in spending a bit of your hard-earned cash in that sector. Also, there’s life in your house of shared investments. Getting into the market with a friend may just do the trick.

21 June to 22 July You’re currently socializing and enjoying yourself. After all the fun, don’t forget to look after your health and recuperate. You’re going to be busy for some time to come, so you’ll need to devise a strategy that helps you maintain excellent health while meeting new people.

23 July to 22 August Love is your main priority. You embrace the fiery energy as the moon moves through fun-seeking Sagittarius midweek, pushing you toward new romantic adventures. If you’re traveling, you might find love in an unusual place. You need to know more about a romantic rival when over the weekend.

23 August to 22 Sept Be a good team player. Don’t delay any requested paperwork. It is a high-energy time and should see you feeling upbeat. It’s lucky for travel and training to improve your career. Midweek can be stressful or bring extra demands from bosses. It isn’t your fault.

23 October to 21 Nov

22 November to 21 Dec Love isn’t serious this week. The moon travels through your sign at the beginning of the week, opening you up to all kinds of new romantic adventure. If you learn something about love, teach the same lesson to someone else.

22 December to 20 Jan The support of helpful co-workers and team projects will bring the most satisfaction. Get as much done as possible early this week. You may be feeling rather scattered midweek. An inattentive boss can be particularly irritating. Friday supports better planning.

21 January to 19 Feb This week’s aspects may throw a monkey wrench into your money plans. Get all of your shared property and investments together. Signing, sealing, and delivering these materials to where they need to be leaves you room to strategize elsewhere. Consider putting your money into tried and true institutions.

20 February to 20 Mar It’s time to feed your brain and nurture your understanding of how you can improve your health. If you want to take things a step further, this is a good time to begin a course in a health or exercise subject. If you dedicate your time to learning about wellness, you’ll find it easier to maintain your discipline.

ACROSS 1. Obama to Harvard Law School, e.g. 5. Structure named for 31st President 8. *Academy of Country Music Awards broadcaster 11. Mike Myers’ 2008 role 12. Dumpy establishment 13. Go “Boo!” 15. Somebody ____ 16. Black tropical cuckoo birds 17. Spasm of pain or passion 18. *Grand Garden Arena location 20. Unagi, pl. 21. Liz of “30 Rock” 22. As opposed to B.S, pl. 23. Caesar’s Palace, e.g. 26. Takes and hopes for a ransom 30. Any mountain peak 31. Major airline 34. Bibliographical abbr. 35. Part of a ticket, pl. 37. Drench 38. Israel’s neighbor 39. Millimeter of mercury 40. Like #40 Down 42. Octopus’ defense 43. Regards highly 45. Mr. Miyagi’s forte 47. *Used to crank up the volume 48. Novelist Zola 50. Sushi restaurant offering 52. *Host of awards show 55. Madagascar primate 56. Enthusiasm 57. Adopted son of Claudius 59. 12 for AA attendee 60. Pluribus 61. U2 guitarist 62. *Shay’s other half 63. Giant Hall-of-Famer 64. Don’t let it hit you on your way out?

DOWN 1. Wrinkles are a sign of this 2. Quiet time 3. Major in the sky 4. European breakfast staple 5. Australian canid 6. Type of deadly flu 7. “M*A*S*H” ____ hall 8. *Hall-of-Famer Smith, June Carter’s ex 9. *The Osbornes, colloquially 10. “Monkey ___, monkey do” 12. Animal in Phillip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” 13. Lieu 14. *Entertainer of the Year contender 19. Cupid’s mom 22. Auction action 23. Social class among Hindus 24. Certain saxes 25. Sudden growth 26. Yachting cap 27. Skylit lobbies 28. House coat 29. Quench 32. Schools of thought 33. Spinning toy 36. *”____ ____ in the End” 38. Biblical shall 40. Tinkerbell, e.g. 41. Inside info 44. Eastern V.I.P.s 46. Harnessed 48. Audience’s approval 49. *Bebe Rexha’s “____ to Be” 50. Bristle 51. End of grace 52. Office communique 53. Do over 54. Cogito, ____ sum 55. Dropped drug 58. Poetic over

SOLUTION: COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS 23

CLASSIFIEDS

VOICE OF ASIA 23

Houston Community College Invitation for Bid (IFB) Restroom Remodel Project Project No. 19-46

Sealed bids will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11B01, Houston, Te x a s 7 7 0 0 2 ) u n t i l 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. A Pre-Bid Conference (Non-Mandatory) will be held by the Procurement Operations Department at 3100 Main Street (2nd Floor) Seminar Room “A” Houston, Texas 77002, Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 10:00 am (local time). A Site Visit will follow after the Pre-Bid Conference. Documents can be o b t a i n e d a t : w w w. hccs.edu/about-hcc/ procurement/

