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Vol. 29 No. 9 Friday, February 26, 2016 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com
Indian man who went missing from daughter’s wedding in US found dead
Prasad Mopart. Photo source: Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.
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OS ANGELES: |PTI, February 24, 2016 - The body of a 55-year-old Indian man, who was on a visit to the US has been found in a waterway, 10-days after he walked away from his daughter’s wedding reception, a media report said today. Authorities in Sacramento County in California found the body of Prasad Moparti on Monday in a waterway about 8 km downstream from the wedding reception where he was last seen alive on February 13, Sacramento Bee reported.
2nd Annual “University of Houston Day” at India House
Fundraising Banquet for Telugu Bhavanam on March 5
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OUSTON - On Wednesday, February 17, as the sun was setting down, India House started buzzing with dozens of enthusiastic youngsters, most of them with parents or other family members to attend this very important day to figure out how to navigate towards their future career. A city’s growth and progress is seen in its potential in the next generation’s capability and success. Together, India House and University of Houston, under the leadership of President Dr. Renu Khator, who is also the Chancellor of UH System, organize this special UH Day at India House to guide students at all levels to select the correct path to carve their future career and head in the right direction to crystallize their educational goals.
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ouston’s Telugu community is organizing a Banquet on March 5th (Saturday) at 6 PM at India House to launch its campaign to build Telugu Bhavanam, a community center in Houston. Hon. Consul General Parvathaneni Harish will be the Chief Guest for the evening.
The event started with social hour and visit to multiple informative booths, representing all the 13 colleges of UH to give a general information about what each of the college can offer. The attendees, about 250, were treated to delicious dinner catered by Kurrywalah of Katy. Once inside the Banquet halls, where the main event was hosted, India House President, Dr. Manish Rungta welcomed UH Faculty and Staff and
Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor of UH System and president of UH speaking at the India House on February 17. Photo credit: Bijay Dixit, Unique Photo Images.
The Coroner’s Office said there was no trauma to the body, but that the cause of death has yet to be determined. A boater in the area reported seeing Mr Moparti’s body, and crews were soon able to get him out of the water, the report said.
The task force in consultation with an architect developed detailed plans for the phased development of Telugu Bhavanam including the facility requirements, initial estimates, possible land options, fundraising plans, donor recognitions, maintenance plans, and proposed timeline. The goal of the banquet is to seek support for this exciting project and to involve the community in all phases from planning to inauguration. This project is supported by the Telugu Cultural Association (TCA) and Telangana Association of Greater Houston (TAGH).
In the days leading up to the ceremony, he had started taking long walks while visiting his daughter in Los Angeles, family members said.
Authorities said immediately after he disappeared that there were no suspicious circumstances or foul play. The Sheriff’s Department had conducted a search for about 72 hours in surrounding areas. The search was later called off and a sheriff’s spokesman said Mr Moparti was considered to be a “voluntary missing person” though he was not familiar with the area
The proposed Telugu Bhavanam is designed as a multipurpose facility to promote Telugu language, traditions, education and service to the community. The concept of Telugu Bhavanam has been in the discussion for over a decade. However, it started to take shape in the last few months because of the strong initiative by Sri Chowdary Yalamanchili who offered to make a generous matching donation of $500,000 to build Telugu Bhavanam. This generous commitment by the community leader and entrepreneur energized the community to take concrete steps to plan and build the Telugu Bhavanam. The community initiated a task force team and had several meetings for the last few months to develop the plans and to seek input from the community. Over $200,000 was also raised in several of these informal meetings.
Mr Moparti, who travelled from Hyderabad in January to attend his daughter’s wedding, was reported missing since February 13 when he walked away from his daughter’s wedding reception at Grand Island Mansion in Walnut Grove in Northern California by himself and never returned.
“Family members further indicated Moparti suffered from depression, and that he showed indicators of his depression leading up to the wedding,” Tony Turnbull, spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department had said last week.
Houston Telugus to build new community center
Gathering at the India House on the occasion of University of Houston Day on February 17. Photo credit: Bijay Dixit, Unique Photo Images. all the students and families and spoke about the partnership of the two institutions, whose mission is to serve the Greater Houston community at large and help each individual to attain their full potential. India House serves very young students, who are just starting school and UH educates more senior students who are thinking about their career paths. Col. Vipin Kumar, Exec-
utive Director, India House presented programs and activities of India House through a video. He encouraged all the attendees who were new to India House to join and become partners in such community service programs based on their expertise. He introduced Dr. Richard Walker, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, UH, who talked about the UH
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Proof
by Arun Mohan Sukumar The Hindu
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here is no side to choose in this fight, since India needs devices that protect data and a law enforcement agency that can effectively retrieve electronic information Law schools across India illustrate the difference between “culpable homicide” and “murder” through the famous K.M. Nanavati case of 1961. Nanavati, a commander with the Indian Navy, was informed by his wife of her affair with Prem Ahuja and her desire to end the marriage. An enraged Nanavati barged into Ahuja’s house, and after an angry exchange of words, shot and killed him. In the trial that followed, Nanavati’s punishment hinged upon whether his act was premeditated. If it was, he would be guilty of murder. But were the shooting unplanned and truly a “crime of passion”, as the tabloids referred to it, Nanavati would be punished for the lesser offence of culpable homicide. The Supreme Court found him guilty of murder, but not after a protracted drama that involved a jury exonerating him. Let’s tailor the Nanavati case to a modern setting. In the 2016 adaptation of the crime, the police retrieve Ahuja’s iPhone, which purportedly contains a draft tweet suggesting he feared for his life. The tweet was never published, and Mumbai cops need it to prove Nanavati had threatened him previously. The Information Technology (IT) Act (specifically, Section 69) confers sweeping powers on the Maharashtra government to retrieve such information but Twitter claims it cannot extract unpublished tweets. The cops turn to Apple Inc. with a request to unlock Nanavati’s phone, but it refuses, suggesting that building a backdoor for one iPhone will compromise the security of all. What options do the Mumbai police have? Apple is not an Indian company and can refuse to comply with Section 69 of the IT Act, claiming the provision violates California law (where it is based). Apple India Private Ltd, its Indian subsidiary, is registered under the Companies Act but mostly performs administrative and financial functions. Apple does not provide Internet services, and has no software licensing agreement
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What Apple versus FBI means for India with Indian telecom operators. What’s more, Indian developers whose content is featured in the App Store sign agreements directly with the parent company. Short of proceeding legally against an Apple India director or revoking its import licence — neither of which would be sound measures — the Government of India has limited options to secure its compliance. For these reasons, the Indian debate over encryption is very different from the discussion that Apple’s ongoing tussle with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has generated. The FBI sought access via a court warrant to the locked iPhone of Syed Rizwan Farook — a U.S. citizen who in December 2015 killed 14 people and injured scores in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California — which Apple has refused to provide. Technologies that allow the FBI to force its way into the shooter’s iPhone will compromise the operating systems of all iPhones, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook argued in a letter to consumers. The legal precedent set by this case will be closely studied, but what lessons does the San Bernardino case hold for India, where Apple’s market share is less than 1 per cent? Lessons for India The first lesson is for Indian regulators: find the right mix between protecting user data, while allowing law enforcement agencies to retrieve it for investigation. The U.S. does not have high data protection standards but law enforcement agencies have met with increasingly steep judicial barriers — thanks to the Snowden revelations — to extract electronic data. As a result, companies like Apple have been encouraged to invest in strong encryption, as the evolution of its operating system iOS shows. India, on the other hand, has low data protection standards as well as low legal thresholds for intercepting information. Measures necessary to intercept information have had the unintended consequence of stalling the development of indigenous high-security devices
like the iPhone. For instance, the Department of Telecommunications continues to prescribe low encryption standards for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), while subjecting them to liability for attacks on the network. ISPs are faced with a catch-22 situation, with little room to strengthen their security. The dangerous mix of low data protection standards and legal barriers against monitoring puts India alongside China (see table). The second lesson is for Internet companies based abroad: cooperate with law enforce-
encryption policy released (and withdrawn subsequently) last year, it sought backdoors into all Internet applications based abroad. Price breeds compromise The ‘Apple v. FBI’ debate in the U.S. has generated much controversy because nearly half of America’s mobile users today own an iPhone. Encryption is commonplace, while courts, law enforcement agencies and tech companies — all based in the U.S. — debate the optimal mix of interception and data protection. The Indian
High legal barriers to extract data
Low legal barriers to extract data
High data protection standards
European Union
Russia
Low data protection standards
United States
ment agencies on legitimate requests for user data. Popular Internet applications and social media platforms in India today are all based in the U.S. or Europe, and host data in servers abroad. To retrieve information from Nanavati’s hypothetical iPhone, Apple would need to create a sophisticated “backdoor” to break its encryption protocols. This is an extraordinary instance, involving a drastic solution. But even in the majority of cases where law enforcement agencies can solve crimes based on information available with data giants, their compliance with government requests has been abysmal. Research by Rebecca MacKinnon and Elonnai Hickok suggests the Indian government in 2013 placed 3,598 requests for user data from Facebook with a 53 per cent compliance rate, while the U.S. government made nearly 12,600 requests with a compliance rate of 81 per cent. There is simply no basis or justification for the differential treatment of compliance requests but for the fact that Facebook is a U.S.-based company. Given desperate times, the Indian government took desperate measures: in its draft
China, India
context is far from comparable. Most Indians, especially firstgeneration Internet users, own unencrypted devices. The competing pressures of the market have only contributed to the overall insecurity of India’s Internet infrastructure. The rush towards cheap smartphones like Freedom 251 — whose vendors could not even offer a secure website to process phone bookings — has seriously compromised the integrity of user data. What’s more, to secure their data and to retrieve it for investigation, Indian authorities need the assistance of foreign Internet companies, who appear more interested in bottom lines than law enforcement. There is no side to choose in this fight, since India needs its own variants of Apple and the FBI: high-security devices that protect data, and a law enforcement agency that can effectively retrieve electronic information. Arun Mohan Sukumar heads the Cyber Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi.
Don’t say shut up. Learn how to debate from Navratilova by Kaushik Ghosh The Telegraph ALCUTTA, Feb. 23: Chris Evert, Steffi Graf... Indian nationalists. Martina Navratilova’s short list of opponents has got lengthened because of the anti-national debate in India. The tennis legend shared on Twitter an opinion piece in The New York Times by columnist Nilanjana S. Roy. Titled “What passes for sedition in India”, the article deals with the JNU controversy and the suicide of Rohith Vemula. Along with the link to the article, Martina, 59, wrote on her verified account (@Martina): “What Passes for Sedition in India, ultra nationalism easily turns into violence at worst, bullying at best.” The tweet, posted last evening (Indian time), has been retweeted almost 400 times and liked more than 200 times but it has also attracted criticism. Dr. Sanjay Dhawan (@Dyslexicon) tweeted to Martina: “We just ‘bully’ the kind of anti-nationals that your country would prefer to bomb. Bullies better than hypocrites.” Aravind Sai (@Aravind8) wrote: “Do praise the terrorists who kill citizens & see if you get awarded in USA. Besides we dont need sermons from NYT or USA.” Deepak (@dvji) wrote: “You seem to be more worried about India than Indians themselves. Pls don’t advice unsolicited.” Martina - whose Twitter bio declares “like to talk politics, though some would rather I stick to tennis:). No chance!!!” did not shy away from responding to the criticism. Over several hours, in a series of tweets posted publicly but tagged to specific users who had criticised her, she addressed the issues they had raised and made her point. To one tweet citing an ISI
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and ISIS threat, @Martina said: “Dissent is one thing, protest another, advocating sedition, violence etc another thing yet.” “But how is disagreeing antinationalist? Nobody is talking sedition, are they?” she wrote. Martina tweeted to another: “Once again - it is not anti-Indian to disagree with a particular party. You just proved the point of that article....” On the charge that she was dispensing unsolicited advice, Martina, known to be vocal on gay rights, environmental issues and politics, said: “Not giving advice - just posting an article and saying extremism can become violent very easily and these days RW (right-wing) extremism seems on the rise. I could be wrong. And I love India btw - if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t speak....” Deepak (@dvji) responded: “Trust me, you cannot care about India more than patriotic Indians. RW is not an Indian category - each Indian is both LW & RW.” Martina replied: “So we don’t say anything - then you say we don’t care. We say something you say shut up, you don’t know and we care more. Ok then....” Taking Martina’s support for free speech to be endorsement of the Left, Innov8 @pliersnwires tweeted: “Coming from someone who escaped brutal communist regime into free land of USA to support violent communists against democratic govt.” Martina served an ace with her reply: “I am not supporting violent anything - left or right wing. Hate communists, hate white supremacy jerks etc.” Born in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) in 1956, Martina sought political asylum in the US in 1975. On Twitter, she has been as scathing about some of her own country’s practices. In August 2015, she tweeted “Dear White America: Your toxic masculinity is killing you” and shared a
link. The same month she tweeted: “I wonder if the Republicans have any idea how similar they are in their beliefs to Sharia law - which they hate, BTW.” But Martina was not done yet. This evening (Indian time), she shared on Twitter a New York Times editorial on the topic and tweeted: “India’s Crackdown on Dissent, is Pratap Bhanu Mehta right or wrong? Does he know what he is talking about?” The editorial, published on February 22, ends thus: “Thousands of students and faculty at universities across India have turned out to protest in recent days. These Indian citizens are right to voice their outrage at government threats to the exercise of their democratic rights. Mr. Modi must rein in his ministers and his party, and defuse the current crisis, or risk sabotaging both economic progress and India’s democracy. The charge of sedition against Mr. Kumar should be dropped. As Pratap Bhanu Mehta, president of the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, warned in a recent opinion piece, members of Mr. Modi’s government ‘have threatened democracy; that is the most anti-national of all acts’.” Nilanjana, whose article sparked the exchange, tweeted: “@Martina Thank you for the RT (and your patience with commenters on your mentions).” “RT” stands for “retweet”. Nilanjana told The Telegraph tonight: “I was astonished that she had read the piece. She’s such an icon. First, I thought it may be a parody account. I remember growing up watching her play tennis. Then I saw her take political positions on various issues, including LGBT rights.” She added: “I was worried that the right wing would go after her. Their reaction did not surprise me but it is really sad that she had to go through this. She is not someone who looks for a fight on Twitter but she holds her stand.”
