Voice of Asia e-newsweekly December 30 2016

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FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

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Alcohol poisoning kills 34 in Pakistan, suspects held

I

SLAMABAD, Pakistan | AFP | Wednesday 12/28/2016 - Pakistani police on Wednesday caught three men accused of preparing home-made liquor mixed with aftershave that killed 34 people including a fourth suspect after they consumed the toxic brew on Christmas Eve. More than a hundred people were also sickened in the incident, one of the country’s deadliest cases of mass alcohol poisoning, which happened in a Christian neighbourhood in the town of Toba Tek Singh some 340 kilometres (211 miles) south of Islamabad.

“Four people have been identified who prepared and distributed the toxic liquor,” senior police official Atif Imran, who is investigating the case, told AFP, adding the group had also consumed the alcohol themselves.

“One of them died because of the liquor, two others are in critical condition while the fourth is in police custody,” he added.

India bans foreign funds of 20,000 charities: official

Read

The suspect in police custody had confessed to preparing the brew by mixing it with 20 litres of aftershave and other chemicals.

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The development was confirmed by another senior police official Usman Akram Gondal.

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Though legal breweries exist in Pakistan, alcohol sales and consumption are banned for Muslims and tightly regulated for minorities and foreigners.

While wealthy Pakistanis buy foreign alcohol on the black market at heavily inflated prices, the poor often resort to home brews that can contain methanol, commonly used in antifreeze and fuel.

Eleven Christians died in October after consuming toxic liquor at a party in Punjab province.

In October 2014 29 drinkers were killed after consuming methanoltainted liquor over the Eid public holidays.

Foreign-backed charities in India have come under increased scrutiny since Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seen in Japan in November 2016, came to power in 2014 (AFP Photo/TORU YAMANAKA).

A Voice of Asia Group Publication

Pakistan’s fourth nuclear power plant, built with China’s assistance inaugurated

I

SLAMABAD, Pakistan | AFP | Wednesday 12/28/201 - Pakistan’s fourth nuclear power plant went online Wednesday, a joint collaboration with China that adds 340 megawatts to the national grid as part of the goverment’s efforts to end a growth-sapping energy deficit.

Pakistan is one of the few developing countries pursuing atomic energy in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, as it seeks to close an electricity shortfall that can stretch up to 7,000 MW in peak summer months, or around 32 percent of total demand.

The Chashma-III reactor, located some 250 kilometres (155 miles) southwest of capital Islamabad, is the third built as part of a collaboration between the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

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EW DELHI, India | AFP - India’s government has banned some 20,000 charities from accepting overseas funds because they failed to comply with the rules, a home ministry official said Tuesday.

where charities, especially foreignbacked ones like Greenpeace, have come under increased scrutiny since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

KS Dhatwalia, a spokesman for the federal home ministry which revoked the licences, told AFP that they had been cancelled “over the period of one and a half years”.

A major crackdown began in early 2015 after an intelligence report said groups like Greenpeace were damaging the country’s economy by campaigning against key development projects.

“They have not followed FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) norms while applying for (licence) renewals,” he said.

The government has cancelled licences of thousands of NGOs since then, citing misuse of overseas donations to harm the country’s growth.

Without the licenses the NGOs will not be able to receive overseas donations, which could likely impair their day-to-day operations.

Critics have argued that the apparent clampdown was an attempt to stifle voices of dissent.

Dhatwalia, however, said they can reapply and have their licenses renewed by the ministry.

An Indian charity running schools for low-caste Dalit children said last week it was set to close down after its foreign funds were blocked over alleged threats to national unity.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday inaugurated power production from 340 megawatt Chashma-III nuclear power plant ‘C-III’ near Mianwali. (AFP Photo.

“Applications can be sent again.

And if they are renewed and revalidated, these NGOs can receive foreign funds and start regular work.”

The country’s first nuclear plant was supplied by Canada in 1972, with an installed capacity of 137 MW.

Meanwhile that leaves only 13,000 NGOs with licenses in India

“Today we have crossed an imporContinued on Page 10

The home ministry said the charity had engaged in “undesirable activities aimed to affect prejudicially harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities”

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DECEMBER 28, 2016 (The Hindu)

D

ays after a senior Pakistani General suggested that India should shun its “enmity” with Pakistan and join the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, the Chinese foreign ministry has called the offer a “goodwill gesture”, exhorting India to take it up.

At face value, the suggestion is odd. India has no dialogue with Pakistan at present, and has opposed the project, bilaterally with China “at the highest level” as well as at the UN. Relations with China have deteriorated considerably since President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan to announce the project in April 2015. Initially, New Delhi sought to play down its significance, as it was made just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled

by MICHAEL KREPON — Dec 11, 2016 (Dawn)

O

NE of Pakistan’s greatest diplomatic achievements during the Cold War was to simultaneously enjoy strong ties with the United States and China.

With the end of the Cold War and the retreat of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, this triangular relationship has changed.

Pakistan’s ties to Beijing have never been stronger, while ties to Washington are once again troubled. Nothing symbolises this shift more than CPEC. China has offered Pakistan over $50 billion in investments for critical infrastructure projects as prospects for greater financial and military assistance from Washington dim.

Washington has good reasons to be supportive — or at least not negative — about CPEC. If Pakistan can raise its game and make the most of this opportunity, CPEC will not just be one more external lending stream, it can help Pakistan achieve sustainable economic growth, one predicate for national, if not regional stability.

There are, however, challenges to be overcome before extravagant visions of CPEC can be realised. Thriving port cities depend on location and historic patterns of commerce.

Habitual Pakistani frictions between provinces and civil-military relations are complicating the takeoff stage. Beijing does not have a track record of philanthropy with respect to foreign investments. CPEC is not

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FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Behind Pakistan’s CPEC offer to China, and the government would have hoped to dissuade Beijing from pushing the more objectionable projects that run through disputed territory.

However, not only has the corridor taken shape rapidly, China and Pakistan have been drawn into a closer embrace, with Pakistan investing considerable resources in securing Chinese officials working on CPEC, and China redrawing its plans for the One Belt One Road to Central Asia to incorporate Pakistan’s interests. China has defended Pakistan against India’s efforts to pin it down with regard to support to terror groups, and to draw an obstructionist equivalence with India’s Nuclear Suppliers Group membership application. Given all

this, the General’s suggestion can only be understood to have been made rhetorically, especially as it was accompanied by allegations of India’s “antiPakistan activities and subversion” in Balochistan.

While there can be little expectation of any room for India in CPEC at present, there is space for India to step back and see where China and Pakistan want to go with it. The offer to India was made along with offers to other “neighbouring countries”. Already, Iran wants Gwadar to be a “sister” port to Chabahar, and Turkmenistan and other Central Asian republics have shown interest in the warm-water port that will be a nodal point for goods through

Pakistan to the Chinese city of Kashgar. Further north, despite its problems on terror from Pakistan, Afghanistan is becoming a nodal point for China’s connectivity projects to Iran.