Hiring Chef for Indian Restaurant Min 10 year experience required. Serving premium veg Thali. Chef should have knowledge of Rajasthani and Gujarati cuisine and should possess leadership qualities and should be able to train others under him. Send your resume to: CONCEPTS_MORE@YAHOO.COM

Get Smart! It’s EASY to advertise your business or event in our newsletter Simply call 713-774-5140 or email request to: voiceasia@aol.com

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Email Obituaries to us at: voiceasia@ aol.com Deadline for publication: Tuesday by 5pm

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Job Posting - Part-Time Multimedia Content Contributor Are you a news junkie who scans the morning headlines before getting out bed each morning? Are you tied to your twitter feed throughout the day? Can’t go to bed before watching the 10pm news? KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a part-time content contributor for both broadcast and digital. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to advance their career as a multi-media journalist. In this position, you will work on the assignment desk and contribute to digital platforms, among other duties. Must be willing to work overnights, weekends, and holidays. The ideal candidate can multi-task in a fast-paced environment and has experience gathering information and writing news stories - along with a good understanding of social media trends and apps. College degree and some experience in a working newsroom is preferred. To be considered all interested candidates must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job # 651624BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. In addition, please mail writing samples to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston,TX 77005 and includethe job reference number.Equal Opportunity Employer - Female/Minority/ Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity No Telephone Calls Please

Theme: COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS from Page 22

VOICE OF ASIA 24

FRIDAY, March 29, 2019

Home&Real Estate Foreclosure rates at 19-year low

9 Cities that will actually pay you to live there by Anna Squier

s metropolitan areas swell in size, smaller towns face diminishing populations and a shortage of talented workers. To help revitalization, cities are handing out some pretty incredible perks to encourage new residents and investments. If you’re looking for a new place to call home, have the option to work remotely, want to seek out new opportunities—or all of the above, you may be interested in checking out these places that offer some compelling incentives to move. Below, you’ll find 10 cities and states that will pay you to live there.

.S. foreclosure and mortgage delinquency rates fell at the end of last year to the lowest rate since at least 2000, according to CoreLogic, a real-estate research firm. The rate of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process was 0.4 percent in November and December, the lowest monthly rate since at least January 2000, CoreLogic said. Nationally, 4.1 percent of mortgages were at least 30 days past due in December, down from 5.3 percent from a year previously. The equity that U.S. homeowners have in their properties also increased by an average of $9,700 in 2018, the

1. Tulsa, Oklahoma firm reported. A rising level of home equity can be a factor that reduces the chances of foreclosure, CoreLogic noted. Renters could find themselves paying more, as the median U.S. rent grew by 2.4 percent in the last year, according to a study by Zillow. The median monthly rent in the U.S. was $1,475 in February, up from $1,438 a year earlier, according to the company. The major market with the biggest increase was Orlando, Florida, where the median rent increased by 7.0 percent over the previous year to $1,527.

The Tulsa Remote Program pays remote workers $10,000 to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for one year. As part of a series of efforts to attract new talent, the program hopes to bring diverse and talented individuals to the city for community building and collaboration. A co-working membership, up to three months of discounted rent in Tulsa’s renowned Arts District, plus plenty of networking events, are all part of the perks. 2. Candela, Italy This small Italian town is paying people $2,350 (2,000 euro) to move there. To help recover the town’s

The ever-changing, lush wooded surroundings of Minnesota, such as those experienced at this 8,000-square-foot Type Variant House outside of Minneapolis designed by Coen and Partners, are right near the small town of New Richland. of historic properties, hope to encourage and increase homeownership. All you have to do is attend a Trolley Tour to become eligible. 4. New Richland, Minnesota Looking for free land to build the home of your dreams? The small town