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FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
VOICE OF ASIA
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Saadhana Pariwar students receive Mewati Grand-Guru’s blessings and encouragement
Padma Vibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj Ji and Pandit Suman Ghosh.
by Sucheta Roy n 7th February 2016, the Center for Indian Classical Music of Houston (CICMH) hosted “Gunateeta Sang” for the disciples of Saadhana Pariwar, the Gurukul established by maestro Pandit Suman Ghosh. This exclusive event, held periodically, brings an opportunity for the disciples of Saadhana Pariwar to receive the blessings of none other than the beacon of the Mewati Gharana, Padma
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in difficult raags. During the musical tribute, the disciples witnessed a very touching incident. Pandit Ghosh had injured his wrist recently, and on seeing him manage the harmonium bellow with a cast, Pandit Jasraj-Ji gestured to his beloved disciple that he would like to bellow the harmonium for him. After this offer was met with a gentle smile, Pandit Ji beckoned to one of the disciples to come to Pandit Ghosh’s assistance. To be loved this tenderly by one’s Guru is an enormous achievement indeed. And that love was declared for everybody present to see and be deeply touched. After the musical offering, Pt. Ghosh felicitated his Guru in the traditional way. The Grand-Guru then spoke
at length to Pandit Ghosh’s disciples, entertaining questions from them with wit and kindness. He then blessed his grand-disciples with a music session. For a seeker and learner of music, there cannot be a bigger blessing than this. Pandit Jasraj Ji chose a raag and a bandish in raag Gyankali, both created by the Mewati grand-Guru, Maharaja Jaiwant Singh-Ji Waghela of Saanand. He was also Pandit Jasraj Ji’s spiritual Guru. It is very humbling to come face to face with such a rich heritage and gives even the youngest among us a direct connection to one’s roots and history. The evening continued with a joyful celebration of the Sangeet Martand’s birthday. The grand-Guru was showered with flower petals by all of Pandit Ghosh’s dis-
ciples. It is obvious that the one’s showering the flowers were blessed infinitely...as one may live an entire life without ever being given such an opportunity to offer devotion and respect to such an eminent personality. Pandit Jasraj Ji enjoyed every bit of the program, participating actively. Looking at his energy, zeal and involvement, one would hardly realize that he had just celebrated eightysix years of life. Houston is fortunate to be home to Pandit Suman Ghosh, torch-bearing disciple of Pandit Jasraj Ji. It is by Pandit Ghosh’s initiative and enthusiasm that such busy schedules as Pandit Jasraj Ji’s are bypassed making such rare and life-changing opportunities available to Pandit Ghosh’s disciples in and around Houston.
Vibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj Ji. After a warm and traditional Indian welcome for the Grand-Guru at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Sugar Land, Houston’s own Pandit Suman Ghosh led his disciples in rendering a selection of his own as well as Pandit Jasraj Ji’s landmark compositions. The Living Legend was moved to tears on hearing his grand disciples’ soulful renderings of some of his more complex compositions
Need tax filing HELP? Attend IACCGH Free Seminar on Sunday, February 28
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ix expert CPA’s and Tax consultants can help answer crucial tax Qs at India House on Sunday, February 28, 2016 from 2 pm to 5 pm. Organized by the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH), this free seminar is being held for the fifth year in a row to enable Houstonians who have overseas assets to learn and comply with IRS regulations. Information on how Indo Americans should disclose their foreign assets, which retirement plan is better suited, whether 401(k) plan is better than Roth IRA for a tension
free retirement, major changes in the tax laws in 2016 and much more will be shared. They will also be available after the seminar to answer concerns and questions from the attendees. Some of the other topics that will be delved into are contract labor issues, retirement planning and non-profit organization compliance. The growth of nonprofit organizations and the issues related to responsibility and duties will be discussed as well. The seminar attracts a sizeable gathering and it’s a good idea to pre-register to ensure a seat. Registration can be
Students of CICMH at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Sugar Land, watch the performance on Sunday, 7th Feb. 2016.
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done by logging on to www. iaccgh.com IACCGH, a not for profit established in 1999, has been actively working to foster Indo US bilateral trade, promote the economic interests of the Greater Houston region and educate the community on relevant matters. Members include corporations, professionals and small business owners.
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FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
How to reduce your 2016 income The People’s Lawyer taxes for small business owners? www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center
Stores may limit who parks in their lot, but they must have proper signage Q. Does a store have the right to limit who may park in its parking lot? Isn’t this public property? Can I be towed for parking where I shouldn’t? A. As a general rule, a parking lot is not public property. Nearly all parking lots are private property, and the owner of the lot may limit who may park in the lot. Whether you may be towed, however, is a different question. Although a business may limit who can use its parking facility, it must follow state law to have the right to tow violators. Under state law, a parking facility must place the proper signs before it may tow a car. Among other things, the signs must be conspicuously visible to and facing the driver who enters the lot, located at each entrance to the lot. The signs must also contain the international symbol for towing vehicles, describe who may and who may not park, and, contain a current phone number that is answered 24 hours a day to enable the owner to locate the car. The bottom line is that a parking lot owner may limit who is permitted to park in the lot; however, it may only tow wrongdoers if there are proper signs. Q. Can I still get a divorce and live with my wife for a short time even though my wife currently does not have a job or money to move out? A. There is no requirement that one spouse move out to file for a divorce. I suggest you speak with a local family law attorney who will explain how the divorce process works. Q. I defaulted on a credit car debt about ten years ago. I heard nothing about this debt until recently when I received a letter from a debt collector saying I would be sued if I did not pay or settle the matter. Isn’t it too late to sue me? A. If you defaulted on a debt ten years ago and have not made any payments since then, a lawsuit based on the debt probably is barred by what is called the statute of limitations. This is the law that limits how long a person may sue. In Texas, the time period is four years, but the law is an “affirmative defense,” so you must respond to the lawsuit and show the court that the debt is ten years old. If you do not show up, you will lose no matter how old the debt is.
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nancial services with Prudential in 2000. In 2002, she joined MetLife and was promoted to management in 2005. In an effort to offer her clients a more robust selection of products and services, Alice joined Wealth Design Group as a vice president of the firm in 2015. Alice currently holds Series 7, 24, and66 securities registrations as well as Texas Life, Health, and Accident and Property and Casualty insurance licenses. In addition, Alice has earned her CPA* and LUTCF designations and is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Houston CPA Society. She has also achieved Million Dollar Round Table membership. Alice was honored in 2008 by Houston Women’s Magazine as a Top 50 Influential Woman in Houston and in 2009 she won the Minority Achiever Award presented by the YMCA. She was also recognized as one of the Top 25 Women of Houston in 2012. She has the knowledge and resources to work with physicians and business owners on a broad range of insurance and financial issues to answer such questions as:
• What can I do to minimize current income tax due? • Will I have accumulated enough money to retire comfortably when I want to? • Would my practice survive if I were injured or became disabled? • Can I create a plan to maximize the value of my business when I retire? • How can I protect my business and personal assets? • Do I need to set up an estate conservation or wealth transfer strategy for my family? She can help provide benefit programs as well as develop, design, and implement tax saving alternatives for physicians and business owners. Alice has served on a number of boards within the Asian Community, including board chair for the Asian Chamber of Commerce. Alice has served as a community liaison for Congressman Al Green since 2007, and also serves on the foundation board for Houston Community College. She is a host on Channel 55.5 ITV, the only Chinese television channel in Houston. Alice is striving to make a difference in the community she loves. She and her husband have two children and reside in Houston, TX.
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I suggest you let the debt collector know that you know about this law and that you believe the debt is time barred. You also may want to let the collector know you know about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Threatening to sue on a time barred debt can be a violation of this law, and if you sued you could recover any damages as well as up t0 $1,000 in statutory damages. My guess is that will end the matter.
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If the debt collector does sue, however, you will need to defend the lawsuit. I suggest you then speak with a consumer attorney. Be sure to talk about the possibility of the attorney collecting his or her fees from the other side. Q. I have lived with my boyfriend for almost seven years. People have told us that if we live together for more than seven years we will have a common law marriage. We don’t want to be married. Should we just live apart for a few weeks and then move back in together? How long do we have to live apart? A. The good news is that you don’t have to move out, and you will not be married. Just living together for any length of time does not create a common law marriage. To have a common law marriage you must agree to be married, hold your selves out as married, and live together as married. As long as you do not want to be married, don’t agree to be married, and don’t hold yourself out as married, you will not create a common law marriage. Q. I have a small construction business. I have not been paid for a job. How long do I have to file a claim in small claims court? A. Your claim is for breach of contract. In Texas you have four years to file a lawsuit for breach of contract
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VOICE OF ASIA 5
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Alok Utsav - An evening of exquisite Odissi dance recitals by Sanchali Basu (Student of Kalaangan)
the Odissi form. The next presentation was an Abhinaya named Mahadeva, a hymn in praise of Lord Shiva, describing his power and beauty, perhaps the most vibrant presentation, had powerful choreography with stunning poses. This was followed by Rageshree Pallavi, a total treat to watch. Patadeep Pallavi and Rageshree Pallavi were performed by senior dancers of the school who have all completed their Ranga Pravesh and still continue to dance, even though some of them are off to college or working mothers just for their sheer love for Odissi.
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UGAR LAND - The Kalaangan school of Odissi dance led by its inimitable artistic director, Supradipta Datta held its annual function on Saturday, January 16 at the Sugar Land Auditorium. The evening started off with a sumptuous array of delectable snacks including samosas, egg rolls, brownies and jalebis. This was the fifth year that Alok Utsav was being celebrated and this year’s celebration, like past ones, was dedicated to all Gurus. Smt. Datta commenced the proceedings by paying tribute to her guru Smt. Aloka Kanungo. Councilman Harish Jajoo, chief guest after the ceremonial lighting of the lamp addressed the audience and sought their support in his Sugar Land mayoral candidacy. Emcee for the evening Shyama Mishra, then led us through the rest of the evening very capably. The evening’s recital started with an invocatory item Namo Ganesha, as is ritualistic in Hindu traditions, to worship Lord Ganesh at the commencement of any occasion. It was commendable how the very young kids adapted to last minute changes as 2 of the 5 dancers dropped out due to ill health. This was followed by a Mangalacharan (Shantakaram), which is yet another invocation, marking the entrance of the dancers on the stage. It was a spiritual number dedicated to Lord Vishnu seeking his blessings for an auspicious beginning. The next item of an Odissi repertoire is always a Nritta, a non-interpretative pure dance composition Pallavi based on Raag Patadeep, featuring fast tempo of complex patterns highlighting several rhythmic
The last dance of the evening very appropriately was the Mokshya Mangalam, which is the spiritual culmination where the dancers attempt to attain the ultimate goal of life – the reintegration of the soul with the Absolute.
Performers and presenters of the Alok Utsav at the grand finale. Photo (s) credit: Sanchali Basu variations and various mudras or hand gestures, the two basic stances, the Chouka (or the square position) and the Tribhangi (or the three-bend postures) as well as sculpturesque poses. This was followed by Aradhana, the first Odissi performance of the junior most group. Though not perfect at all, their enthusiasm and high spirits more than made up for the imperfections. The next dance Basant Pallavi, a composition combining an abhinaya section describing Lord Krishna enjoying the season of spring followed by a pure dance
The entire evening was well coordinated and enjoyed by all. Senior and junior students shared their experiences of dance class, anxiety and training for their upcoming Ranga Pravesh and the joy and sense of accomplishment on completing it. Kalaangan is consistently improving and gaining in strength.
piece based on Raag Basant was again impeccably performed by six well-trained young dancers. The next Abhinaya piece, Swagatam Krishna again welcoming Lord Krishna was performed by the Rath sisters, who have a very promising future. The evening went on to include another Mangalacharan (Gurur Brahma), Megh pallavi, evoking the ambience of the rainy season with movements that depict raindrops, dancing peacocks and overcast skies, and Bilahari Pallavi by 3 senior dancers, featuring steps and poses bringing out the quintessential beauty of Young performers and students of the Kalaangan school of Odissi dance
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COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 6
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
2nd Annual “University of Houston Day” .....
India House President, Dr. Manish Rungta welcoming the gathering at India House. Photo (s) credit: Bijay Dixit. L- R: Mrs. Susheela Agrawal, Dr. Renu Khator, Dr. Virendra Mathur, Dr. Durga Agrawal, founder President and Trustee and Col. Vipin Kumar, Executive Director, India House.
Continued from Page 1 Dr. Durga Agrawal, the founder President and current Trustee of India House who is also a Regent of UH system, while introducing Dr. Renu Khator, spoke fondly with great pride about the amazing progress that UH, his alma mater has made during the last 7 years since Dr. Renu Khator took charge. He talked about her perfect work-life balance with everyday yoga and precious family time and how her husband, Dr. Suresh Khator is the dreamer, architect and engineer of her dreams. Dr. Agrawal spoke about the Cullen College of Engineering, where he earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees, while working full time. He talked about highly ranked Colleges like Bauer College of Business, College of Optometry, Law School and School of Hotel and Restaurant management and three new National Research Centers in sub-sea systems, superconductors and border issues. Dr. Durga Agrawal enlightened students and their families about University of Houston’s illustrious achievements.
Jeff Fuller, Director of Student Recruitment speaking at India House
Dr. Richard Walker speaking at India House
all 7 new buildings requested by UH, including cutting edge Health and Biomedical Sciences Building. 5. Over 13000-15,000 degrees awarded every year from a total enrollment of approx. 70,000 students, for all four campuses. The annual operating budget is close to 1.3 billion dollars.
1. UH is among the top 100 universities in the world that produce most millionaires!! Yes, Millionaires!! some of them were here among the attendees.
6. UH has the 2nd largest residential campus in the state of Texas with more beds in the dorms, nay “Residential Halls” than UT Austin.
2. Many of the students are now launching start-up companies and generating over 25 million dollars per year in royalties from the commercialization of intellectual properties -- #1 in Texas; higher than UT and Texas A&M.
7. According to the U.S. News & World Report, Nine graduate programs now rank in the top 50, and 27 rank in the top 100, almost double from six years ago.