The meeting among Russian, Chinese and Pakistani officials on Afghanistan this week, and Russian engagement with the Taliban, indicate much more is changing in the region than just the alignment of highways and tunnels. While India has done well to shore up relations with others in the region, it cannot afford to be blindsided by their involvement with the OBOR project and Chinese plans.

CPEC is no longer a project in Pakistan, but one that runs through it, a project that will link 64 countries.

Changing ties a gift; it’s a mutual opportunity, accompanied with interest rates.

And Pakistan is in no position to drive hard bargains.

The US may not compete with China for influence in Pakistan.

The upswing in China-Pakistan relations extends well beyond CPEC. Beijing is also helping Pakistan by placing road blocks before India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group and preventing the UN from adding Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar to its listing of terrorists. In contrast, the US Defence Authorisation Act passed by the Congress conditions half of the assistance given to Pakistan on demonstrable steps against terror groups.

Not that long ago, in 2009, Washington decided to make a major effort to improve relations with Pakistan and to bolster a newly elected civilian government. Now it is very hard to envision another major initiative

by Washington, which is sceptical of Islamabad’s promissory notes, or by Pakistan, which is accustomed to being on the receiving end of Washington’s initiatives, not the other way around. Absent a source of new propulsion, bilateral ties will continue to lose altitude.

Islamabad, Washington, and even Beijing have something to lose from these dynamics. No matter how generous Chinese infrastructure and military support turn out to be for Pakistan,

having one major power benefactor is half as good as having two. Washington will have less influence to change Pakistani choices for the better, and will now need more of Beijing’s help with crisis management.

And while Beijing’s gains are likely to be real, so, too, will the responsibilities of being Pakistan’s top benefactor.

Washington is not inclined to compete with China for influence in Pakistan. Nor is the prospect of more Russian engagement with Pakistan likely to alter US calculations. Washington’s current mood is to continue offering assistance to support common interests — while conditioning a growing portion of aid to demonstrable steps that confirm long-promised changes in Pakistan’s national security policies. All this can be upended with another major act of terrorism that can be traced back to Pakistan.

A legitimate question is whether Washington is capable of acknowledging changes for the better in Pakistan’s national security policies after such a long period of complaint.

There has been clear acknowledgement of Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign against the Pakistan Taliban, and the sacrifices this has entailed. But there is deep scepticism that the scope of this campaign will be widened.

Some in the incoming Trump

administration might be inclined to pursue the ‘nuclear option’ — declaring Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. This would be a grave mistake, not just for Pakistan and the United States, but also for India. Severing ties will not improve Pakistan’s choices, nor help the United States to encourage nuclear-armed neighbors to improve ties or defuse tensions. Washington does more of the latter than the former because, when New Delhi occasionally seeks to turn the page, an attack on India by cadres of groups based in Pakistan typically follows.

One challenge for Washington during the Trump administration will be to keep the door open and to recognise changes in policies that have weakened Pakistan’s well-being. A second challenge will be to not fly off the handle in ways that badly affect ties. The challenge for Pakistan is to keep moving forward rather than to fall back on bad habits. And to recognize that standard talking points will fall flat without changes in national security policy. Even in the absence of changes in Pakistani policies, the US continues to have important reasons to remain fully engaged on common interests. That sounds easy enough, but sensible steps cannot be taken for granted in the Trump administration.

The writer is co-founder of the Stimson Centre.

A sad anniversary

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COMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Second Front Page

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by Thara Narasimhan

T

he essence of Srimad Bhagavatam is entwined into one phenomenal trait in human nature, which is a feeling of adoration towards God known as “Bhakti” or Devotion. If one could practice Bhakti yoga and behold God through all their senses of hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling, and smell in all they do, they become one with God. Namadwaar, Houston presented an exposition of exquisite music combined with exclusive Bharatanatyam dance “Bhakti Sugandham” which is Devotional Fragrance. It was depicted as “Navadha Bhakti” which comprises the nine ways of connecting with God. The dance performance was embodied with expressions of nine different emotions called “Nava Rasa” and the Global Organizations of Divinity produced the program with the music compositions created by His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji.

To depict the nine different forms of Rasa or emotion many episodes were taken from Srimad Bhagavatham and woven into expressive performance through narrative Bharatanatyam. The concept being sublime, important extra efforts were contributed by dance choreography of Surabhi Veeraraghavan and exclusive music rendition of Uma Ranganathan. Both the Artistic directors spent a whole year of planning, preparations with creativity and production of phenomenal orchestra accompaniments and costumes. The program began with a video message from HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, who spoke about the purpose and essence of Nama and Namadwaar and the relative merits of listening and chanting the Divine names, as pointed out in Srimad Bhagavatham and conveyed his blessings for the success of the Bhakti Sugandham.

Beginning with the Dhyana Sloka the dance commenced with carrying the Text of Srimad Bhagavatham in a palanquin, as the scripture itself is an embodiment of the deity Lord Krishna Himself. The music for this piece was delightfully rendered in Raga Mallari, a classical invocatory Bharatanatyam prelude. This was followed by soulful poetical tribute to Srimad Bhagavatham. It was interesting to witness how Srimad Bhagavatham originated. SageVeda Vyasa compiled almost all scriptures in Sanatana Dharma including the Vedas, Bramha Samihtas, the Puranas, the Mahabharatha. and the Yoga Bhashya. He has left a treasure of pragmatic philosophy that contains everything that is beneficial

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Namadwaar Houston presents mesmerizing Bhakti Sugandham

Bharatanatyam dance performance group of “Bhakti Sugandham” presented by Namadwaar, Houston to mankind at anytime especially in the Kali Yuga. Sage Vyasa propagated Srimad Bhagavatham by initiating the scriptures to his son Shuka, who later instructed it to King Parikshit who was cursed by Sage Sringan to die of snake bite in seven days. When King Parikshit heard the curse, he immediately gave up the throne and prayed to Lord Krishna for remorse.

At that instant Sage Suka appeared and became his Guru and narrated the whole of Bhagawad Purana in the next seven days. As Parikshit listened to the stories, his fear of death went away. He realized the ultimate truth of life and death and gave up his body to attain moksha.

“Bhakti Sugandham” dance ballet opened with a group dance of swift Jathis portraying the Nava Rasa content of Courage, Disgust, Anger, Compassion, Humor, Fearfulness, Wonder, Love and Peace that was presented through popular stories taken from Srimad Bhagavatam, the crown jewel of all Indian sacred texts. Each one of the nine emotions was individually presented with beautiful “Bhava” or expression by every dancer in the whole group.