- The Columbus Dispatch

Class action suit could change real estate commissions by Kenneth R. Harney

n what could be the most farreaching antitrust lawsuit for the real estate market in decades, the National Association of Realtors and four of the largest realty companies have been accused of a conspiracy to systematically overcharge home sellers by forcing them to pay commissions to the agents who represent the buyers of their homes. The class-action suit, filed in federal district court in Chicago, focuses on a rule it says has been imposed by the NAR. The rule requires brokers who list sellers’ properties on local multiple listing services (MLSs) to include a “non-negotiable offer” of compensation to buyer agents. That is, once a home seller agrees in a listing to a specific split of the commission, buyers cannot later negotiate their agents’ split to a lower rate. That requirement, the suit alleges, “saddle(s) home sellers with a cost that would be borne by the buyer in a competitive market,” where buyers pay directly for the services rendered by their agents. In overseas markets where there is no such mandatory compensation rule for buyer agents, total commission costs tend to be lower versus the 5 percent to 6 percent commonplace here. The suit alleges that if buyers in the U.S. could negotiate fees directly with the agents they choose to represent them, fees would be more competitive and lower. Today many American buyers are unaware of their agent’s commission split. Sellers typically know the percentage because they agree to it in the listing contract. But they may wonder: Why am I required to pay the fee of the buyer’s agent, who may be negotiating against my interests in the transaction? Also, at a time when buyers often search for and find the house they want to buy online, shouldn’t compensation for a buyer’s agents be decreasing, rather than stuck in the 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent range? Besides NAR, the suit names RE/ MAX Holdings Inc., Keller Williams Realty Inc., HomeServices of America Inc. and Realogy Holdings Corp. as co-defendants. NAR, with 1.3 million members, is the largest trade group in the industry. The four realty companies named as defendants are behemoths: franchisor Keller Williams has approximately 180,000 agents in the U.S. and Canada; RE/MAX has 120,000 agents; Realogy includes among its brands Better Homes and Gardens, Century 21, Coldwell Banker Real Estate and ERA; HomeServices of America is a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and includes among its companies regional powers such as Long and Foster Real Estate and Edina Realty. The plaintiff in the case is Christopher Moehrl, who sold a home in 2017 using a RE/MAX broker to list the property; the buyer was represented by Keller Williams. Moehrl paid a total commission of 6 percent. Just under half of that, 2.7 percent, went to the buyer’s agent. If Moehrl’s case is certified as a class action, the potential number of sellers affected would

be massive. It includes sellers who have paid a broker commission during the past four years in connection with a home listed by an MLS in these metropolitan areas: Washington D.C.; Baltimore; Cleveland; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Las Vegas; Miami; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; Richmond, Virginia; Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota and Ft. Myers, Florida; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. NAR Vice President Mantill Williams called the suit “baseless” and said it “contains an abundance of false claims,” but he provided no specifics. Representatives of the four realty companies declined comment. But some Realtors say the suit could dismantle the compensation system as it now exists. Some brokers challenged allegations in the suit, such as buyer agents refusing to show homes with low commission splits. Alexis Eldorrado, managing broker of Eldorrado Chicago Real Estate, told me that “in reality, if the buyers have found the place they want and are interested in seeing it, NAR’s code of ethics requires the agent to show it.” - The Real Deal News

arge, high-end homes across the Sunbelt are sitting on the market, enduring deep price cuts to sell. That is a far different picture than 15 years ago, when retirees were rushing to build elaborate, five or six-bedroom houses in warm climates, fueled in part by the easy credit of the real estate boom. Many baby boomers poured millions into these spacious homes, planning to live out their golden years in houses with all the bells and whistles. Now, many boomers are discovering that these large, high-maintenance houses no longer fit their needs as they grow older, but younger people aren’t buying them. Tastes—and access to credit—have shifted dramatically since the early 2000s. These days, buyers of all ages eschew the large, ornate houses built in those years in favor of smaller, moremodern looking alternatives, and prefer walkable areas to living miles from retail. The problem is especially acute in areas with large clusters of retirees. In North Carolina’s Buncombe County, which draws retirees with its mild climate and Blue Ridge Mountain scenery, there are 34 homes priced over $2 million on the market, but only 16 sold in that price range in the past year, said Marilyn Wright, an agent at Premier

6. St. Louis, Missouri For just $1, you can purchase cityowned property in St. Louis, Missouri. As part of an effort to reduce the number of vacant lots and in hopes of revitalizing fading neighborhoods, the St. Louis Dollar House Program has been implemented as a 1-year pilot program to sell single-family residential properties. With 18 months to renovate the property and 551 eligible properties, a dollar goes a long way here. 7. Pipestone, Manitoba

Architects Joan Soranno and John Cook of HGA developed five site-specific cabins that tread lightly on the land at Marlboro College in rural Vermont. These deceptively simple structures update the regional vernacular. Every year, Marlboro College hosts the Marlboro Music Festival in which classical musicians join together to hone their craft. These cabins help support the musicians that live, work, and rehearse together. population loss, the city’s mayor is offering up money to encourage people to relocate there and regain the town’s reputation as “Little Naples.” What was once filled with booming streets of tourists, merchants, and vendors, has diminished to just 2,700 residents. Baroque buildings, winding alleys, and picturesque terraces await new Candela residents. 3. Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland, is hoping to get rid of its dilapidated neighborhoods and vacant lots. The historic port city is offering up to $10,000 for individuals to buy a vacant lot and develop it through Live Baltimore. Additional incentive programs, such as loans for home upgrades and rehabs

A growing problem in real estate: Too many big houses by Candace Taylor

people can make a positive impact, and a chance to connect with prospective employers.