3. One billion dollars of construction projects are going on, including opening of new football stadium!! and UH Cougars are currently Peach Bowl Champions!! 4. Last Texas Legislature approved $362 million for
jokingly emphasized to the new comers that they will be far enough from the Moms to be free and do without being watched every moment and still not too far to go home for the weekly laundry and Mom’s cooking. At the same time she also assured the Moms that she, instead of the Moms, will be keeping an eye on them. She emphasized on developing skilled workforce and future leaders within Houston. With strong local support and industry strength with energy, healthcare, and arts, students are encouraged to develop their skills in a global environment. With the appointment of Dr. Steven Spann as planning Dean, UH is working towards the 2019 goal for a Medical School. She thanked Dr. Durga Agrawal for the wonderful words about University of Houston and community support from In-
Col. Vipin Kumar, Executive Director, India House presented programs.
8. UH has just been awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most selective academic honor society-this is a big achievement.
9. UH’s latest achievement is the selection of its campus by CNN for the next Republican Party Debate on February 25th before Texas primary elections on Super Tuesday.
dia House and Indo-American Community. Three students from UH spoke about their experience and good choices in making the right decisions towards their career goals with University of Houston.
President Dr. Renu Khator called University of Houston the “Power House”, Tier One public research institution with the vibrant and ethnically diverse community. She gave a very inspiring and enthusiastic welcoming speech and her passion and personal involvement was obvious when she mentioned that the freshmen will not be surprised when she will show up any day in their first semester in their class, as she is always interested in every student. She was very proud of the fact that UH had become a truly residential University and students need not commute for hours through the crowded pot holed streets with daily traffic jams and accidents. She
After that, Jeff Fuller, Director of Student Recruitment spoke in great detail about each College and the facilities and scope of learning and the future prospects after graduating from the particular College. Once the formal program concluded, every student was encouraged to spend some time to meet the Departmental Faculty and Staff to learn about various financial and residential choices and opportunities. The students and their families were delighted to have this opportunity at UH DAY and thanked profusely the organizers and UH Faculty and Staff. They truly felt that they benefitted immensely from this yearly event held at India House.
Shijimon Jacob of Everest Realty the Fort Bend master-planned community’s Topproducing Realtors for the year - 2015
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hijimon Jacob of Everest Realty has been named the 2015 Top-Producing Realtor for The Johnson developments master plan communities (Sienna Plantation Missouri city, River stone Sugar Land, Imperial Sugar Land, Harvest Green Richmond, Brazos Lakes, Cross Creek Ranch, Edgewater, Fall Creek, Harmony, Tuscan Lakes, Wood forest and others). Jacob, a resident of Sienna Plantation, says, “Every time I sell a home in Sienna Plantation, I’m selling my own community. It’s a very gratifying experience.” Shijimon philosophy and work-ethic in real estate is what separates him from other agents in the industry. When buying a new home, there are many factors to consider and decisions to make. From choosing the location, to figuring out financing options, to deciding which type of material to use, Shijimon’s experience and large network of Builders, Loan Officers, and other Real Estate Professionals help him provide his Client with the information they need to make the best decision. He believe that Real Estate is not only a business transaction, but a unique and reward-
Shijimon Jacob of Everest Realty (right ) receiving the trophy.
ing experience not just for Clients, but for him as well. Shijimon prides himself on
providing his Clients full service with quality, professional service, which has created
strong, new friendships that last even after the transaction is over
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DIASPORA
VOICE OF ASIA 7
6 Indian-Americans among early-career scientists honored by Barack Obama
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ASHINGTON, PTI | Feb 19, 2016 - Six Indian-Americans are among a talented group of 106 scientists and engineers who will be honoured by US President Barack Obama with a prestigious award, the highest US government prize for young independent researchers. The Indian Americans selected for the Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers are Milind Kulkarni (Purdue University), Kiran Musunuru (Harvard University), Sachin Patel (Vanderbilt University Medical Centre), Vikram Shyam (NASA), Rahul Manghar (University of Pennsylvania) and Shwetak Patel (University of Washington), according to a White House statement.
challenges. “These early-career scientists are leading the way in our efforts to confront and understand challenges from climate change to our health and wellness,” Obama said, who will present the awards at a ceremony this spring. “We congratulate these accomplished individuals and encourage them to continue to serve as an example of the incredible promise and ingenuity of the American people,” he said. Established in 1996, the Presidential Early Career Awards highlight the key role that the Administration places in encouraging and accelerating American innovation to grow economy and tackle greatest
Milind Kulkarni, an associate professor with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. His research focuses on Programming Languages and Compilers that support efficient programming and high performance on emerging complex architectures. Dr. Vikram Shyam, a technical innovation in fundamental aeronautics; at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, is among the six NASA scientists to receive this award. Shwetak Patel, Washington Research Foundation Entrepreneurship Endowed Professor in Computer Science and En-
Family protection scheme for NRIs in UAE
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UBAI: Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare and RAK Insurance have jointly launched a life and hospitalization insurance scheme for non-resident Indians (NRI) to extend care to their families back home. ARISE, designed to protect NRIs and their families from unexpected expenses brought by situations needing medical attention like illness or accidents was launched on Monday. It is the first NRI protection plan of its kind offered outside India to benefit the community in the home country, the company said. “ARISE is a good example on how we can encourage our fellows to prepare for the future and be protected when an unfortunate situation comes. We thank everyone involved in this venture - Aster DM Healthcare, RAK Insurance and Reliance
Life Insurance for thinking about the needs of NRIs,” Indian Ambassador to the UAE, TP Seetharam said. “ARISE takes off the burden of worrying about families’ welfare left behind by Indians who live outside the country. With the comprehensive protection plan covering life, accident and hospitalisation needs of one’s spouse, parents, in-laws and children back home, they are able to extend care while miles away,” said Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare. “We are excited to provide this comprehensive personal accident and hospitalization rider plan for the NRIs here in the Gulf especially in the UAE where 42 per cent of the overall population are Indians,” said Andrew Smith, Chief Executive Officer, RAK Insurance. “With ARISE, cost effective accident cover and healthcare
benefits in India are now available. We offer not just protection for their families but also peace of mind that care will be given from excellent and quality hospitals,” Smith said. Amongst Aster’s chain of establishments in India that cover ARISE are: Aster MedCity - Kochi, Kerala, Aster MIMS in Calicut and Kottakal, DM WIMS in Wayanad, Aster Medipoint Hospital in Pune, Aster Prime Hospitals in Ameerpet and Kukatpally in Hyderabad and Aster CMI Hospital in Bengaluru. “We are proud to be part of this venture as it further helps NRIs in extending life protection for their families. We ensure that the policy holders shall benefited by quick and single window system process through out over 800 branches spread across all over the India,” said Sam Gosh, Group CEO, Reliance Capital.
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Universities are laboratories of thoughts, says US Ambassador Richard Verma
gineering and Electrical Engineering, Patel, is a nationally recognised expert in sensor systems research. Rahul Mangharam from University of Pennsylvania was selected for inventing a new formal methodology to test and verify the correct operation of medical device software, saving lives and reducing care costs, the National Science Foundation said. Dr. Kiran Musunuru, Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and Associate Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has developed a “genome editing” approach for permanently reducing cholesterol levels in mice. Sachin Patel, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, through his research is offering a glimmer of hope to alcoholics who find it hard to remain sober. “The awardees are outstanding scientists and engineers,” said the National Science Foundation Director France Cordova. “They are teacher-scholars who are developing new generations of outstanding scientists and engineers and ensuring this nation is a leading innovator,” he said.
Read more on NRI’s Visit www. voiceofasiaonline.com
Richard Verma said “universities are laboratories for thoughts” and that the “hallmark of democracies like India and America are diversity of thought and speech”.
by Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, EW DELHI:In comments that assume significance in the backdrop of the crisis roiling Jawaharlal Nehru University and the raging debate on nationalism, US Ambassador Richard Verma on Monday said “universities are laboratories for thoughts” and that the “hallmark of democracies like India and America are diversity of thought and speech”. Without making any direct reference to JNU and the uproar over the arrest of its students’ union president on charges of sedition, Verma said college campuses in India and the US present diverse viewpoints. Referring to Indian and American constitutions, he said speech is the central tenet to both democracies. Verma, however, steered clear of making any controversial remark during an interaction on India-US strategic ties. Asked about his thoughts on the current debate on sedition in India, he said India and the US share values and mentioned the diversity in India. “It is hard to find a country more diverse than India. I have travelled to over 20 towns in India and this country presents huge diversity,” the US envoy said . Asked about the impact of the ongoing Jat agitation in
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Haryana on American businesses in the country, Verma said all businesses — both Indian as well as American —require stability. He, however, expressed optimism about US businesses in India which have grown substantially in 2015. He said there are 500 US companies in India and the two countries are hoping that bilateral trade will reach $500 billion a year. “America is also awaiting serious negotiations to start on Bilateral Investment Treaty,” Verma said. The US envoy also said Pakistan can and should do more to fight terror and safe havens. “There should be zero tolerance for terrorism,” he said, notwithstanding Washington’s recent decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, which drew protests by India. “IndiaUS defence ties are qualitatively and quantitatively different from any other country in South Asia. India-US ties are iare independent of Pakistan,” Verma said. He also announced that US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will visit India in April. In an indirect reference to China’s aggression in AsiaPacific, Verma said the US and India have aligned interests in the Asia-Pacific region and in freedom of seas to ensure stability.
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 8
YLDP’s session with Judge Sandill
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Fort Bend ISD students excel in science!
District students qualify for the Houston Science and Engineering Fair and place in various
YLDP 2016 Batch with Judge Sandill by Shalini Lakshmi
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n Saturday, February 13th, 2016, YLDP held a session with Judge Ravi K. Sandill at the Houston Civil Court House. Judge Sandill is a judge at the 127th District Court and is first South Asian to be elected into the district court bench in Texas. Judge Sandill had overcome obstacles of all kinds and from him we had the opportunity to learn the importance of positivity, perseverance, resiliency, risk taking, and good decision making. In his life Judge Sandill has
overcome many cultural and physical barriers. Three months after he began to practice law, Sandill was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Despite his cancer, Judge Sandill did not let his illness stop him from pursuing his dreams. He took a leap of faith when he was asked to run for elected office. The fact that he was much younger than his opponent, an incumbent of 28 years, and had been suffering from cancer for over 2 years did not stop Judge Sandill’s perseverance paid off when he became elected the judge of the 127th District Court in 2008. Through this,
Sandill has shown that South Asians can overcome obstacles relating to race by working with others and empathizing with the struggles others face. When Sandill ran, he was able to get support because he brought innovative ideas that helped to contribute to the community. On a personal level, Sandill continued to move forward in his life, despite his illness, by adopting his son Asher from Guatemala. He not only found the strength to continue onward for himself but also for his new son. Sandill’s will to progress and
not give up despite his struggles really has shown us the value of hard work and resilience. It is so easy to let the world swallow us up and let ourselves become slaves to the obstacles we face. The fact that Judge Sandill overcame so many obstacles like cancer showed me that with grit and determination all things are possible. His story inspired me and all the other YLDP students to not give up on our dreams and turn challenges into opportunities. In the end, we will all become better people by not succumbing to adversity and bouncing back from setbacks.
Sling TV and Dish announce long-term agreement with Willow TV International to provide the most extensive cricket offering in the U.S., Including ICC World Twenty20 2016
FORT BEND ISD – It was “standing room only” in Fort Settlement Middle School’s cafeteria, the site for Fort Bend ISD’s annual Secondary Science Fair Awards reception, held February 4. FBISD students, parents and staff attended the event to celebrate science in action as middle and high school students presented their Science Fair projects, sharing their expertise with the audience. Based on the superior quality of work, 67 middle school projects and 45 high school projects qualify for the Houston Science and Engineering Fair, which will be held February 26-28 at the University of Houston Alumni Center. The projects were developed by individual and teams of students. FBISD students have also placed in various other science competitions, including the Mars Rover Competition, the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association contest, Lone Star F-L-L Championship, and several Science Olympiad tournaments. Following are the results from the various science competitions: Middle School Level: Fort Settlement Middle School – Iker Aguirre, 1st place and Grand Prize at University of Houston Mars Rover Competition
Quail Valley Middle School – 1st place in RC category and 3rd through 5th place awards in Free Form at University of Houston Mars Rover Compel International Cricket Council (ICC) events will be featured live on the Willow cricket channel, the tition; two 1st place awards in Official Broadcast Partner of the ICC in the U.S. Science (one individual award l Starting with the ICC World Twenty20 2016, ICC events will be included at no additional charge to Sling and one team award) at the Texas Math and Science Coaches TV and DISH customers who receive the Willow cricket channel Association contest; 1st place l Sling TV and DISH offer the Willow cricket channel with live, high definition coverage of the best of in Core Values, Robotics Team international cricket from India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies and others at the Lone Star F-L-L ChamNGLEWOOD, Colo., viewers the most comprehen250 company. Visit www.dish. pionship About Sling TV February 23, 2016 – sive cricket offering in the marSling TV L.L.C., a subsidiary com. Sartartia Middle School – Sling TV and DISH ket, all in high definition.” of DISH Network Corporation today announced they have (NASDAQ: DISH), provides expanded their strategic re“In just over five years since over-the-top television services lationship with Willow TV we launched Willow on DISH, including domestic and interInternational for the Willow we have expanded our cover- national live and on-demand cricket channel. The agreement age of live international cricket programming. It is available brings some of the world’s to unprecedented levels,” said on televisions, tablets, commost popular cricket matches Vijay Srinivasan, CEO of Wil- puters and smartphones. The and events including ICC, In- low TV International. “We are Sling TV programming portdia, Pakistan, Australia, South extremely pleased to further folio includes content from Africa, West Indies and other strengthen our partnership with Disney/ESPN, HBO/Cinemax, top teams to cricket fans in the Sling TV and DISH, and to an- AMC, A&E, Turner, Scripps, U.S., in high definition, as well nounce the availability of the EPIX, The Weather Company as arrangements for coverage ICC World Twenty20 2016 and and Univision. Sling Latino ofof live overlapping matches. other ICC events on the Willow fers a suite of standalone and With Willow included in most cricket channel for Sling TV add-on Spanish-language promajor South Asian packages, and DISH viewers.” gramming packages tailored Sling TV and DISH customto English-dominant, bilingual Willow is available across and Spanish-dominant U.S. ers will have access to the most extensive cricket programming South Asian packages on both households. Sling International Sling TV and DISH. More in- currently provides more than available in the U.S. formation on Sling TV’s crick- 200 channels in 19 languages This agreement marks the first et offering can be found here, across multiple devices to U.S. time that major ICC events, in- and detail on DISH’s cricket households. Sling TV is a nextcluding the highly anticipated offering can be found here. generation service that meets ICC World Twenty20 2016, New Sling TV viewers can try the entertainment needs of towhich begins March 8, 2016, the service free for seven days, day’s contemporary viewers. will be provided at no addition- and DISH is currently offering Visit www.Sling.com. al charge on the Willow cricket the Hindi Mega Pack, which channel. Previously many of includes Willow, at 50% off for Follow @Sling on Twitter: these events have only been new subscribers. http://www.twitter.com/Sling available via pay-per-view. #TakeBackTV About Willow Willow TV International, Inc. “We are proud to have supAbout DISH ported the launch of the Willow is the premier broadcaster of DISH Network Corp. cricket channel in 2010, and cricket in the U.S. Willow dis- (NASDAQ:DISH), through its by extending this longstanding tributes a high definition linear subsidiaries, provides approxirelationship, we are not only television channel dedicated mately 13.897 million paybringing our customers the best exclusively to cricket in the TV subscribers, as of Dec. 31, in live cricket for years to come, U.S., and provides television 2015, with the highest-quality we’re delivering on our com- and digital production services programming and technology mitment to make Sling TV and to its global partners. Willow with the most choices at the DISH ‘your home for cricket’,” is an Official Broadcast Part- best value. DISH offers a high said Chris Kuelling, senior vice ner of the International Cricket definition line-up with more president of international pro- Council (ICC) and several ma- than 200 national HD channels, gramming for Sling TV and jor international cricket boards the most international channels DISH. “With this agreement and leagues. and award-winning HD and we are now able to bring U.S. DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune
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Maham Sewani, 1st and 2nd place awards in various Science Olympiad Tournaments High School Level: Clements High School – The Clements HS JETS (Junior Engineer and Technical Society) members competed in the MIT Science Olympiad Invitational in Cambridge, MA placing 6th out of 68 teams from across the country. The team also earned 1st place at the Cypress Falls High School Science Olympiad Invitational. Dulles High School – Brian Bell, 1st place and Archibald Cruz, 2nd place in Science at the Decathlon Regionals; 1st place Sweepstakes and eight Top Ten spots at Seven Lakes Invitational Meet (Dulles will also compete in upcoming Regional Science Bowl and Science Olympiad.) Elkins High School – 1st place at the C.E. King Science Competition, 2nd place at the Dulles Science Competition and 2nd place at the Atascocita Competition Fort Bend ISD congratulates all of the student winners, as well as their teachers and sponsors, on these recent honors.