One can see that Rasa Abhinaya was

predominant in all of the nine different emotions. Veeram or Courage of Bhishma was well depicted by showering arrows on Arjuna nearly killing him when Krishna picked up a wheel and helped Bhishma to keep his vow of either killing Arjuna or forcing Krishna to pick up a weapon. Bibatsa or disgust was conveyed by the transition of soul passing through the disgusting Vaitrani River as it goes through the cycle of birth and death until redeemed by chanting of the sacred name of God was effectively shown in this dance. The emotion of Anger “Raudram” or Anger story was depicted with excellent choreography with fast paced Jathis. It was spun around the Daksha Yagna where Daksha not only insults his daughter Sati as an uninvited guest but also abuses her consort Lord Shiva as well. She emulates herself in the yogic fire and arouses the anger of Lord Shiva. The Karunya or Compassion of the Lord Krishna was very touching with the story of a poor childhood friend classmate Sudama who visited him and was treated with royal welcome

by Dwarakadheesh, Lord Krishna.

Hasyam or humor came out of Samudra manthan, among other things, a

well-known episode in Hindu Mythology. When Asuras and Devas fought to obtain celestial Nectar “Amrita” by churning the Ocean of Milk. The Devas appealed to Vishnu, who took the form of Mohini as an enchanting damsel, who tricked and distracted the Asuras, took the Amrita, and distributed it between the Devas. Bhayam or Fear was well depicted from the story of the ferocious Narasimha Avatar.

The ingenuity of Surabhi Veeraraghavan who superbly performed as Lord Narasimha presented the posture precisely in Bharatanatyam style. Shobita Arun portrayal of some the wicked personalities in the scripture were laudable and her Angikabhinaya was awesome. Soujanya Madhusudhan presentation was very authentic and as original as her school of training from the branch of the Kalakhetra style of dance. The Adbhutam and Shringaram had episodes of Vamana avatar and Bhakti of Gopis of Vrndhavana respectively. The Gopis dancing with vitrtual dandia was extraordinary and remarkable. Shantham was shown as the Eternal Peace by taking us to the tranquility of SriVaikunta where Lord Sriman Narayana reposes along with his consort Sri Mahalakshmi.

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The emcees were Ravi Thottadhri and Malathi Krishnan. Uma Ranganathan melodiously rendered the invocation. Dr. Lekshmi Nair welcomed everyone and gave an introduction about Namadwaar. She pointed out the activities of Global Organization of Divinity (G.O.D.) that included enrichment and value classes for the young and youth empowerment, help with Love to Share Foundation and many other outreach programs by holding Health fair and food and clothing drive and meditation classes.

She expressed that G.O.D under the direction of their Guru and guidance of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal, they believe that service to Humanity and Divinity are inseparable. Contrary to the norm Vote of thanks was given

by Nisha Giri even before the main event began. Nisha was integral part of the production concept and stories that were included. She thanked the Spiritual Guruji of G.O.D. and Sri M.K. Ramanujam Ji, for their blessings and Priya Murale for the idea of the production of Bhakti Sugandham.

She acknowledged all the donors, well-wishers, Global Organization of Divinity in India and USA, and the Honorable Mayors of Pearland, Tom Reid, and Mayor of Manvel, Delores Martin, Music and dance directors of the show Surabhi and Uma, participants of the show and their parents, the dance teachers in Houston, City of Pearland, Margo, Chris and Muktha Nair the sound management team and congratulated the members of Namadwaar for their excellent community services and tireless dedication.

It is believed that there are two easy paths of devotion or Bhakti, which are Shravanam (To hear) and Kirtanam (sing Lord’s Praise). I would add “Natyam” dance as a form of worship as this beautiful dance production of “Bhakti Sugandham” created one such experience.

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Other star studded participants included little ones from age 6 onwards, Sandhya Raghuraman, Meenakshi Venkataraman, Divya Koothan, Hema Naren, Jwalanti Prasad, Krishnaya Corbett, Pavithra Chandrasekaran, Radha Venkat, Ratna Ramaraju, Selvi Samy, Shriya Fruitwala, Shruti Natarajan, Usha Prashanth, Varsha Vasu, Zenitha Ram, Advaith Subramanian, Ananya Hariharasudhan, Madhura Sriram, Maithreyi Asthagiri, Maya Shankar, Sahana Thothadri. Each and every one of the dancers brought out the gestures and facial expressions in different episodes that were outstanding.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 4

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

PERSONAL FINANCE

The People’s Lawyer Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Old DWI may come back to haunt you

A. The DWI probably will always show up if someone conducts a background check. It does not disappear after some period of time.

Assuming you have not had similar problems since the conviction, most employers will not pay much attention to a 20-year-old DWI. There is no law, however, preventing them from choosing not to hire you because of a very old DWI. All I can suggest is that you speak with the employer and fully explain your situation.

Q. I have not been able to pay my car note. The debt has been turned over to a collection agency. The collection agency is now threatening to sue me for the full amount I owe. I told them to come and get the car, but they refused.

Do they have to take the car back when I don’t pay?

A. A lender is not required to repossess a car if you do not pay. The lender or collection agency usually has the “right” to repossess, but no obligation to take the car,

even if you offer to return it.

For example, if the cost of repossession is greater than the value of the car, the lender usually will not take the car. As a general rule, the creditor will repossess a car only when repossession will have some economic benefit.

I also should point out that even if the collector took your car car, you still might owe money. After the car is repossessed, it will be sold and the proceeds will be applied to the amount of your debt. If the car is not sold for enough to cover the debt, you still owe the balance. It may be that you should be glad they do not take your car.

Q. I have five brothers and sisters. Some of us are on better terms with our father than others. Our mother passed away last year and left everything to our father. I have been told that if my dad dies, the law requires my father’s estate be divided equally between all the children. Is this true?

A. If your father dies without a will, his estate will be divided equally between all of his children. With a will, however, your father has the right to dispose of his property any way he wants.

For example, he can leave all of his property to his children in unequal shares, or can leave

some of the children all the property and others none. In fact, the law does not require he leave any of his property to his children. The bottom line is that under Texas law, a person has the right to leave property to whomever he or she wants. The important thing is to have a will clearly spelling out how you want your property distributed after your death.

Q. How is child support computed? Does the court look at things like overtime pay, and “extra” income? My soon to be ex says that only regular income is included.

A. Child support is computed from all “net resources.” This basically includes any income received from any source. It includes overtime pay, and any other income from any source, including things like rent, interest, dividends and even gifts and prizes. The amount is reduced, however, by any taxes or social security that is paid.

Once the court determines the amount of net resources, state guidelines recommend the amount to be paid for child support. For one child, the amount is 20%, and 5% is added for each additional child.

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Pay Your Debts

Nobody will be surprised that this is at the top of my recommended resolutions. It’s common sense—everybody knows that debt is the enemy, right? You’d think so, yet every single day my inbox is flooded with dozens of people asking me questions like “should I use my Christmas bonus to pay my credit card bill or should I use it to buy x, y, z?”.

My answer is always the same! As long as you have debt, you should be using every penny of your paycheck to repay it (after your other bills and necessities are accounted for of course). You can’t find financial freedom when you owe somebody else money, it’s simple.

2. Calculate Your 90-Day Number Your 90-day number is the total you’re left with after adding up all of your incoming cash over a three-month period and subtracting all expenditures over the same time frame. This tip is almost as important as paying your debts.