Sotheby’s International Realty in Asheville. The area around Scottsdale, Ariz., also popular with wealthy retirees, had 349 homes on the market at or above $3 million as of February 1—an alltime high, according to a Walt Danley Realty report. Homes built before 2012 are selling at steep discounts—sometimes almost 50%, and many owners end up selling for less than they paid to build their homes, said Walt Danley’s Dub Dellis. Kiawah Island, a South Carolina beach community, currently has around 225 houses for sale, which amounts to a three- or four-year supply. Of those, the larger and more expensive homes are the hardest to sell, especially if they haven’t been renovated recently, according to local real-estate agent Pam Harrington. The problem is expected to worsen in the 2020s, as more baby boomers across the country advance into their 70s and 80s, the age group where people typically exit homeownership due to poor health or death, said Dowell Myers, co-author of a 2018 Fannie Mae report, “The Coming Exodus of Older Homeowners.” Boomers currently own 32 million homes and account for two out of five homeowners in the country. “You had this wave of homes built that now just don’t make sense for a lot of the people who bought them,” said Rick Palacios, Jr. of John Burns Real

of New Richland, Minnesota—with a population of just 1,200—may be the perfect new stomping grounds. Just off 1-35 and near Minnesota’s major cities, lakes, golf courses, and trails lies the opportunity to acquire an 86-foot by 133-foot lot. Build a new home within a year after the property is deeded to you, and the land is free. 5. Wellington, New Zealand Known as “Silicon Welly,” Wellington, New Zealand. is looking to recruit 100 talented technology candidates across the globe with a focus on U.S. citizens. A program known as LookSee Wellington hopes to connect individuals with leading technology companies, creative people, and a great lifestyle. It is a place where

Estate Consulting. For their retirement in a suburb of Asheville, N.C., Ben and Valentina Bethell spent about $3.5 million in 2009 to build their dream home: a roughly 7,500-square-foot, Europeanstyle house with a commanding view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Bethells said they love the home but it now feels too big, especially since their adult son visits only about once a year. Plus, tasks like pulling garbage cans up the steep, 100-yard-long driveway have become onerous, said Mr. Bethell, 78. “It’s a lot to do.” The couple listed the home in 2015 for $4.495 million, and have since reduced the price to $3.995 million. When the house does sell, they plan to buy a newly constructed, smaller house nearby. After retiring 15 years ago, Robin and David Saltman moved from New Jersey to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., where they spent more than a year custom-building their dream house with a pool on the ocean. Then in their 50s, the couple planned to stay in the threestory, five-bedroom house at least until their 80s. Instead, they sold the roughly 4,200-square-foot house last year. Though they had an elevator, “it was still running up and down the stairs a million times a day,” said Ms. Saltman, 70. They also wanted to be closer to town; the house was about a 20-minute drive from the nearest stores. While most high-end homes in the area sit on the market for at least a year, the Saltmans were able to sell their

The rural municipality of Pipestone in Southwestern Manitoba, Canada, will pay you a grant of up to $32,000 to transform your ideas into a business. Or, if building a home is more your speed, you can get a grant to help you build or buy a residence within the municipality. Pay a deposit of $1,000, and you can buy a lot for just $10. These are just two of the many initiatives designed to build a stronger, healthier community by encouraging residential and commercial development in this picturesque region along the Saskatchewan border. 8. Vermont Governor Phil Scott of Vermont has approved a piece of legislation that will pay 100 people up to $10,000 to move to Vermont with the new Remote Worker Grant Program. Aimed at remote working, the campaign hopes to attract new residents in a world of ever growing co-working capabilities. 9. Marquette, Kansas If a small town is more your scene, the forward-thinking community of Marquette, Kansas is a great option to live and raise a family, right in the heart of America. Surrounded by wide-open rolling hills, expansive vistas, and just over 600 residents, the town has plenty of free land waiting to be built upon. - Dwell.com

home—into which they’d invested about $1.75 million—in a few months for $2.1 million, with the help of their son Andrew, a real-estate agent. In its place they bought a newer, four-bedroom house on the Intracoastal Waterway. Though it is nearly 6,000 square feet, all the major living areas are on one floor, and it is located only five minutes from town. Design trends have shifted radically in the past decade. That means a home with crown moldings, ornate details and Mediterranean or Tuscan-style architecture can be a hard sell, while properties with clean lines and open floor plans get snapped up. To help sell an older home in the current market, Florida real-estate agent Rose Sklar said it is crucial to make the property look as updated as possible. She recommended renovating the house before putting it on the market, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. If a renovation isn’t in the cards financially, there are other small steps that can make a big difference, she said: remove dated drapes and curtains, repaint the kitchen cabinets, and change out hardware and light fixtures for a more contemporary look. The replacements “don’t have to be expensive—just get something that’s ‘today,’” Ms. Sklar said. “Get rid of the datedness of the house.” Stage the house with rental furniture if possible, and remove all family photos and other personal items to help buyers envision themselves there. Finally: “If you have a pet, hide it,” she said. “Everybody’s allergic to everything.” - MSNBC