Share your child’s success story with our readers all over the world! All articles printed in this Newsweekly will be posted Online: www voiceofasiaonline. com
SOUTH ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 9
Indian police arrest more students on sedition charge
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Fans of Indian politician get tattoos for her birthday Suppporter V. Kanniga, from the state capital Chennai, said she decided to have Jayalalithaa’s face tattooed on her arm to show devotion to the leader.
Jayalalithaa Jayaram enjoys a cult following in Tamil Nadu where she has won three terms as chief minister since 1991 (AFP Photo/).
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HENNAI, India - Supporters of controversial Indian politician Jayalalithaa Jayaram queued up on Wednesday to get tattoos of the hugely popular leader to mark her 68th birthday.
Thousands of students and teachers gathered over the weekend to protest against Kanhaiya Kumar’s arrest. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images. by Jalees ANDRABI NEW DELHI, India | AFP | 2/24/2016 - Indian police said Wednesday they had arrested two students wanted in a sedition case that has sparked major protests after the pair gave themselves up following nearly two weeks on the run. Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya surrendered to police at midnight on Tuesday after a court refused to grant them protection from arrest over a rally at their university, at which a group allegedly shouted antiIndia slogans. The pair are accused of being among the organisers of the event at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. They face the same charge as JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, whose arrest earlier this month has brought thousands of students and teachers onto the streets. They accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government of misusing the British-era sedition law to crack down on dissent.
mission from university authorities.
of the JNU students.
A student leader who asked not to be named said the three were in contact with police and prepared to cooperate in their investigations.
“Nothing is more unfair than labelling a university as anti-national,” said Congress lawmaker Jyotiraditya Scindia during a parliamentary debate on the row on Wednesday.
The February 9 rally was held to mark the hanging of Afzal Guru over a deadly attack on India’s parliament in 2001. Guru denied plotting the attack carried out by Kashmiri separatists and some say he was not given a fair trial. The case has caused outrage at both ends of the political spectrum. On Wednesday the student wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out on the streets to defend the government’s actions. The left-leaning Congress party, which governed India until it was ousted by the BJP in a 2014 election, has been particularly vocal in support
“Blacklisting a university of 8,000 students for the actions of eight students is absolutely unacceptable.” Modi’s ministers have stood firm and warned of tough action against anyone engaging in “anti-national” behavior. “If this is what freedom of expression is, then it is very unfortunate,” BJP lawmaker Anurag Thakur said during the debate. “We will not give any opportunities for such anti-national elements who chant these kinds of slogans for the destruction of the country to come forward.”
Myanmar backpedals on ban on Bagan temple climbing
Rights activists have long urged India to repeal the law, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and has frequently been used against critics of the government of the day. Many were outraged when Kumar was assaulted by right-wing lawyers as he appeared in court for a preliminary hearing last week in an apparently orchestrated attack. The latest arrests come amid mounting concern about freedom of speech in India. Several authors last year returned a prestigious award in protest at what they called government inaction over the murder of atheist scholars and the lynching of a Muslim man suspected of eating beef. - Parliamentary debate -Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said Khalid and Bhattacharya would be produced before the court later Wednesday. “They will be produced in the court today. We will ensure their security,” he said of the students, who are both in their twenties. Khalid’s lawyer Kamini Jaiswal told AFP the two men had decided to cooperate with police, who had issued a wanted notice for them at the time of Kumar’s arrest on February 12 and alerted airports to stop them travelling abroad. The two students have said they went into hiding out of fear for their safety following the attack on Kumar, but were ready to face justice. Another three JNU students who face the same charge but were not placed on the police wanted list remain on the campus, where they are protected from arrest because police are not allowed to enter without per-
Bagan’s vast field of temples, built in the 10th and 14th centuries, are worshipped as holy sites (AFP Photo/Francois Xavier Marit).
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ANGON, Myanmar | AFP Myanmar has backpedalled on a ban on climbing temples at the tourist hot spot of Bagan, following fears visitors would no longer be able to enjoy the ancient capital’s famed sunsets. The Ministry of Culture on Monday barred visitors from clambering over the monuments. But by late Tuesday it had revised the order to let tourists ascend five of the largest pagodas -- in a field of more than 3,000 Buddhist structures. “We would like to replace the statement about banning the climbing of pagodas with an amendment exempting five designated pagodas in Bagan,” the ministry said on its Facebook page.
But both statements slammed temple-climbing tourists for “culturally disgraceful” acts “such as wearing inappropriate clothing, dancing and sleeping (on the monuments)”.
“It was painful but now I am happy,” the 54-year-old said, adding that her husband also has one. “I can show my forearm proudly to the party functionaries and my relatives,” she said, at a special tattoo stall set up by Jayalalithaa’s
party. Tattoo artist V. Chandankumar said most people preferred to ink their arms, but some asked for her face on their chests and backs.
Special prayers were also offered at temples in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and phone lines were set up by her party so fans could send in their best wishes.
Mass weddings have also been taking place, with brides and grooms wearing armbands with her photo, according to the CNN-IBN TV news website.
A former movie star known as “Amma” (Mother), Jayalalithaa has long enjoyed a cult following in prosperous Tamil Nadu where she has won three terms as chief minister since 1991.
Jayalalithaa has earned the loyalty of her supporters with a series of populist schemes over the years, including giving away gold, goats and kitchen appliances at election time.
Birthday wishes poured in for Jayalalithaa, who faces a state election this year, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “May Almighty bless her with a long life, filled with good health,” the premier tweeted.
But she has also drawn accusations of corruption and an autocratic governing style. She returned as chief minister last year after being cleared of illegally amassing wealth while in office. Her party is the third largest in the national parliament.
Village in India’s Gujarat bans mobiles for single women
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HMEDABAD, India | AFP | A village in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat has banned single women from using mobile phones, with elders deeming the technology a “nuisance to society”. Members of the Suraj village council in Mehsana, the premier’s home district, passed a resolution in early February outlawing the use of mobile phones for teen- Members of the Suraj village council in Mehsana, the age girls and young premier’s home district, passed a resolution in early women. February outlawing the use of mobile phones for teenage girls and young women. — AFP photo. “Community leaders felt that just like liquor, the use of mobile phones by unmarried women was a nuisance to However, they can talk on their parsociety,” village head Devshi Vankar ents’ or relatives’ phones. told AFP, adding that a similar ban would be announced for school-age The ban was imposed at a meeting boys soon. originally called to discuss the community’s growing alcohol abuse probHe said mobile phones were distract- lem. ing unmarried women from carrying out their studies and household chores It comes amid a nationwide camin the village, which has a population paign by Modi to spread the use of of 2,000. technology in rural India.
The sudden ban had surprised tour operators and prompted concern that their businesses would take a hit.
If caught owning or speaking on a mobile phone, the violators will face a 2,100-rupee ($30) fine, according to the council, which is also offering 200 rupees to informers for tip-offs.
Last year the government launched its “Digital India” initiative to help boost connectivity in India, where nearly a billion people do not have access to the Internet.
In its updated post the ministry stressed that the regulation was aimed at conserving the Buddhist ruins, many of which are crumbling and overgrown.
are concerned about damaging the pagodas and the danger of hurting people,” the ministry said.
ist circuit has surged since Myanmar opened up its borders in 2011 following decades of isolation under military rule.
Proof
The statement also warned that safety was a concern, citing the case of an American tourist who was hospitalised earlier this week after falling from one of the pagodas. “Bagan’s ancient buildings have been there for many years and we
Bagan’s vast field of temples, built in the 10th and 14th centuries, are worshipped as holy sites in the Buddhist-majority country. Once considered an off-the-beatenpath destination for intrepid travellers, Bagan’s popularity on the tour-
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Tourism has since taken off, with the number of foreign visitors doubling in the past five years. Myanmar is eager to see Bagan listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
WORLD/US
VOICE OF ASIA 10
Canadian island invites Trump haters to move north by Michel COMTE
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Donald Trump adds India to list of nations, he says, poaching US jobs
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TTAWA, Canada - The rise of controversial Republican real estate billionaire Donald Trump has given an unlikely boost to a Canadian island offering to take in Americans. Cape Breton Island, off the northeast tip of Nova Scotia province about 500 miles east of the US state of Maine, has put out a welcome mat for anyone who could not stomach having Trump as their president, should he win. “Don’t wait until Donald Trump is elected president to find somewhere else to live!” says the site. “Start now, that way, on election day, you just hop on a bus to start your new life in Cape Breton, where women can get abortions, Muslim people can roam freely, and the only ‘walls’ are holding up the roofs of our extremely affordable houses.”
The five men accused of planning 9/11
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ASHINGTON Five men accused of planning the September 11, 2001 attacks are among the 91 detainees still held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Here are short profiles of the five: -- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, 50: Born in Pakistan, raised in Kuwait and later educated in the United States, he has publicly said he was the principal planner of the September 11, 2001 attacks. He is suspected in a string of other crimes, including the beheading of US reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. Known as KSM, Mohammed underwent repeated waterboarding between his capture in Pakistan in March 2003 and his transfer to Guantanamo in September 2006. -- Ramzi Binalshibh, 43: A citizen of Yemen, he co-rented a flat in Hamburg, Germany, with suspected 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta. US officials say he tried but failed four times to obtain a US visa to become a pilot-hijacker. Captured in Pakistan in September 2002, bin al-Shibh is accused of serving as the primary link between the hijackers in the United States and Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan during the eight months before the attacks. -- Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, 38: A Pakistani raised in Kuwait who is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s nephew and a cousin of jailed 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Youssef. Also known as Ammar al-Baluchi, he is believed to have played an important role in helping facilitate 9/11 logistics by transferring funds to US-based operatives and helping hijackers travel from Pakistan to the United States. He was captured in April 2003 in Pakistan. -- Walid bin Attash, born in 1978 or 1979: Raised by Yemeni parents in Saudi Arabia, he is accused of helping coordinate the 2000 attack on the USS Cole destroyer that killed 17 US soldiers in Yemen. Also known as Khallad, he lost his right leg during a 1997 battle in Afghanistan and supervised training at an Al-Qaeda camp there where he trained two of the September 11 hijackers along with other operatives. Allegedly chosen by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at the outset to become a 9/11 hijacker himself, he was captured in April 2003 along with Ali in Pakistan. -- Mustapha al-Hawsawi, 47: A Saudi associate of bin Laden accused of holding the group’s purse strings in its first years of existence, and of having arranged funding for the September 11 plot. Both Hawsawi and Ramzi Binalshibh are said to have served as a communications link between Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the 9/11 hijackers. He was captured in Pakistan in March 2003, when special forces stormed the villa in which he was hiding along with Mohammed.
Donald Trump has added India to the list of countries that he says are ripping off jobs from the US and has pledged to bring them back if elected president. Nova Scotia. Photo credit Novascotia.com A local radio disc jockey hatched the idea, designing a website linked to the local tourist bureau to provide an escape for Canada’s wary neighbors to the south. The Cape Breton promotion showcases the island’s natural coastal beauty, food, sailing and whale-watching tours, and juxtaposes its affordable housing and universal healthcare with Trump’s hardline rhetoric. - ‘Did America lose a bet?’”Of course, we don’t care about political affiliations, everyone is welcome,” Cape Breton tourist chief Mary Tulle told AFP, noting the island’s strong trade and genealogical links to the United States. “Donald Trump might even
AS VEGAS: (PTI) Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner, has added India to the list of countries that he believes is taking away jobs from the US and has pledged to bring those back if elected president.