You wouldn’t believe how many people are completely oblivious to their own financial situation!

After calculating your 90day number you’ll get one of two answers, you’re both making money and slowly building wealth or you’re going further into debt and losing money. If you find yourself with a negative number you absolutely have to change your lifestyle then and there. There is no way on earth you can sustain losing money every 90 days.

3.

Eliminate an Expense

I challenge you to eliminate at least one expense in 2017.

Replace your expensive biweekly manicure appointment with an affordable nail kit so you can take care of your cuticles at home. Cancel the gym membership you use once a month and start jogging outside—for free. Pack your lunch and give up the $12 salads you buy every day.

I don’t care if it’s as small of a change as brewing coffee at home instead of buying a dark roast every morning. Pick an expense, ditch it entirely or replace it with a more costconscious habit, and put aside all the money you would’ve been spending somewhere you won’t touch it. I guarantee that you’ll be shocked and thrilled when you calculate how much money you’ve saved. A $3 coffee doesn’t seem like much, but if you’re buying one every day that’s over $1000 a year!

4.

Start Investing

Once you’ve dealt with your debt and unpaid bills, it’s time to put your money to work! I like to think of every dollar in my name as a soldier that I send into battle every day to bring me back even more dollars. I call it my cash flow army! I keep my army growing by investing every dollar I can in high-quality, low volatility, and most importantly—dividend paying—stocks, bonds, ETFs, and venture deals.

After I invest, I follow my mother Georgette’s financial rule of thumb…ONLY SPEND THE INTEREST, NEVER THE PRINCIPLE! 5.

Improve Your Money Karma One

thing

I’ve

through my life is that nobody gets away with anything, including in the financial world.

If you didn’t work like a dog in your 20s and you blew your money in your 30s and 40s, you’re going to have to scrimp like crazy in your 50s and keep working well into your 60s.

That’s Money Karma in action: reward or punishment, depending on your previous financial actions.

Good Money Karma works like this: if you had a good financial plan and instituted it, you probably have enough cash. Now it’s time to give back.

I personally like to set aside at least 5 percent of my aftertax income, funneling it to a few select charities that mean

something to my wife, Linda, and I. We call our charitable donations “five in five.” We select five charities or causes for five years and support those, rather than spreading our focus too widely. After five years pass, we assess and choose five more.

The method doesn’t matter; the point is that good Money Karma goes beyond any tax break you’ll receive. There are health benefits to giving.

Countless academic studies have come to the same conclusion: altruistic people live longer, healthier and happier lives. Therefore, they’re less of a financial burden on their families and on society. You give, you get.

(Source: Linkedin.com)

Tips to Save and Spend Wisely in 2017

Photo Source: (c) Iana_Kolesnikova - Fotolia.com

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id you get carried away with the holiday spirit this past season? On the heels of hefty spending, the New Year is the best time to take stock of personal finance habits and make beneficial changes for the year ahead.

Here are some useful tips and tricks to spend and save wisely in 2017.

Think Long-Term Don’t neglect the future. It’s never too early to save for retirement. In fact, the sooner you start, the better off you will be. Invest through a company-sponsored plan if possible. If not, look into IRAs that can help you grow your wealth exponentially.

Create Categorized Funds Consider the 52-week savings challenge. In the first week, save $1, followed by $2 the second week, all the way through week 52, when you put aside $52. Sticking to this plan results in $1,378 saved at the end of the year, as well as any interest you’ve earned.

Creating a savings account for a specific purpose is a perennially sound savings strategy. Look for banks that are fee friendly, such as Ally Bank Member FDIC, ally. com, which allows you to open an Online Savings or Money Market account with no minimum and no monthly maintenance fee. You can deposit money easily through e-check deposit, direct deposit and you’ll earn interest compounded daily on your savings. In addition, putting this money in a separate account allows you to track your spending against the account balance.

Use Shopping Apps It is incredibly easy to save

money with a little online research. With a few minutes effort, you’ll find discount codes, loyalty programs or cashback websites that track your purchases and reward you for the extra step of navigating through their shopping portal instead of going straight to the big name retailers’ websites.

Reap Rewards While no personal finance expert would advocate running up credit card bills one can’t afford, savvy consumers know how to take advantage of credit card reward programs for hotel points, airline miles or just straight cash in their pockets.

“Use credit cards that reward you for the things you buy the most,” says Diane Morais, chief executive officer and president of Ally Bank, the direct banking subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc. There are often offers for opening a new credit card with a minimum spend, such as the Ally CashBack Credit Card, which provides a $100 bonus when you make $500 in eligible purchases during the first three billing cycles, and offers two percent cash back at gas stations and grocery stores, and one percent cash back on all other purchases -- as well as 10 percent bonus on rewards that are deposited into an eligible Ally Bank account.

If you don’t want to open a new account, check your current credit cards for promotions or cash back offers, which can add up quickly on everyday purchases.

With a little homework, savvy consumers can make 2017 the year they spend strategically and save more.

(Source: StatePoint.com)

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VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

FORT BEND VIEW

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

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Historic Prison Cemetery Preserved, Honored

Sugar Land ready to ring in 2017 azzling fireworks displays, a state of the art 3D projection show featuring fantastical creatures and a midnight sugar cube drop, energetic live music and dancing, and more guarantee an unforgettable vacation and New Year’s Eve celebration for the entire family.

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Pictured (L-R) are Texas Historical Commission Executive Director Mark Wolfe, Texas Historical Commission Chair John Nau, Fort Bend County Historical Commission

S

UGAR LAND - The city of Sugar Land and the Fort Bend County Historical Commission recently unveiled a Texas historical marker at the site of a prison cemetery that’s more than a 100 years old.

The cemetery contains the remains of prisoners and guards who died from 1912-1942 at the Texas Department of Corrections’ Central Prison Unit.

The marker chronicles the history of the region including the often oppressive, brutal conditions found during the 19th and early 20th Centuries when prisoners labored under the state convict lease program, a

system that ended shortly after Sugar Land’s company town was established in 1908.

Originally located outside of Sugar Land’s corporate limits, the prison cemetery and surrounding property was dedicated to the City in 2006. The cemetery is part of 65 acres of undeveloped property. The annexation of the property and subsequent designation as parkland ensures the preservation and maintenance of the cemetery.

The City worked closely with the Fort Bend County Historical Commission and Texas Historical Commission to designate the property as an historic site

and ensure necessary archaeological surveys. Additional surveys will be conducted prior to the development of future parkland -- plans include cemetery enhancements.

The City is also working closely with the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation to build a museum that tells the history of Sugar Land starting with its creation as a company town. The museum will also document the surrounding area’s early history including the Karankawa Indians, the area’s earliest known inhabitants; the first settlers in the 1800s; the prison farming and convict lease program; and more.

www.voiceofasiaonline.com

Square is a free, open to the public event and attracts more than 35,000 celebrants annu-

New Year’s Eve hotel packages include skip-the-line VIP passes to exclusive bar stations on the Square and complimentary shuttle transportation to and from the front door of your hotel.