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like to come up for a visit,” she said, noting that his mother was a Gallic speaker, and that the majority of the islanders have Gallic or Acadian roots.
American politics. It asks, “What is this? Did America lose a bet?” alongside a picture of Trump stumping.
In the past week, the Cape Breton tourist website has received over 300,000 visits -more than its usual annual tally. Some 5,000 Americans have also sought out specific information about the island, immigration rules, real estate and employment opportunities, Tulle said.
The video, which has racked up 37 million views, suggests what Canada being in charge could do for America: “We’ll open one free day care for every closed Planned Parenthood (abortion) clinic. We’ll legalize weed so you can stop worrying about terrorists and worry about your cat stealing your ideas.
The site is among a growing number of satirical online commentaries on the US presidential campaign popping up in Canada.
“And we’ll help you solve your race problem, as soon as we figure out why you still have a race problem.”
“What I did on June 16, we came out and we started talking about trade, how we’re being ripped off with China, ripped off with Japan, ripped off with Mexico at the border and then trade, ripped off by Vietnam, and by India, and by every country,” Mr Trump told his supporters at a massive rally in Las Vegas on Monday night attended by thousands of people.
Trump is currently leading the race to be the Republican presidential candidate in the November 8 election.
“Every single country because they’re all represented by these people that we think are representing us. That’s why when I say I am self-funding,
Another quirky pitch, created by a US writer living in Canada and a Canadian actor, calls for more Canadian sensitivity in
folks, it means much more than you think. It means much more, I’m telling you,” he said. After jumping into the presidential race last June, Mr Trump has been regularly singling out China, Japan and Mexico and occasionally Vietnam for taking away American jobs. But this is for the first time in recent months that Mr Trump has added India to that list. However, Mr Trump has been much harsher on China than any other country during his electioneering rhetoric. “We are going to take our jobs back from China and all of these other countries,” he said. “I have a friend, he’s a great contractor, and he’s a great merchandiser, and he cannot get his product into China. No matter what he does, he can’t,” he said.
Lifestyle VOICE OF ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 11
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
Vol. 29 No. 9
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Tel: 713-774-5140
Flirty glamour at Kors, curves at Boss tions this season.
year. He launched his line in 1981.
Interlocking chains as seen on Jenner’s dress featured prominently. A chainmail dress gave off a glittery disco ball effect, as did a pant suit paired with a luxurious short, white fur coat.
He bounced back from bankruptcy in 1993, cut his teeth reviving the fortunes of French fashion house Celine and became a household name in 2004 as a judge on the reality television show “Project Runway.”
For colder climes, there were tweeds and plaids. There was lots of brown and beige, as well as baby blue, lime green and purple. There were rounded, oversized collars for fall, and heavy use of floral prints. For accessories, which have done so much to propel his brand into the big leagues, he offered chain-handled envelope and studded camera bags. The 56-year-old, self-made businessman comes from Long Island and dropped out of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology in his first
- Curves -Wu showcased his fifth season for German label Hugo Boss on the heels of his eponymous collection last Friday. The Canadian-Taiwanese designer said he had previously focused on straight architectural lines at Boss and for the fifth season wanted to emphasize a woman’s curves in a more 1950s look. “In my fifth season I wanted to free it up a little bit and make it more about the curves,” Wu told reporters backstage.
A model walks the runway in a Michael Kors design during New York Fashion Week on February 17, 2016 (AFP Photo/ Timothy A. Clary) by Brigitte DUSSEAU
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ichael Kors offered up a flirty collection full of feathers, metallic accents and sharp tailoring Wednesday as Jason Wu unveiled a Hugo Boss collection emphasizing the curvaceous, feminine form. The billionaire Kors, a household name in the United States due to his accessories beloved by many American women, kicked off the second to
last day of New York Fashion Week in a light-filled Tribeca loft.
six months before catwalk creations hit stores.
The star of his show was Kendall Jenner, reality queen Kim Kardashian’s little sister, wearing glittery silver, with interlocking rings holding together her short sleeveless, metallic brocade dress.
Kors’ vision was flirty and emphasized through movement, with feathers and streamers adorning skirts that moved as the model walked, and slashes and slits cut into hemlines bouncing up and down the leg.
It was a cross-seasonal collection with select pieces offered for sale immediately as the industry starts to cater to customers fed up with waiting
There was a mix of floaty blouses and dresses, and sharp tailoring. Skirts were cut above the knee, slightly shorter than those seen in other collec-
The Michael Kors Fall 2016 collection is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew).
Pakistan literary festivals Indian designer Bibhu wows New York tell a tale of cultural revival with nod to imperial China
© AFP/File / by Issam Ahmed | Pakistani authors have garnered increasing international attention in recent years, particularly those writing in English like Hanif and Mohsin Hamid. by Issam AHMED
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akistan’s literary scene is seeing a spirited revival, with packed festivals attracting tens of thousands in a rock concert-like atmosphere that defies security threats in a growing cultural renaissance. Events such as the raucous Lahore Literary Festival, held over the weekend, are reclaiming the ‘cultural space’ that has shrunk significantly in the conservative Muslim nation in recent years amid a raging Islamist insurgency. The festivals -- platforms for all forms of cultural expression, from architecture to film to food writing and feminism, as well as poetry and a recital by Central Asian musicians -- are becoming a forum for exchange of liberal thought across the Muslim world. “It’s great -– one of the saddest things when you keep talking about Islam, the Muslims, the Ummah (the brotherhood of Muslim countries) is we don’t know what their writers are, we don’t know what their stories are,” said Mohammed Hanif, whose internationally renowned 2008 novel “A Case of Exploding Mangoes” weaves a dark comedic narrative around the death of dictator Zia ul Haq. “And there is very little that gets translated from these languages. So it’s great to have Palestinian writers, Egyptian writers,” he told AFP at the Lahore festival. The event began with an interview with veteran Indian actress Sharmila Tagore, who received a standing ovation after discussing her storied career in Bengali and Bollywood cinema. She hailed the cross-pollination of artists across the two rival countries’ borders as an important part of “cultural diplomacy”.
Other top-billed speakers included outspoken Egyptian-American feminist Mona Eltahawy -- whose vociferous denunciations of patriarchy and the politics of the hijab gave the festival some of its most energetic and controversial moments. “When we talk about the Global South, when we talk about women of colour, the issues that we talk about... it’s very important for me to be able to come to Lahore and say, ‘Look, the issues that I have written about in my book are very similar to issues in Pakistan that feminists are fighting over’,” she told AFP. “I want to talk about how as Muslim women we are reduced to what’s on our heads and what’s in between our legs and I want to talk about the sexual revolution.” - Pakistan opens its doors -Critics say successive Pakistani governments, influenced by the religious right, have done little to encourage artistic expression or have even curtailed it -- including banning Lahore’s spring kite-festival of Basant in 2007, which Islamists accuse of propagating Hindu thought. But overall levels of violence have fallen in the past two years as the army has stepped up its campaign in the Taliban’s border tribal regions. The Lahore festival’s fourth edition glossed over a last-minute change of venue due to security fears and brought together writers and artists from across the region. It came hard on the heels of a similar festival in Karachi and ahead of one in Islamabad. Organisers estimated around 100,000 people attended in an almost Glastonbury-like atmosphere.
Bibhu Mohapatra with models. AFP Photo. by Jennie MATTHEW ndian-born designer Bibhu Mohapatra, who has dressed Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow, unveiled a stunning fall/winter collection in New York inspired by one of the most important women in Chinese history.
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Mohapatra, who has been a fixture at New York Fashion Week since 2009, was inspired by empress dowager Cixi, the former concubine turned 19th century regent who was a powerful figure in China for nearly 50 years. British Indian author Salman Rushdie, one of the greatest living writers in the English language, was guest of honor and posed for a series of selfies with Mohapatra and female guests backstage. Mohapatra said the collection celebrated “the prowess and poise of the mysterious female mind,” and was greeted by ecstatic applause when he appeared on the runway at the end of the show. The designer, who dressed the first
lady when she and Barack Obama made a landmark visit to India in 2015, said he would “love” to dress Hillary Clinton, campaigning to become America’s first woman president.
- Practical furs -There were furs in all shapes, sizes and colors: a black fur collar and hem on a black leather trench coat, a stripy red and orange fur coat, a teal fox vest and rosewater mink.
Dragonflies were leitmotif of the collection, fashioned into double-wrap leather belts, made into leather chokers and picked out in embroidery and sequins on evening dresses and coats.
Despite the discomfort that some designers feel about using real fur, Mohapatra said it was important that they were sourced responsibly.
“Dragonflies really have a lot of cultural meaning to everything,” Mohapatra told AFP backstage between being congratulated by friends. “They’re prophetic in a lot of instances, it’s about good crop, good weather and it’s meaningful,” he said. As a child, he used to try to catch them but his mother would warn him to be careful. “They’re very delicate, so I love them so I wanted to incorporate them,” he said. His 2016 fall/winter collection also celebrated opulent furs -- his mastery testament to his past nine-year stint as design director at iconic French furrier J. Mendel.
“As we’re going into global uncertainty climate wise, it’s important to be protected and furs are really practical no matter what,” he said. “They have their stigma -- so does silk, so does cotton -- and as long as they are sourced responsibly they are fine.” Day wear was a lean silhouette with high necklines and long skirts. Evening wear was sumptuous -- the overall effect princess meets Bollywood meets Star Wars with regal trains. There were strapless ball gowns, figure-hugging sheaths and black velveteen that fell in soft folds. Grecianstyle dresses in silk chiffon billowed in white and green, and his final gown was strapless ivory and ebony with a thick gold train.
HEALTH, SC & TECH
VOICE OF ASIA 12
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
March is National Nutrition Month: What women should know about Cervical cancer screening Develop Better Eating Habits ave your healthy New Year’s habits already begun to fade? Recharge your resolutions in March during National Nutrition Month and remember the importance of developing and following sound eating habits.
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The 2016 National Nutrition Month theme, “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” encourages you to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences that food can add to life. “Food nourishes the body and provides necessary fuel to help you thrive and fight disease,” says registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson, Kristen Gradney. “In addition to providing nourishment, food is also a source of pleasure and enjoyment. Take time to enjoy healthy foods and all the happiness they bring to your life.” Gradney offers a few ways you can “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” this National Nutrition Month: • Enjoy Food Traditions and Social Experiences: There is an obvious social component to food. Whether it’s a nightly family dinner, a special occasion or social gathering, food often plays a central role. Enjoy the food at these gatherings while also taking time to appreciate the company around you. Research indicates that family meals promote healthier eating and strengthens family relationships. • Appreciate Foods’ Pleasures and Flavors: Take time to appreciate the flavors, textures and overall eating experience. In today’s busy world, we often eat quickly and mindlessly. Instead, savor your food, eating slowly
Woman 21-65 years old should have a Pap smear every three years. Photo credit: StatePoint
A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can educate you and guide your food choices. Photo credit: StatePoint one bite at a time to focus on the different flavors and textures. Stop and take time in between bites. Eating slowly not only allows you to enjoy your food, but it also can help you eat less by giving your stomach time to tell your brain you are full. • Develop a Mindful Eating Pattern: How, when, why and where you eat, are just as important as what you eat. Think about where you eat the majority of your meals. Do you eat lunch at your desk or dinner in front of the television? Instead of multitasking through meals, take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to find a nice place to mindfully eat. • Consult a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist: A healthy lifestyle is much more than choosing to eat more fruits
and vegetables. It’s also essential to make informed food choices based on your individual health and nutrient needs. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can educate you and guide your food choices while keeping your tastes and preferences in mind. RDNs are able to separate facts from fads and translate nutritional science into information you can use. Find an RDN in your area by visiting the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics site at www. eatright.org. The site also contains articles, recipes, videos and educational resources. Follow National Nutrition Month on Facebook and Twitter using the #NationalNutritionMonth hashtag. By taking the time to enjoy what you eat, you can develop a healthier relationship with food. Source: StatePoint
US issues blood-donating guidelines to combat Zika by Jean-Louis SANTINI
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ASHINGTON, AFP | Wednesday 2/17/2016 - US health officials on Tuesday issued new guidelines for donating blood aimed at avoiding the contamination of the country’s blood supplies with the Zika virus. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recommended that anyone returning from a region in which the virus is being transmitted or showing signs of a possible infection wait four weeks before giving blood. Those with confirmed Zika infections also should not donate blood until a month after the illness has been resolved, the FDA said. Canada and France have already announced similar measures, which are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The FDA said those who have had sexual contact with people who visited a region in which the virus is circulating within the previous three months are also considered at risk of being infected. Although no US blood banks have reported Zika contamination to date, the new measures were prompted by the latest scientific information about how Zika and similar viruses are spread, the FDA said. Two possible cases of transmission through blood transfusion have been reported in Brazil. The FDA said four of five people infected with Zika show no symptoms. The United States does not screen travelers arriving in the country for Zika because of the lack of symptoms, the Department of Homeland Security said last week.
The FDA also recommends that areas considered active Zika transmission zones within the United States, which include the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, use blood for transfusion from the US mainland, where the virus is not circulating.
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• Prevention: Two FDA-approved vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections of high-risk HPV types that cause the majority of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine is recommended to be given to pre-teen girls and boys at 11-12 years old before they are sexually active, but can be given up to age 26 for women and 21 for men. For more information on screening, diagnosis and prevention, visit cancer. org/cancer/cervicalcancer and www. DySISMedical.com. Cervical cancer is completely preventable and the best prevention is being regularly tested to detect abnormalities early. With these new tools, cervical cancer can be eradicated in our lifetime. SOURCE: StatePoint
Colon Cancer Awareness Month:
What to Know about Getting Tested
The World Health Organization has declared the rise in Zika-linked birth defects -- mainly in South America -an international emergency.
Astrologer Hardik Vyas, a famous young face in Vedic Astrology from India is available in Houston. Call for guidance on Health, Wealth, Education, Career, Business, Property, Love & Passion, Marriage & Compatibility, HoroscopeMaking, Child Problem, Luck & Fortune, Peace & Prosperity, Karma & Economical Sources.
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“Its ability to help me to select biopsy sites has resulted in me finding an increased number of significant pathologies,” says Dr. John Patterson of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare of
“It was really good to be able to see the screen and feel a little more in control and understand what was happening,” says Heather Holyoak, a medical student who had three colposcopy procedures and a biopsy over the past three years. “For me, it wasn’t remotely painful or uncomfortable, and it could be something that puts your mind at ease.”
But it is strongly suspected of causing microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, in babies born to women infected with the virus.
“HARDIK VYAS”
6
• Computer-aided detection: Historically colposcopy has been a very subjective exam, and accurately identifying biopsy sites is a challenging task. DySIS colposcopy, a clinicallyproven, FDA-cleared device, adds Dynamic Spectral Imaging to objectively quantify acetowhitening, and displays the results in a color-coded map.
• Reduced anxiety: Receiving news from your doctor that your Pap smear result is abnormal is frightening for any woman. However, the new computer-enhanced imaging offers more clarity for both the clinician and the patient.
The disease normally causes mild flu-like symptoms and a rash, or goes unnoticed altogether.
Astrologer, Vaastu & Gem Stone Consultant
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• The basics: Woman 21-65 years old should have a Pap smear every three years according to new health guidelines, along with a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test in some cases -- not annually as most women were taught. The Pap smear detects changes in cervical cells caused by persistent HPV infections, and the HPV test improves detection. After an abnormal result, doctors may perform a colposcopy exam by applying a solution to the cervix and watching for areas that turn white (acetowhitening), which can indicate abnormal cells. Certain women may need more frequent screening or treatment to remove precancerous areas.
DySISmap.
Zika is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue fever.
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ore than 12,000 women are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die each year. However, innovations in diagnostics and prevention could help reduce that number, while also giving women a better understanding of their health.
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CT Colonography offers a less invasive, safe and sedation-free alternative to the colonoscopy. PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Tyler Olson - Fotolia.com
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arch is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and the perfect time to think about colon health. Unfortunately, less than half of people aged 50 and older get tested for colon cancer. But early detection can save lives. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the US, yet it has a 90 percent cure rate when detected early, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). “We say the best screening is the one that actually gets done,” says Dr. Judy Yee, professor and vice chair of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at University of California, San Francisco. CT Colonography (CTC) or “virtual colonoscopy” -- a less invasive, safe and sedation-free alternative to the colonoscopy -- is increasing colorectal screening rates. CTC uses high-tech, low-dose X-rays to produce moving images of the colon, which doctors examine to detect colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps. If you’re interested in avoiding a colonoscopy, but want to get the screening needed to verify your colorectal health, consider the following about CTC, an ACS recommended screening test: • Comprehensiveness: The exam can detect abnormalities outside of the colon, including early-stage cancers in the liver, kidney and lungs, and can pinpoint potentially dangerous conditions, like aneurysms. In this way, it serves as two or even more detection tests in one.
• Accuracy: CTC is just as accurate as a colonoscopy for detecting clinically significant polyps and cancers; however, you don’t have to undergo sedation. There’s no need to take time off work or have someone drive you from the hospital. • Affordability: This exam costs a fraction of the price of a standard colonoscopy and is covered by several major insurers. Your insurance company can verify whether CTC is covered under your plan. • Non-Invasive: While a colonoscopy is the standard procedure, there is a small risk of serious complications associated with the test. However, CTC is non-invasive, as no needles or scopes enter the body. Only a small tube is placed in the bottom of the colon to help distend the colon for viewing. • Improved Screening Rates: Availability of CTC screening significantly boosts colorectal cancer screening rates, according to studies at National Military Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD, and San Diego. The US Preventive Services Task Force recently released draft recommendations naming CTC as an “alternative screening test,” and Medicare is currently reviewing coverage of this test in order to provide seniors with a lifesaving alternative. Bottom line: not enough people are getting screened for colon cancer. Whatever screening alternative you prefer, make sure you schedule this vital appointment and encourage loved ones to do the same.SOURCE: StatePoint
VOICE OF ASIA 13
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
VOICE OF ASIA 14
Section 2
Young Life
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Tel: 713-774-5140
The Houston Texans Teen Club!
Some of the Teens who are excited to enjoy the Teen Club that will feature a wellness center, a college and career center, a counseling office, a game room and a music studio.
T
he Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston is proud to announce a $750,000 pledge by the Houston Texans to build a new facility designed specifically for teens. This pledge is the largest single donation to the Boys & Girls Club by a professional sports team in Houston and places the Texans among our top donors. The new facility will be the first Boys & Girls Teen Club in Houston and the first in the nation to be sup-
ported by an NFL team. We are proud to continue this longstanding partnership with the Houston Texans and extremely grateful for this gift that will allow us to build a new facility that furthers both organizations’ missions to be champions for Houston’s youth. “We saw a need in the community for a facility and programming that is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of Houston teenag-
Jamey Rootes, President, Houston, Texans, left, pictured with Houston Texans Cheerleaders, Kevin Hattery, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and Chris Papouras, BGCGH Board Chair ers. The Houston Texans Teen Club will help area teens to navigate this
US firearms industry marketing to children: report
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ASHINGTON, AFP, 2/19/2016 - The American firearms industry is targeting children as young as six with brightly colored guns and encouraging parents to let children take up shooting at an early age, according to a report released Thursday.
“Along with the hope of increased gun sales, a corollary goal of this effort is the creation of the next generation of pro-gun advocates for future political battles.” Examples of “aggressive efforts” to market to children include rifles made with plastic parts so they are easier to handle, with less weight and recoil, the report said. Some manufacturers sell firearms in a variety of kid-friendly bright colors, including pink for girls. The report also pointed out that the firearms industry and its lobby want
A Dinner to Give Children Happy and Healthy Childhoods CRY America to host its First Annual Gala Dinner in Houston on Sunday, February 28, 2016 for the cause of underprivileged children.
An assault rifle with pink highlights is displayed during a National Rifle Association annual Meeting in Houston, Texas (AFP Photo/Justin Sullivan). parents to let their children “access guns at the earliest possible age.” The National Rifle Association, the main gun lobby in the US, previously had a website for its junior members, divided into “Under 8” and “8 and Up,” the Violence Policy Center said. Now called “NRA Family,” the website’s content includes a 2014 article reviewing the Thompson/Center HotShot youth rifle, calling it “a tiny gun intended for the very youngest shooters -- the ultimate first gun.”
The article cited the manufacturer as saying the rifle is targeted to kids aged six to 12. Gun violence is rife in the US, where a third of children live in a household with at least one weapon, according to the group Everytown for Gun Safety. Its statistics show that seven children and teens are killed with guns in the US on an average day. The National Rifle Association did not immediately respond to an afterhours call seeking comment Thursday evening.
OUSTON: CRY, Child Rights and You America Inc (CRY America), a 501c3 non-profit that works to restore the rights of underprivileged children, especially in India, will host its First Houston Gala Dinner on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the Stafford Civic Center in Stafford, TX. The Dinner will be attended by celebrity guests Pooja Batra, former Miss India, Supermodel and Actress; Dan Nainan, Master of Ceremonies and Comedian; Houston Texans Cheerleaders and performances by Malika Ghei and Bollywood Shake Kids. Be part of CRY America’s unforgettable evening of dinner, silent and live auction, music and dancing and enable better childhoods for thousands of children deprived of education, healthcare and protection. The evening will include an exclusive auction with a Guitar autographed by Sir Paul McCartney (Beatles), Baseball autographed by President Barack Obama and Apollo 11 Photograph autographed by NASA Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Event Sponsors include Dharam
Texas Prepaid Tuition Program Enrollment Deadline Approaches
A
USTIN: Texas families seeking to lock in the cost of undergraduate tuition and required fees at Texas public colleges and universities are urged to enroll their children in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund® prior to the close of the current enrollment period, which ends on Feb. 29. The Texas Tuition Promise Fund, the state’s prepaid college tuition program, allows participants to purchase tuition units based on
hood,” Houston Texans President Jamey Rootes said.
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The Violence Policy Center, which aims to stop gun violence, said in its report that gun manufacturers are marketing to the youngest consumers because their primary market -- white men -- is aging. “The firearms industry has set its sights on America’s children. Much like the tobacco industry’s search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement shooters,” the group said in a statement.
often difficult age and enable them to transition more effectively to adult-
current prices and avoid future increases in the cost of undergraduate tuition and school-wide required fees at Texas public colleges and universities.
gives Texas parents and grandparents the flexibility they need to plan ahead and provide future opportunities for their children and grandchildren.”
“Families concerned about the rising costs of higher education can lock in today’s rates at Texas public colleges and universities by prepaying tuition and school-wide required fees through the Promise Fund,” Hegar said. “The plan has a range of payment options that
Under the plan, families can prepay tuition and school-wide required fees for a four-year degree, two years of community college or just a few semesters at Texas public colleges and universities by purchasing tuition units.
Enrollment in the program at 2015-16 prices will close Feb. 29. This deadline extends to July 31 for children younger than 1. The next annual enrollment period begins Sept. 1, with new contract prices based on Texas public college costs for the 2016-17 academic year. Complete plan information, current prices, enrollment forms and more are available online at TuitionPromise.org, or call 1-800445-GRAD (4723), Option 5.
Bali of Vantive Inc., Amir Dodhiya of New York Life & Ashiana. Event Management by Bollywood Shake, Dinner by Chef Sunil Srivastava of Great W’kana Café, Decorations by Deco Art Event Planners, Music by DJ Scoop and Photography by Murali Santhana. Media by Masala Radio, Meena Datt Radio, Radio Dabang, Telugu Radio Hungama, Indo American News & Voice of Asia. Proceeds from the dinner will go towards ensuring thousands of underprivileged children are ensured their basic rights to live, learn, grow and play. To purchase dinner tickets, tables, or sponsorships visit http://america.cry.org/site/microsite/ Dinner2016/cry-america-houstondinner.html About CRY America: CRY, Child Rights and You America Inc (CRY America) is a 501c3 nonprofit driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. With the support of over 20,885 donors and 2,000 volunteers, CRY America has impacted the lives of 450,832 children living across 2,642 villages and slums through support to 70 Projects in India and USA. For more information: visit http://america.cry.org or write to support@cryamerica.org For more information: visit http:// america.cry.org or write to support@ cryamerica.org
VOICE OF ASIA 15
Section 2
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
B ollywood M asala Bollywood Masala
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
Tel: 713-774-5140
Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh ‘Neerja’ earns Rs 22.01 Grover to get married this April? crores in opening weekend
Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover
Buzz is that the two lovebirds will tie the knot around April end...
B
ipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover have ben together for quite sometime. But they haven’t yet officially announced their relationship. Now that the two are dating is evident from their pictures and lovey-dovey moments they keep shar-
ing on their social network handles. Now, we hear the couple is ready to take the plunge.
public was the impending divorce which has finally fallen through.
Bipasha and Karan were in Goa for Karan’s birthday (February 23) and they have already discussed about marriage. A leading online portal reported that the couple is planning to get married towards April end. The reason that Bipasha and Karan were reluctant to make their relationship
Karan and Jennifer Winget’s divorce papers went viral on the Internet on Tuesday and now, Bipasha and Karan have decided to tie the knot. Their wedding is supposed to be a destination wedding in Goa. But now that the formalities are finally over, we are hoping them to come out in the open about their affair.
Hollywood
Sonam Kapoor in a gripping scene from the film Neerja.
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UMBAI, Feb 22 Sonam Kapoor-starrer “Neerja”, a biopic based on the life of slained air hostess Neerja Bhanot, has earned Rs 22.01 crores in its opening weekend, producers said.
“The film is resonating across demographics in India as also with Indians across the world,” Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios, which has produced the film, said in a statement.
The Ram Madhvani helmed film is a story about the senior flight attendant, who died saving 360 lives on a Pan Am flight that was hijacked in Karachi in 1986.
The movie has raked in USD 1.56 million in international markets. In the US, “Neerja” earned USD 635, 202, which is the the highest opening weekend of a female centric. In the UK, the film collected USD 153,386, USD 84,299 in Australia, its Middle East collection is USD 575, 406 and USD 113, 394 from the rest of the world.
The film has been growing with a strong word of mouth in the Indian markets.
Carry On Up the Khyber: Afghan war comedy hits cinemas
“We are humbled with the audience response to ‘Neerja’! Viewers across the country have connected to this emotional and heart-touching story of a 23-year-old girl who did something extraordinary.
“Neerja” also stars Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani and Kavi Shastri. Source: (PTI)
by Jennie MATTHEW
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ar in Afghanistan may be no laughing matter but a new comedy starring Tina Fey based on the memoir of an American war reporter opens next week as a modern-day “Carry on Up the Khyber.”
Priyanka Chopra as Ms. Marvel
“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” shortened euphemistically to “WTF” recounts the exploits of a cable news producer who swaps office drudgery and a lackluster boyfriend in New York for life on the front line. It opens at cinemas on March 4, starring Fey as heroine Kim, Australian actress Margot Robbie as beautiful TV reporter Tanya, Billy Bob Thornton as a gruff US colonel, and British actors Martin Freeman and Alfred Molina as Fey’s hapless love interest and long-suffering Afghan fixer. The action is basely loosely on “The Taliban Shuffle,” a pithy 2011 memoir written by journalist Kim Barker of her time as South Asia bureau chief for The Chicago Tribune from 2004 to 2009. The book is a hilarious romp round Afghanistan and Pakistan by a ballsy reporter dropped in at the deep end to confront war and cultural differences, party with the expat set and juggle unsatisfactory romantic entanglements. “There actually are so many great war comedies,” Fey told reporters, defending the decision to make Hollywood entertainment out of a conflict that last year recorded 11,002 civilian casualties -- the highest number since 2009. “This movie at its core I think is a human story, it’s about relationships,” said Fey. “It’s about a woman who’s sort of making a choice to blow up her existing life and go on this adventure, for lack of a better word.” The movie focuses on Afghanistan, deleting Barker’s adventures in Paki-
Tina Fey stars in a new comedy based on the memoir of an American war reporter in Afghanistan, ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’ (AFP Photo/Joe Klamar). stan and her account of being romantically pursued by former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was re-elected two years after the book was published. - Amorous Afghan -”WTF” changes Barker’s name to Baker, re-packages her as a TV producer and inserts an amorous Afghan attorney general who has a crush on her. Much of the script is made-up -including a rescue of her kidnapped boyfriend -- but the movie captures the spirit of the memoir before accelerating Taliban attacks shut down much of Kabul’s high-octane, expat scene. In a sequence of events that would make any journalist green with envy, the film came about after Fey read a New York Times review of the book comparing Barker to “a sort of Tina Fey character.” “Because I’m an egomaniac and a moron, that really spoke to me... so I got hold of the book,” Fey said. She
“loved” it and quickly set about getting it adapted. Barker said it was exciting to be played by one of America’s most acclaimed female comedy stars, and appeared philosophical about the changes inevitable in adapting a book to the big screen. “It’s Hollywood,” she said. “You can’t get too wrapped up in it.” Filming in Afghanistan was never an option, so the production team scoured locations in Israel, India and Abu Dhabi before settling on New Mexico, home to hit TV narcotics thriller “Breaking Bad.” One success of the movie is the believable set. Street scenes resemble those in Kabul. Fey’s interactions with the military also ring true.