Participating

S u g a r Land hotels include Drury Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden The City of Inn Sugar Sugar Land Land, Hyatt invites you Place Sugar to grab your Sugar Land is gearing up for a New Year’s Eve on the Square Land and n o i s e m a k - (Photo: City of Sugar Land) Sugar Land ers and pop Marriott the champagne because New ally both locally and across the Town Square (on-site).

Year’s Eve on the Square is the state. Held at Sugar Land Town For additional information only place to be to ring in the Square, the largest party of the or questions regarding New New Year. year will feature two special Year’s Eve Packages, call A must-see holiday destina- celebrations throughout the (281) 275-2045 or visit tourtion, New Year’s Eve on the course of the evening. ism@sugarlandtx.gov.

Annexations lead Sugar Land to redistrict

S

ugar Land will soon redraw the lines for its city council member districts following the recent annexation of the Greatwood and New Territory communities to their west borders.

The annexation boosted the population of the suburban city of about 88,000 nearly 30 percent, adding new residents temporarily to city council member district 2 and district 4. That gave those districts a higher proportion of the city’s

residents than permitted by federal law, so Sugar Land’s district boundaries are in need of a change.

Now, Sugar Land has four single member district city council members and two atlarge positions. The city does not anticipate increasing the number of members because of the annexation. Rather, it will redraw the lines to ensure the districts are of similar population.

Federal law requires districts

in a city to be within a 10 percent deviation of a so-called “ideal district,” the number of residents in a city divided by the number of districts.

In Sugar Land, that’s the city’s total population divided by four districts. Now, the average city council member district has about 21,000 residents.

The 30,000 residents added by the New Territory and Greatwood annexations have pushed districts 2 and 4 over the federally permitted deviation. So, by law, the city has to redraw its district boundaries prior to the next election of district city council members.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land to Host Community Open House

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UGAR LAND, Texas – The city of Sugar Land and ACE SL, LLC will host a special public open house of the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Jan. 7 from noon to 4 p.m.

The new world-class venue for performing arts, music, comedy, family entertainment and other activities is like no other in the Houston area. The venue, located near University Boulevard and U.S. Highway 59, is expected to spur additional commercial and retail growth in the area that will further establish Sugar Land as one of the strongest economies in the region. No general fund tax dollars were spent

The Club Seat Membership Program elevates your entertainment experience with premium leather seating, valet parking. Photo credit: SFC

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Happenings in Missouri City Acrylic Painting Classes What: Acrylic painting classes that are taught by professional painter Heather Roy. Open to beginners, classes are held in five-week sessions, cost $75 per session and meet on Tuesdays. Each session, participants will complete an acrylic painting to take home. All supplies are provided. Interested participants can sign up at the Recreation and Tennis Center.

When: 9 – 11 a.m. every Tuesday from Jan. 3 – 31 Where: Recreation and Tennis Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr. Senior Foodies: The Cheesecake Factory What: A chance to dine with fellow Missouri City seniors at a local restaurant; newcomers are always welcome. On the day of the lunch, separate meal checks will be given to participants. If interested, please call

281.403.8637 to RSVP. When: 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 Where: The Cheesecake Factory, 16535 SW Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Dad & Daughter Dance What: A 50’s Sock-Hop themed dance for area fathers and daughters, now in its 21st year! The event includes dinner, dancing, confetti cannons and more. Tickets are $30 for each father/daughter pair, plus $25 for each additional daughter. Interested participants can purchase tickets at the Recreation and Tennis Center.

When: 6 – 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 Where: Missouri City Community Center, 1522 Texas Pkwy.

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

OakBend Medical Center Physician of the Year

Artists rendition of the Private Grand Suites of the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land. Photo credit: SFC

on the plaza or the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, which is projected to provide an annual benefit to the community of $26.1 million over 30 years.

Sugar Land residents are encouraged to take advantage of the behind-the-scenes tour, which will take place a week before the venue’s official grand opening.

The event will feature selfguided tours of the venue in-

cluding backstage areas and children’s activities provided by organizations such as the Sugar Land Skeeters, the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land and the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center. The event will also feature special performances by School of Rock Sugar Land and Cypress.

Some concessions, excluding alcohol, will be provided at a reduced cost, and special ticket offers on select shows

January is National Mentoring Month Join Fort Bend ISD’s volunteer Mentoring Team and make a positive difference in a child’s life FORT BEND ISD (December 14, 2016) – During National Mentoring Month, Fort Bend ISD will welcome adult, community members to join its Mentoring Team. Volunteer mentors will meet with students from all grade levels for 30-45 minutes each week. Interested individuals who have a desire to help students be successful in school, and life, are invited to attend a one-hour train-

ing session. The training will be held on Wednesday, January 11, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., in the FBISD Administration Building Board Room (16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land 77479).

For more information about FBISD’s Mentoring Program, call the Parent and Community Engagement Department at (281) 634-1112.

FBISD to conduct public review of upcoming textbooks FORT BEND ISD (December 14, 2016) – Fort Bend ISD will be conducting a public review on the upcoming textbooks that are under consideration for adoption for the 2017 – 2018 school year.

Jan 3, 2017 – Jan 25, 2017 (Monday – Friday only) 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

FBISD Education Complex Textbook Warehouse

Proclamation 2017 Textbook Public Review Career and Technology Education Languages other than English

1555 Independence Blvd Missouri City, Texas 77489 For additional information about the review, please call 281-634-2947.

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will be offered during the event.

Parking will be available at the north parking which is located on Lexington Boulevard next to the plaza and fountain area. No tickets or registration is required to attend. For additional information, visit www.SugarLandTX.gov/SFCOpenHouse, www.

VisitSugarLandTX.com or www.smartfinancialcentre. net.

Joe Freudenberger, CEO, OakBend Medical Center, Dr. Gildardo Andres Ceballos, Physician of the Year and Jeff Council, Chairman of the Board of OakBend Medical Center. Photo credit: OakBend Medical Center Dr. Gildardo Andres Ceballos was announced as the 2016 OakBend Medical Center Physician of the Year at the Physician Holiday Party, held in the OakBend Medical Center Jackson Street atrium on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. Congratulations, Dr. Ceballos!

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Joyalukkas opened 2nd Showroom in USA at Edison, New Jersey EW JERSEY, December, 17 2016 - Multi-awarded global jewelry retail chain Joyalukkas adds another milestone to 2016 with the opening of its second showroom in the USA at Edison, New Jersey on 17th December 2016 at 11:00 AM. Inaugurated by Mr. Thomas Lankey, Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, in the presence of Mr. Antony Jos, Director, Joyalukkas Group; Aniyan George, KCCNA President; Jiby Thomas, FOMAA Secretary; Bishop Joy Alappatt, Syro Malabar Diocese North America; Dilip Verghese; Francy Verghese, GMJoyalukkas USA Operations and other dignitaries. The inauguration was a resounding success, with many local VIPs and dignitaries as well as company executives in attendance. After the overwhelming response received from their first showroom in Houston. The opening of their second showroom in New Jersey is part of the Group’s aggressive expansion plans, which also include the opening of a third showroom in the USA in Chicago in the next few months.

kas, Chairman and Managing Director of Joyalukkas Group. “New Jersey is an exciting location and we are looking forward to providing the quality of jewelry and service Joyalukkas is known for to the cosmopolitan mix of customers here. The response to the opening our showroom in Edison was heartwarming and we strive to return this great reception with great value and quality service for all customers.”