One of Priyanka Chopra’s recent coups has been landing the voice part of Ms Marvel for gaming app Marvels Avengers Academy. The character of Ms. Marvel is named Kamala Khan in her real life and is a teenaged Pakistani-American with body-morphing powers.
Priyanka will jump to playing the villain in her Hollywood debut film, Baywatch, while the shoot for the second season of her TV series Quantico is ongoing.
We think PeeCee sounds a little older than a teenager in some parts!
Priyanka herself appears to be superwoman, as far as managing her time is concerned!
From voicing this heroic character,
and an Afghan former translator for the US military, worked as advisors.
footage, and so the staging was a mix of digital tricks and giant sets, including parts of New Mexico’s state penitentiary turned into Kabul airport.
- Accurate -Military personnel helped build the remote outpost where Fey goes to report and actors filmed a scene on UH-1 Huey helicopters.
Barker said she had seen the movie twice -- the first time “terrified” with her brother -- but said she was “really pleased” with the result.
Iranian-born filmmaker Gelareh Kiazand travelled to Kabul to capture
A US para jumper who lost a leg in Helmand
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VOICE OF ASIA 16
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
HEALTHY LIVING VOICE OF ASIA
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
One in 3 Americans gets too little sleep: study
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IAMI, AFP 2/18/2016 - One in three Americans does not get enough sleep on a regular basis, raising their risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, US health authorities said Thursday. Healthy sleep is defined as at least seven hours per day for adults aged 18-60, according to the report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings are part of the “first study to document estimates of selfreported healthy sleep duration for all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” said the CDC in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Sleep patterns varied nationwide by location and ethnicity, as well as employment and marital status, said the
study which was based on randomly dialed telephone surveys. Whites were most likely to get enough sleep -- with 67 percent of non-Hispanic white reporting “healthy sleep duration,” compared to just 54 percent of African-Americans. Sixty-six percent of Hispanics and 63 percent of Asians reported getting enough sleep per night. The lowest proportion of adults who slept adequately was centered in the southeastern United States, an area that also has the highest prevalence of obesity and other chronic conditions. Being out of work or being sick also made it harder to sleep for more than half of those surveyed.
People with a college degree or higher were most likely to report healthy sleep patterns -- at 72 percent. Married people were more likely (67 percent) than never-married (62 percent) or divorced, widowed or separated (56) people to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. “As a nation we are not getting enough sleep,” said Wayne Giles, director of the CDC’s Division of Population Health. “Lifestyle changes such as going to bed at the same time each night; rising at the same time each morning; and turning off or removing televisions, computers, mobile devices from the bedroom, can help people get the healthy sleep they need.”
Losing five percent of body weight offers big benefits: study
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IAMI, AFP | 2/22/2016 Obese people who lose just five percent of their body weight may see big benefits when it comes to their health, said a US study out Monday. Forty obese men and women were randomly assigned to either lose weight on a calorie-restricted diet, or to maintain their current weight. Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis took a close look at the differences between those who lost five, 10 and 15 percent of their body weight, and found that the smallest weight loss group saw significant changes that lowered their risk for diabetes and heart disease. The five-percent group -- a total of 19 people -- lost total body fat, saw improved blood pressure, lower levels of triglyceride fats in the blood, less fat in the liver and had lower blood sugar. “Our findings demonstrate that you get the biggest bang for your buck with five percent weight loss,” said principal investigator Samuel Klein, director of Washington University’s Center for Human Nutrition. Those who lost 10 percent or more of their body weight saw continued improvements in some areas -- like muscle tissue -- but not in liver function or fat tissue, suggesting these “have pretty much achieved their maximum benefit at five percent weight loss,” added Klein.
Researchers took a close look at the differences between those who lost five, 10 and 15 percent of their body weight, and found that the smallest weight loss group saw significant changes that lowered their risk for diabetes and heart disease (AFP Photo/John Moore). According to current guidelines, people who struggle with obesity are urged to lose five to 10 percent of their body weight. “This study is good news for people who struggle with their weight as it suggests that even losing a small amount of weight can have a positive impact on heart health,” said Tracy Parker, a heart health dietitian with the British Heart Foundation. “This study is a reminder of the benefits of gradually getting to a healthy weight,” added Parker, who was not involved with the study. Klein said more research is needed
to see if people with diabetes might show similar responses to a five percent body weight loss. In the meantime, less is more when it comes to setting realistic goals, he said. “If you weigh 200 pounds (91 kilograms), you will be doing yourself a favor if you can lose 10 pounds (4.5 kilos) and keep it off,” he said. “You don’t have to lose 50 pounds (23 kilos) to get important health benefits.” The findings were published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
Testosterone treatment for older men boosts sexual function: study
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ASHINGTON, AFP | 2/18/2016 - Men over 65 with low levels of testosterone saw improved sexual function, mood and walking ability after being treated with the hormone, according to a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Testosterone levels decrease as men age, but prior studies on the effects of testosterone treatment on older men had been inconclusive. The new study involved seven trials and 790 men who had low testosterone and met other criteria. They were split into two groups: one treated daily with a testosterone gel, while the other received a placebo. The study found that testosterone treatment improved all aspects of sexual function, including activity, desire and the ability to have an erection. Distance walked in six minutes im-
proved when taking into account all the men in the trials, not just those in the physical function trial. The treatment improved mood and depressive symptoms, but not energy. The gel treatment increased blood testosterone levels in the participants to a “mid-normal” level for young men, the study said. “While these initial findings are encouraging for men with low testosterone levels, the (trials) will continue to analyze the data to determine whether testosterone treatment improves cognitive function, bone density, cardiovascular health and anemia, as well as the risks of testosterone treatment,” Ronald Swerdloff, a lead researcher at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, said in a statement. Initial results indicate adverse effects such as heart attack, stroke and prostate conditions were similar in men who received testosterone and
those who received the placebo. But the number of men in the trial was too small to draw conclusions about the risks of testosterone treatment.
Q and A about Health Care Information Forms for Individuals (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, and 1095-C) provided By IRS 1. Will I receive any new health care tax forms in 2016 to help me complete my tax return? Starting early in 2016, you may receive one or more forms providing information about the health care coverage that you had or were offered during the previous year. Much like Form W-2 and Form 1099, which include information about the income you received, these new health care forms provide information that you may need when you file your individual income tax return. Also like Forms W-2 and 1099, these new forms will be provided to the IRS by the entity that provides the form to you. The new forms are: • Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. The Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) sends this form to individuals who enrolled in coverage there, with information about the coverage, who was covered, and when. • Form 1095-B, Health Coverage. Health insurance providers (for example, health insurance companies) send this form to individuals they cover, with information about who was covered and when. • Form 1095-C, EmployerProvided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage. Certain employers send this form to certain employees, with information about what coverage the employer offered. Employers that offer health coverage referred to as “self-insured coverage” send this form to individuals they cover, with information about who was covered and when. 2. When will I receive these health care tax forms? The deadline for the Marketplace to provide Form 1095-A is February 1, 2016. The deadline for insurers, other coverage providers and certain employers to provide Forms 1095-B and 1095-C has been extended to March 31, 2016. Individual taxpayers will generally not be affected by this extension and should file their returns as they normally would. 3. Must I wait to file until I receive these forms? If you are expecting to receive a Form 1095-A, you should wait to file your 2015 income tax return until you receive that form. However, it is not necessary to wait for Forms 1095-B or 1095-C in order to file. Some taxpayers may not receive a Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C by the time they are ready to file their 2015 tax return. While the information on these forms may assist in preparing a return, they are not required. Individual taxpayers will generally not be affected by this extension and should file their returns as they normally would. Like last year, taxpayers can prepare and file their returns using other information about their health insurance. You should not attach any of these forms to your tax return. 4. What are the health care tax
Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com forms that I might receive and how do I use them? Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement Individuals who enrolled in health coverage for themselves or their family members through the Marketplace Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Individuals who had health coverage for themselves or their family members that is not reported on Form 1095-A or Form 1095-C. Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Certain employees of applicable large employers (See next column). 5. How will I receive these forms? The Marketplace, health coverage providers and applicable large employers will mail (or hand deliver) these forms to you or provide them electronically to you, if you have consented to electronic delivery. 6. My employer or health coverage provider has suggested that I opt to receive these forms electronically rather than on paper. Are they allowed to ask me that? Yes. Employers and health coverage providers may ask for your consent to receive the forms electronically. This is entirely acceptable and may be more convenient for you. Electronic forms provide the same information that is provided in the paper forms. 7. Will I get at least one form? You may. If you were enrolled in health coverage for 2015, you should receive a Form 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C. In addition, if you were an employee of an employer that was an applicable large employer in 2015, you may receive a Form 1095-C. If you don’t fall in either of these categories, you won’t receive a form. To Be Continued. For Health, Life and Retirement Planning contact Sudhir Mathuria @ 713-771-2900.
The study Wednesday reported the results of the first three trials, which tested sexual function, physical function and vitality. Te s t o s t e r o n e treatment efficacy was evaluated at three, six, nine and 12 months. Sexual function, mood and vitality were evaluated using questionnaires. Physical function was measured by questionnaires and the distance walked in six minutes.
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VOICE OF ASIA 17
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
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Bill Gates backs FBI in iPhone spat: report ARIS - founder Bill Gates is backing the FBI in its standoff with Apple over unlocking an iPhone in the probe of last year’s deadly San Bernardino attacks, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.
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Microsoft founder Bill Gates said technology companies should be forced to co-operate with law enforcement in terrorism probes (AFP Photo/Saul Loeb).
Syed Farook, a US citizen, and his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik in December gunned down 14 people at an office party in San Bernardino, California, before they were killed in a shootout with police.
The Pew Research Center survey found 51 percent of respondents supported the effort to require Apple to help unlock the iPhone, while 38 percent said Apple should not unlock the phone to ensure the security of other users’ communications.
The FT report comes a day after a poll indicated that a majority of Americans also back the FBI in its battle with
Apple’s challenge of a court order to unlock the phone opens up a new front in the long-running battle between technology
US magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple last week to provide “reasonable technical assistance” to the FBI, including disabling an auto-erase feature after too many unsuccessful attempts are made to unlock the iPhone 5C.
Apple.
companies and the government over encryption.
Apple rejected the order, saying it was “too dangerous” to create such a back door.
Mars recalls Dutch-made chocolates from 55 countries by Jo Biddle and Hui Min Neo in Berlin
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A HAYE, Netherlands | AFP 2/23/2016 - US chocolate giant Mars Tuesday ordered a massive international recall of Mars and Snickers bars made at its Dutch factory after a piece of plastic found in one snack was traced back to the site.
“As far as we know there are 55 countries involved,” Eline Bijveld, Mars corporate affairs coordinator for the Netherlands told AFP, refusing to divulge the whole list. The recall “only involves the products that are made in the Netherlands” at the Mars factory in the southern town of Veghel, she said, adding the products were mainly sold in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe. Chocolate lovers in the United States need not worry as the recall does not extend to the company’s home base. Bijveld could not give the exact number of chocolate bars produced daily at the factory, but said about four million items were being recalled in The Netherlands alone. The move comes after a customer found a red piece of plastic in a Snickers bar bought on January 8 in Germany. After he complained to Mars,
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Wells Fargo Insurance Study: Next Phase of ACA to Bring More Changes and Challenges to Employee Benefit Plans
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Gates disagreed with Apple chief Tim Cook’s claim that the government was looking for a “back door” into phones and that compliance would set a wider precedent, it said.
The recall of the chocoholic snacks also affects Milky Way minis and some boxes of Celebrations, and hit most European countries. But it also extended as far as Vietnam and Sri Lanka in Asia.
Employers remain focused on controlling costs, avoiding “Cadillac” tax
Breaking ranks with Silicon Valley companies who support Apple in its refusal to hack the phone of one of the attackers, Gates said technology companies should be forced to cooperate with law enforcement in terrorism investigations, the paper said.
Millions of chocolate bars were deemed possibly unsafe for consumption in 55 countries after a customer in Germany found a piece of red plastic in his Snickers bar last month.
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
The recall “only involves the products that are made in the Netherlands”, at the Mars factory in the southern town of Veghel, Eline Bijveld, Mars corporate affairs coordinator for the Netherlands told AFP (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen). the plastic was traced back to Veghel which determined that it came from a protective cover used in the plant’s manufacturing process. “We are currently investigating exactly what’s happened, but we cannot be sure that this red piece of plastic isn’t in any other of our products from the same production line,” Bijveld said. - ‘Out of precaution’ -So the food giant has decided in a “voluntary” fashion and “out of precaution” to go ahead with the recall. It is the first time that Mars has had to recall products made at its Veghel factory, which opened in 1963 and employs some 1,200 people. In a statement announcing the recall in Germany, the US chocolate giant said: “We would like to prevent consumers who have purchased one of the above-mentioned products from consuming it”. Mars said it was recalling the items from Britain, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain, after
it already withdrew products from sale in Germany and Netherlands. It added that the recall was an “isolated incident and strictly limited, and concerns only the products mentioned”. Manufacturing dates for the different products vary, but in general those with a “best-before” date of between June 19, 2016 and January 8, 2017 are being recalled. “This is a very special situation,” Bijveld said. “At this moment maybe the risk is not that high, but we cannot say this is in line with our quality requirements.” So Mars had taken the decision to “recall all products that may be involved, but that’s only because we cannot be 100 percent sure that they are not.” The US-based company, which also makes M&Ms chocolates and Wrigley’s chewing gum, said a full list of affected products could be found on its national websites, but they appeared to be down in the afternoon.