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Joyalukkas has earned the moniker “world’s favourite jeweller” by offering world-class products coupled with the highest standards of customer service wherever they operate.

“Opening showrooms in the USA is a dream come true for all of us at Joyalukkas Group,” said Mr. Joy Aluk-

Customers visiting the Joyalukkas New jersey showroom during inauguration period enjoy a free 2 gram gold coin on purchase of diamond, polki & pearl jewelry worth $2000 or more.

While those purchasing gold & precious jewelry worth $1000 and more will also get a quarter gram gold coin for free.

Inaugurated by Mr. Thomas Lankey, Mayor of Edison, New Jersey in the presence of Mr. Antony Jos, Director, Joyalukkas Group; Aniyan George, KCCNA President, Jiby Thomas, FOMAA Secretary; Bishop Joy Alappatt, Syro Malabar Diocese North America; Dilip Verghese; Francy Verghese, GM-Joyalukkas USA Operations and other dignitaries

The Joyalukkas Edison, New Jersey showroom showcases a mix of traditional, ethno contemporary and international designs that have won of hearts and following of customers around the world in exclusive Joyalukkas brands, such as Veda Temple Jewelry, Pride Diamonds, Eleganza Polki Diamonds, Masaaki Pearls, Zenina Turkish Jewelry, Li’l Joy Kids Jewelry, the Apurva Antique collection & Ratna Precious Stone Jewelry, along with exquisite pieces in gold, diamond, precious stones, platinum and pearl.

Sikh doctor in US 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention files religious discrimination lawsuit (iv) To deepen engagement with young Diasporas, to help them know more about their roots.

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Sikh doctor in the US has filed a lawsuit against an American medical organization alleging he was denied a neurology job for his religious appearance.

Jaswinder Pal Singh of Kentucky is a licensed and board certified physician practising in the area of neurology.

Sikh advocacy group, The Sikh Coalition, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in the US District Court for the Middle district of Tennessee on behalf of Singh.

The lawsuit alleges that Singh, an observant Sikh physician who keeps a religiously mandated turban and beard, was denied a neurology job after the employer and recruiter inquired into his religious appearance.

As part of the 2014 hiring process, the employer Premier Medical Group and its recruiter Arthur Marshall Inc expressed interest and concern about the way Singh looked, the suit further alleges. Though the recruiter praised Singh’s credentials in phone interviews, Singh was allegedly abruptly denied further interviews after he submitted photographs of himself, along with additional information on Sikhs and Sikhism. The job then remained vacant, it said.

“It was very clear to me that I was denied employment because of my ethnic background and religious appearance,” Singh said in a statement released by the coalition.

“No Sikh in any job or profession should ever be denied employment because of their religion. By speaking out and taking action, I know that we will continue to hold employ-

ers directly accountable,” said Singh, who migrated to the US from India in 2008.

According to the lawsuit, around September 2014, an individual from the recruiter firm indicated that the Premier Medical Group had reservations about Singh’s candidacy and wanted information about his appearance, specifically ‘how you appear’ and ‘what you look like’.

Singh explained that he is a Sikh and maintains unshorn hair including a beard and wears a turban in accordance with his faith to which the individual allegedly replied that he did not know who Sikhs were.

“Defendants failed and refused to hire (Singh) for the available neurologist position at Premier Medical Group because of his race (South Asian/ Punjabi), colour, religion (Sikh) and/or national origin (Indian),” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit seeks to secure a court order requiring that both defendants implement anti discrimination policies, practices and training to ensure that they do not discriminate against any future applicants.

In 2015, the coalition had represented Singh in filing a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

After the EEOC issued a right to sue notice, the rights group filed the anti-discrimination lawsuit. Last month, the coalition announced a massive legal victory on behalf of four Sikh truck drivers who were denied jobs by one of the largest trucking companies in the US.

Indian-Origin Man Charged With Bribing Over $ 2 Million To Mexican Officials NEW YORK, December 28, 2016 (PTI) - A 69-year-old Indian-origin man is among six people charged in the US with bribing Mexican officials with over $ 2 million in order to secure aircraft maintenance and repair contracts with government-owned and controlled entities. Kamta Ramnarine pleaded guilty in November before US District Judge Ricardo H Hinojosa of the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Mr Ramnarine is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Charges were unsealed against Mr Ramnarine and five other individuals, all of whom had pleaded guilty for their involvement in schemes to bribe Mexican officials in order to secure aircraft maintenance and repair contracts with government-owned and controlled entities, and two for conspiring to launder the proceeds of the schemes. In total, Mr Ramna-

rine and their co-conspirators paid more than $ 2 million in bribes to Mexican officials in order to secure aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul contracts.

According to the plea agreements, between 2006 and 2016, the defendants and their coconspirators, who owned or were associated with companies in the United States that provided aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul and related services to customers from the United States and Mexico, paid the bribes in order to secure parts and servicing contracts with Mexican governmentowned customers.

Kamta Ramnarine admitted that he conspired to pay bribes to several foreign officials between 2007 and 2015 to ensure that their Brownsville-based company won aircraft parts and services contracts with Mexican government-owned customers.

Washington DC - The Embassy of India announced that the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is being organized from 7-9 January, 2017 at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Karnataka. Highlights of PBD 2017 are: (i) PBD 2017 will focus on the theme “Redefining the engagement with the Indian Diaspora”. (ii) To strengthen Diaspora engagement and provide a platform for networking with the Diaspora. (iii) To recognize the Diaspora’s contribution to India and know their expectations and concerns.

2.

The PBD Convention features Plenary Sessions; an Exhibition; Cultural programmes and provides an opportunity to interact with other Overseas Indians, Policy makers, Political leadership and others. The highlight of the PBD convention is the inaugural address by the Prime Minister. Chief Ministers of several states also participate and address the delegates on opportunities available in their respective states. The last day of PBD features the valedictory address by the Hon’ble President of India, who will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on Overseas Indian for their achievements and contribution both in India and abroad.

3.

The Youth PBD is a new feature which has been introduced recently. It is a special day long programme which provides a platform to connect with Young Overseas Indians and discuss subjects of relevance to them. The Young

PBD delegates will also have the opportunity to interact with other Young PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) and Young Indians of their own age group. The highlight of the Youth PBD is the inaugural address, followed by a plenary session, cultural programme and dinner.

4.

There will also be a PBD Exhibition from 7-9 January 2017 on following five themes: (i) Flagship programmes of Government of India (Digital India, Start-up India, Skill India, Swachh Bharat etc.) (ii) Scheme and Programmes for NRIs & PIOs; (iii) Opportunities in States: Investment potential Business

Opportunities Tourism etc. (iv) Indian Handicraft & Culture Mela (sale & demo) (v) Corporate Sector, PSUs etc.

5.

All Non-resident Indians PIOs/NRIs are strongly encouraged to participate and register online at pbdindia.gov. in at the earliest. There is a special registration fees for young overseas Indians, group registrations and GOPIO members.

Registration fee includes transportation, Lunch, Dinner and cultural programmes.

6.

For further details please contact: supportpbd@ mea.gov.in or log on to Facebook page: Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

NFL and Texas Medical Center team up for Super Bowl Start-Up competition Companies to present innovations to advance sports technology and athlete safety

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he National Football League (NFL) and the Texas Medical Center (TMC) today announced the launch of 1st and Future, the league’s annual Super Bowl start-up competition, to be held at the TMC Innovation Institute in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, February 4, the day before Super Bowl LI. The 1st and Future competition will focus on innovations that advance sports technology and athlete safety. Beginning today, start-ups may submit entries in three categories— Communicating with the Athlete, Training the Athlete and Materials to Protect the Athlete—for the chance to pitch their innovation to competition judges and an exclusive audience, including NFL team owners and executives and representatives from the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee and Texas Medical Center.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Texas Medical Center on this initiative to fuel innovation and advance athlete safety,” said JEFF MILLER, NFL Executive Vice President of Player Health and Safety.

“The NFL will use its biggest stage—the Super Bowl—to continue to catalyze the development of technologies and other products that will help improve the game and promote

the safety of athletes across all sports.”

The NFL and TMC will select up to nine companies from the three categories to compete in Houston. One winner from each category will be selected by a panel of judges comprising former NFL players, entrepreneurs and medical professionals. The winners will receive a $50,000 prize from the NFL to further develop their innovation; acceptance into TMCx, TMC’s world-renowned program for start-ups; and two tickets to Super Bowl LI. “TMC provides a one-of-akind environment where the best and brightest minds in health and technology and private companies can collaborate to drive breakthrough ideas to market and transform the health of humanity,” said DR. ROBERT C. ROBBINS, president and CEO of TMC. “The NFL and TMC both value healthy competition, prioritize the safety of the athletes and know that we can achieve more through teamwork and collaboration. We are partnering to give sports technology and safety companies this career-changing opportunity to help advance sports and shape the future of athlete health and safety.”

Mayor Creates Office of New Americans Office Will Help Immigrants Access City Services, Implement Welcoming City Plan

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OUSTON - December 12, 2016 - Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the creation of the Office of New Americans to improve access to City services for all Houstonians. The office, formerly known as the Office of International Communities, will serve as a clearinghouse for information and engagement with Houston’s thriving immigrant community and work with a task force of stakeholders to develop the City’s Welcoming Houston program. The task force will submit its assessment of service needs and gaps and recommendations for enhanced coordination between the city and community organizations early next year.

“Many members of our community are living in fear and asking whether they will continue to have a place in our great city,” said Mayor Turner. “I want all of our residents, including immigrants and refugees, and people of all faiths, to feel safe and protected. The Houston that existed before the November election is the Houston that still exists today. We will not tolerate violence or criminal activity against anyone. Houston is going to remain a city where all are welcome, where neighbors look out for one another and where we are proud of our diversity.”

Last week, Mayor Turner joined other mayors from across the nation in urging President-Elect Trump to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until Congress provides permanent relief. “It is essential that we do everything to protect these kids from being deported from the United States,” said Turner.

The DACA program helps ensure that qualifying undocumented youth can seek higher education and work and engage in military service without fear of deportation. Nearly 742,000 youth have participated in DACA since the program began in 2012. The program applies to youth who were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and came to the U.S. before reaching their 16th birthday. These young people have lived in the US

continuously for five years and are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States.

The creation of the Office of New Americans and the Welcoming Houston Task Force are the latest in a series of steps Mayor Turner has initiated to make Houston a more welcoming city. Welcome signs in different languages have been posted in city buildings, at the airports and at the convention center and there’s a new website with a list of resources people can use to access assistance or report hate crimes.

For more information visit the Office of New Americans.

TMC will livestream the 1st and Future event on the TMC website as contestants compete in the following three categories: Communicating with the Athlete: New technologies that will improve the secure and safe means of communication between a coach on the sideline or in the coaches’ booth and a designated player on the field.

Training the Athlete: Educational and training innovations designed to reduce injury during practice or competition. Innovations may include training techniques or equipment.

Materials to Protect the Athlete: Novel or innovative solutions and materials that advance player health and safety while allowing for the highest-level of performance. Innovations may include, but are not limited to, materials that: improve breathability, heat dissipation or provide better protection for players by absorbing or mitigating force. These materials may be incorporated into protective

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group Welcomes Johanan Hsu, MD

H

OUSTON, (December 23, 2016) — Houston Methodist Primary Care Group is pleased to welcome Johanan Hsu, M.D., board-certified family medicine physician, to the office located at 16605 Southwest Frwy., Suite 400, on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus. Hsu joins an experienced team of both internal and family medicine physicians, and will continue to provide the same high-quality health care that the Fort Bend community has come to expect.

Hsu graduated from Rice University and earned his medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in College Station before completing his family medicine residency at Christus-Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. Hsu specializes in both preventive equipment, padding, uniforms or footwear among other potential uses.

care and the treatment of acute illness in patients of all ages.

He is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

“I am very excited to be a part of Houston Methodist Primary Care Group and I am committed to helping my patients live healthier lifestyles,” said Hsu. “It is my goal to help them achieve that healthy lifestyle through preventive care and education.”

In his spare time, Hsu enjoys hiking, star-gazing and playing instruments such as the violin, piano, guitar and the Chinese erhu and guqin. Although medicine is his first passion, music has also played an immense part in his life. He was invited to participate in the Texas Music Festival, which showcases the talents and skills of young For information on the submission process, selection criteria and official rules, visit

Dr. Johanan Hsu professional musicians.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Johanan Hsu, or another primary care physician with Houston Methodist Primary Care Group, visit houstonmethodist.org/primarycare or call 713.395.MPCG (6724). www.tmc.edu/1st-and-future/.

The deadline to submit applications is January 20, 2017.

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Duped by fake news, Pakistan minister makes nuke threat to Israel

I

SLAMABAD (AFP) Pakistan’s defence minister has threatened to retaliate in kind to any Israeli nuclear strike after apparently being tricked by a fake news site into a confrontation on social media.

His missive prompted a clarification from Israel’s Ministry of Defense, which responded to him on Saturday: “@KhawajaMAsif The statement attributed to fmr Def Min Yaalon re Pakistan was never said,” adding: “KhawajaMAsif reports referred to by the Pakistani Def Min are entirely false”.