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espite already modifying their benefit plans last year, employers expect their healthcare costs to rise again in 2016, which will require additional changes, according to the Employee Benefits Trend Study released today by Wells Fargo Insurance, part of Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE: WFC). Fifty eight percent of employers surveyed expect their medical plan costs to exceed the thresholds for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) excise tax, or “Cadillac” tax, which was originally to take effect in 2018, but has been delayed until 2020. Additionally, 70 percent of employers expect their budgets for benefit plans to increase, as human capital and health and productivity remain key issues for businesses to manage. The Employee Benefits Trend Study surveyed more than 650 middle-market companies and large corporations to better understand how organizations are responding to health care reform requirements, while also developing a competitive benefits strategy. “As they balance business goals with controlling cost, employers are also exploring additional changes to their plans to avoid the Cadillac Tax,” said Dan Gowen, national practice leader with Wells Fargo Insurance’s Employee Benefits National Practice. “The rapidly changing market and delay in the tax implementation provides another opportunity for employers to be creative as they continue to refine their benefit plans.” Half of the employers in the study said they will continue to make changes to their plans either this year or in 2017 by adding a high deductible plan option (52 percent), increasing the employee contribution percentage (56 percent), or increasing co-insurance features (55 percent). Employers are also making strategic changes to plans that address not only the physical well-being of their employees,
but also chronic condition management and mental, financial, and social well-being. The survey found that as an employee engagement strategy, employers are taking a multi-pronged approach by adding incentives or penalties and increasing health and wellness offerings: Voluntary benefit solutions – As more employers offer high deductible health plans, the C‑suite is also aware of the financial exposure that employees face with these types of plans. As a result, they are looking to mitigate those costs by offering voluntary benefits solutions (e.g. critical illness and accident insurance). Wellness offerings – Employers of all sizes are seeking ways to encourage a healthier and more productive workforce. Fifty one percent of companies expect to increase wellness offerings, and 37 percent will add wellness incentives or penalties to their programs in 2016. Focused on return on investment (ROI) – 91 percent of Csuite respondents said improving the health of employees is important as it correlates with lower medical costs, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity. Aside from becoming compliant with the ACA and lowering costs, the study also found that C-suite executives are making changes to their plans because of an increased focused on attracting and retaining talent, with 62 percent saying it is a top concern, up from 45 percent last year. “If the economy continues to improve, the demand for talent will grow, and having a benefits program that fits the company’s culture is crucial to securing key talent,” said Gowen. “As employers focus on attracting and retaining talent, they can partner with their insurance broker and employee benefits advisor to explore making changes that best support their business goals and strategies.” Wells Fargo’s Employee Benefits National Practice helps customers with financial
underwriting and insurance, health and productivity risk management, benefits communication and administration, and compliance with health care reform. The practice has also released its 2016 Employee Benefits Market Outlook, which provides additional insights and trends on the market from the practice leaders at Wells Fargo Insurance. About Wells Fargo Insurance Named Best Insurance Broker in the U.S. by Global Finance Magazine 2015 Ranking includes Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc., Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc., and Rural Community Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Insurance provides solutions for a wide range of customers, including retail consumers, high net worth individuals, small businesses, as well as middle market and large corporate customers. Wells Fargo Insurance writes or places $11 billion of risk premiums annually in property, casualty, benefits, international and personal lines. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.
HOROSCOPE
VOICE OF ASIA 18
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Your Horoscope for the Week of February 26, 2016 READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE
by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950
ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM
Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct
Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Your zealous or fanatical streak, which will come to the forefront now. You are eager to defend your convictions or fight for a cause you believe in. You may encounter others who are aggressively promoting their philosophy, as well. Also, the desire for action and adventure may impel you to travel or to undertake an enterprise that is physically or mentally challenging, and possibly unproductive. You may just find they really need more than you imagined.
Don’t take on more responsibilities than you can handle. You may need to learn to let others do things for you for a change. Your thoughts which turn to love and this is a favorable time to bring out any concerns you have in your personal relationships. Agreements and cooperation can be achieved easily now. You readily discuss your personal needs and desires. Also, you are more aware of beauty and may want to rearrange your decor or buy something to beautify your surroundings.
Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov
Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Big questions of life! And your questions will occupy your attention and you may be drawn to study philosophy, religion, metaphysics, or other areas which open up new worlds for you. Mind-expanding studies or travel are likely, and foreign cultures have a strong appeal to you now. You seek new vistas and broader horizons through traveling, studying, or reading about foreign cultures or by seeking out people with greater experience, insight, and knowledge than your own.
Your communications, which are excellent now. You come across clearly and present yourself articulately. Public speaking, interviews, and other transactions with the public are favored. Conversations you have at this time go smoothly, and an agreement can be reached. You are feeling sober and realistic about love at this time, and are interested in being with people you respect and can depend upon - your oldest, true-blue friends. Try hard not to instigate unnecessary friction with anyone.
Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec
Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Your knowledge & good sense will help more than you expect. Competition could help your team, especially if you approach it in a positive manner. Your career, social standing, or reputation is favored at this time, especially by making personal contact with superiors or by socializing and making friendly contacts at work. You may make a good friend or meet someone beautiful and charming through your work. Now is also a good time to enhance your public standing and to create good will with the public.
You may be able to see much more than the rest of others around you. You’ll be able to tap into this part of your psyche with little effort. Harmony with the people in your immediate environment. There is a sense of ease and of flowing with, rather than fighting against or resisting, what is going on around you. Therefore, you have more energy and more fun at this time.
Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan
Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Hard work and concentrated effort and are the key issues for this time period. You are faced with tasks that are tedious and difficult works, but which must be completed at this time. Fortunately, you have the mental concentration and stamina to tackle the tasks now but the demands are still more than you would like to cope with. This is a difficult time period, but at least your work is cut out for you.
Your intuitive insights and healing energies can be used positively to help others. A nonstop flow of communication between yourself and the people in your immediate environment is likely. You may engage in interesting and informative discussions or fritter your time away in inconsequential chatter and gossip. Mental curiosity or restlessness may also impel you to take a short trip or visit.
Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb
Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August You may plan or take a journey to a distant land. Travel and exposure to new ideas and ways of thinking about the world interest you now. You may meet and learn from someone from another culture or with vastly different beliefs and experiences than your own. Philosophical discussions or studies are also on the agenda. You’re thinking about the “big picture” rather than the mundane circumstances and details of your life.
Try to keep your workload to a normal level, no more long hours. You need your rest, even if you see yourself as too tough to quit. Your feelings, friends, and female relatives figure prominently in your life now. You realize how much you appreciate and need their love and support, and you are particularly affectionate now. You may also initiate a partnership in which you take care of, support someone else.
Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March
Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Your feeling that hard work is only little rewarding for what you are experiencing, and the obstacles you face may be very frustrating. Try not to become emotionally depressed or angry because of the demands. It is best to take a positive attitude toward the work that needs to be done and realize that there will be other times for more expansive, pleasurable activity. This time period is not necessarily difficult, although it is for most people.
QR
Some uncertainty may cause you to take time to make decisions. Your ability to work through complex situations can come in very handy. Your reliability, consistency and dedicated work will be appreciated and you may receive recognition or a promotion now. This is a positive time for you when other people and situations assist you in accomplishing the tasks that are really important to you.
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VOICE OF ASIA 19
CLASSIFIEDS
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
Assignment Desk Intern
Community Affairs Intern
KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for assignment desk interns for the upcoming summer semester. Internships are available to undergrads currently enrolled college students in their junior or senior year pursuing careers in the television/media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The successful applicant will be responsible for assisting the assignment desk, which includes but is not limited to making beat-checks, answering phones, monitoring police and fire radios, getting information and developing stories. The candidate should be detail-oriented and able to handle many different responsibilities at the same time. The ideal intern knows how to multi-task and set priorities. Good news judgment and strong communication skills are essential, along with strong writing skills. The candidate should have a good working knowledge with the use of social media for news gathering. Must be willing to work evenings and weekends. All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req. #345396BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.
KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a paid COMMUNITY AFFAIRS INTERNSHIP for the upcoming semester. Internships are available to currently enrolled undergraduate college students in their junior or senior year pursuing careers in the television/media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The internship program is designed to provide students with an on-site educational experience that complements their academic studies. Interns will have an opportunity to observe and participate in the daily work and operations of a major market, television station. As an intern you will attend help in the production of community affairs shows, including scheduling of guests, help gathering and editing video, assist with community drives, forums and outreach. Each area requires significant planning, scheduling and execution. Applicants must be currently enrolled in college and supply written verification of eligibility to receive academic credit for the internship at the start of the internship. Additionally, applicants must be able to work at least one day per week and the hours may vary depending on scheduling and may include some weekend and early morning and evening hours. All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req #345383BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.
News Edit Internship
Programming and Production Intern
KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a paid NEWS EDITING INTERNSHIP for the upcoming semester. Internships are available to currently-enrolled college students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing careers in the television/media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The internship program is designed to provide students with an on-site educational experience that complements their academic studies by using a “real world” hands-on environment. News Editing Interns will have an opportunity to observe, participate, and contribute in the daily work and operations of a major market, television station. As a News/Technical Intern you will primarily assist in editing for air-- being creative and precise, while also learning the ins and outs of working behind the scenes for live newscasts. Interns will work under the direct supervision of the Digital Media Coordinator and other staff members. Additionally, applicants must be able to work at least two days per week between the hours of 2PM and 10PM. Applicants must be currently enrolled in college and supply written verification of eligibility to receive academic credit for the internship at the start of the internship. To be considered applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req 345394BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.
KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a multimedia
Weather Department Intern KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a paid WEATHER DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP for the summer semester. Internships are available to currently enrolled undergrad college students in their junior or senior year pursuing a career in meteorology or related field with intent on pursuing a career in broadcast meteorology. Student must receive college credit for the internship. As an intern you independently research and produce a daily weather forecast and create computer graphics for on-air and on-line weathercasts and digital videos. Additionally, as an intern you will monitor severe weather and track developing storms and complete projects as assigned by the Chief Meteorologist. Must be able to work at twenty hours per week and the hours may vary depending on scheduling and may include some weekend and early morning and evening hours. Applicants should be familiar with weather analysis and forecasting techniques and intend on pursuing a career as a broadcast meteorologist. To be considered interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req #345386BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientatation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.
programming and production intern for the upcoming summer semester. . Internships are available to undergrads currently enrolled college students in their junior or senior year pursuing careers in the television/media field and must receive college credit for the internship. The intern will assist Producers and Photojournalists with executing all aspects of the broadcast and digital story-telling process and will be expected to assist producers with original content weekly for broadcast and digital platforms. Applicants must be comfortable juggling multiple projects at once and needs to be a strong researcher, writer, and communicator. Responsibilities will include working on a variety of programming, and digital projects. Opportunity to assist on field shoots, production news broadcasts and live special event programs. To be considered interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com, Job Req. #345382BR. Please upload a cover letter, your resume outlining other internships, degrees earned, work experience, related clubs and organizations, current major course of study, expected graduation date and extracurricular activities. Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.
P/T MULTI MEDIA 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 O&O located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a part-time content contributor for broadcast and digital departments. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to advance their career as a multi-media journalist. In this position, you will write and edit scripts, work on the assignment desk, contribute to digital platforms, sort scripts and run the teleprompter. Must be willing to work overnights, weekends, and holidays. The ideal candidate has experience gathering information and writing news stories - along with a good understanding of social media trends and apps. College degree preferred. To be considered interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #347006BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. In addition, please mail writing samples to: Robin Freese, Executive Producer, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.
Seeking Live In House - Keeper
Restaurant for Sale
Seeking a Gujarati Live-In for cooking & light house-keeping in Houston, Texas for a Gujarati family. Minimum base salary of $2,200 with additional incentives of $50/week for performance based bonus. Only apply if Gujarati and legal resident.
Restaurant for sale in the heart of Sugar land (Town square) MUST SELL. OWNER HAS HEALTH RESTRAINTS. Fully furnished with walk-in-freezer and cooler, Refrigerator, Tandoori oven, cooking stove, etc. Serious buyers only.
Call 1-281-858-3005
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Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP) Website Redesign Services Project No. 16-28
From Garage Sales to Selling a Business Call us. Nothing is too trivial.
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Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Documents can
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VOICE OF ASIA
Subscription Renewal Form
Fax this form to: 713-774-5143 Scan and E-mail us: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com
Name: __________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________ City: ______________ State:___________ Zip:___________ Ph: ______________ E-mail:_________________________ Credit Card No: ____________________________________ Name on the Card: _________________________________ CVV #: __________ Exp Date:___________ Amount: $______ Signature: __________________________ One Year $30 Two Years $55 Five Years $100 We will mail 52 issues to your home or office! 8303 SW Freeway, Suite 350, Houston, TX 77074
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VOICE OF ASIA 20
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016
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WELLNESS EXPO
Empowering families to live healthy lives through education This expo provides a great opportunity for families to get to know Healthcare and Insurance Providers one on one, discuss, and open a dialogue with them.
WHEN:
Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM September 17, 2016
WHERE: STAFFORD CENTER
The most convenient place in Fort Bend County with easy access from major highways like 59, Main 90 and highway 6.
Part of our proceeds will go to benefit H.O.P.E non-profit organization to help Autistic children live better lives.
Mark your Calendars. Reserve your date.
Come prepared with your questions for healthcare providers.
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES & BOOTHS AVAILABLE To become a sponsor or book a booth, call 713-774-5140 For more details, visit: www.healthlinemag.com • FREE ENTRY • FREE PARKING • BOOTH INCLUDED* *With sponsorship packages.
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The most comprehensive health magazine for your family To pick up your free copy call 713-774-5140 Get free copies for your business, organization, and community faith centers (Up to 300 copies per organization) Educate your community and family initiative by Voice of Asia News Group
Home Delivery for only $12
call: 713-774-5140
We will mail 4 copies a year to your office or home.
New Issue January 2016 Now on stands everywhere
We distribute to: • Medical Offices • Dental Clinics • Car Dealerships • Emergency and Urgent Care Units • Retail Outlets • Private Doctor Offices • Select Hotels • Mail Direct to Zipcodes • Business offices • Restaurants • Hospital Lounges