Israel has a policy of ambiguity in relation to its nuclear arsenal, neither confirming nor denying its existence, but is widely believed to be an atomic

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif threatened nuclear retaliation against Israel after apparently being tricked by a story on a fake news site (AFP Photo/FAROOQ NAEEM) power.

Pakistan, which conducted its first nuclear test in 1998, is believed by analysts to have around 120 nuclear weapons and the fastest growing stockpile.

Mainly Muslim Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel.

Asif was widely mocked for his blunder.

“Our nuclear program is too serious a business to be left to Twitter-addicted politicians”, said prominent TV journalist Nusrat Javeed.

There is a rising tide of fake

articles being widely shared on social media.

Earlier this month a riflewielding man entered a pizza restaurant in Washington, saying he wanted to investigate a fake news story that the establishment was a centre for child abduction linked to failed US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Last week Google said it was working to refine its algorithm to weed out “non-authoritative” information after a British news report showed a Holocaust denial website was the top result when users asked “Did the Holocaust happen?”

D

AMASCUS (AFP) Residents of the Syrian capital were facing their third consecutive day of water shortages on Sunday, with authorities accusing “terrorist groups” of deliberately poisoning water resources.

“Water has been totally cut for three days,” said Rasha, a 51-year-old housewife.

“We can live without electricity but we can’t live without water.”

Supplies were pumped briefly to two districts on Saturday, AFP correspondents said, but tanks were empty again on Sunday.

According to state news agency SANA, rebel groups attacked springs at Wadi Barada and Ain al-Fijeh, about 15 kilometres (9 miles) northwest of Damascus.

It did not specify the type of attack, but the daily Al-Watan, which is close to the government, accused rebels of “contaminating the water resources into Damascus with pollutants and diesel”.

An estimated 1.5 million people live inside Damascus city, with another 3.5 million in its suburbs.

H

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the historic visit. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack that spurred America to enter World War II. Japan’s former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country’s World War II sur-

“I’m scared... nobody knows what will happen on this train,” 70-year-old Ka-Yoh told AFP. “We have no other way to travel. So for me, it’s better to eat, sleep and if I wake up at my station I will be happy... it’s in god’s hands (inshallah),” she added, plucking a piece of raw green mango from a packet.

The last bomb blast, on Sept 3, tore through the rear carriage, killing a train official and wounding two others.

The line passes through Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, the main territories of the Muslim-majority South, an area colonised by Thailand over a century ago.

Around 6,800 people have been killed in almost 13-years since the insurgency resurfaced in the region, which has a distinct local Malay-Muslim culture in a predominantly Buddhist Thailand.

A new round of peace talks were held last week in secret, reviving discussion on carving out civilian-friendly ‘safety zones’. But an end to the fighting remains distant.

-’Can’t stop the bombs’-

The government cut off water to Damascus after concerns that rebel groups west of the city had poisoned wells and pipes (AFP Photo/Louai Beshara)

The train bustles through a lush landscape of mountains and rubber plantations, broken up by flashes of bright pink and sky blue from the abayas of young Muslim girls.

For passengers, the 35 baht journey to the Malaysian border is the cheapest way through a dangerous area.

A Thai soldier keeps watch on a train on the southern line to the border town of Sungai Kolok (AFP/File photo) fighters, it represents an easy target -- a symbolic artery of the Buddhist Thai state.

from the conflict. But in August the violence appeared to spill out.

For that reason Thai authorities are determined to keep the trains running.

Four Thais were killed by a series of small coordinated explosions in resort towns including the island of Phuket and in Hua Hin in Prachup Khiri Khan province, south of Bangkok.

Armed soldiers travel on each train, while black-clad security forces prowl station platforms, M-16 rifles slung over their shoulders.

“The attacks are a problem... that’s why we’re here,” a volunteer soldier who has worked the line for several years told AFP, his rifle propped up on a carriage bench.

“But we can’t stop the bombs,” he added, requesting anonymity.

The Sept 3 attack followed the insurgent template.

A militant cell buried charges and gas tanks deep under the tracks overnight, then they lay in wait.

As the train passed at dusk the next day, they detonated the bomb.

“By attacking trains they bring suffering to ordinary people,” said Col Pramote PromIn, a spokesman for Thailand’s army in the south.

Rail authorities say the exact number of attacks since the insurgency erupted in 2004 is “classified”, but media reports say it has been hit dozens of times.

“The militants try every way they can to destroy symbols of the state, the economy as well as the credibility of the government,” Col Pramote added.

- Illusive peace -

True to form the rebels did not claim the attacks and Thai authorities have desperately downplayed any link with the insurgency. But the bombs carried the rebels’ hallmarks and the named suspects all hail from the region.

For now, locals in the Muslim South remain at the hard edge of the conflict, sandwiched between Thai security forces who smother the region and rebels who live amongst them -- and are ruthless in their treatment of perceived collaborators.

Yet support for “the movement”, as the rebellion is known, remains strong.

The Malay-Muslim population “may not agree with the brutality of the insurgents... but they share the same sentiment, the historical mistrust of the Thai state,” explained Thailand-based security analyst Don Pathan.

Few believe peace is near despite endless rounds of talks.

Many remain unconvinced the government’s opposing negotiation partner, an umbrella group dubbed the Mara Patani, can tug the leash of the rebel footsoldiers.

Meanwhile, the armed insurgents, dominated by the publicity-averse Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), do not believe the Thai junta will offer anything worth laying down their guns for. They are yet to endorse the current talks.

While the capital has remained relatively insulated from the country’s brutal internecine war, rebel factions have seized territory across Damascus province.

Syria.

The water shortages have come as Syrian government forces bombard Wadi Barada and Ain al-Fijeh, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Pakistan’s fourth China to host key conference on CPEC nuclear power plant.....

The Britain-based monitor said regime forces were shelling the area “to put pressure on Islamist rebel factions and Fateh al-Sham Front to accept a reconciliation deal”.

China has claimed “massive support from all sectors in Pakistan” for the USD 46 billion CPEC project as it hosts a high-level conference here tomorrow, days after a Pakistani army general invited India to be a part of the ambitious venture.

Fateh al-Sham, formerly AlNusra Front, changed its name after renouncing ties to AlQaeda.

Under such local reconciliation deals, rebels agree to leave a town or village in exchange for safe passage elsewhere, often after months of devastating siege or bombardment.

Over the past five months alone, such agreements have seen at least six towns around Damascus evacuated, with rebels, their families and other civilians bused to other opposition-held areas in northern

Pearl Harbor to get historic recognition by Japan AWAII (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday to recognize the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

They are determined to show the writ of the Thai state does not run unchallenged through their region, spreading fear and insecurity through near-daily assassinations, ambushes and bombings.

The majority of the dead were civilians, yet the sticky, complicated conflict is far from international headlines.

The government cut off water to Damascus on Friday after concerns that rebel groups west of the city had poisoned wells and pipes.

It said it was using reserves and would pump water to various city neighbourhoods according to a schedule published on its website.

S

UNGAI KOLOK, Thailand (AFP) - For passengers on the 12:33 train from Songkhla’s Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok, god and good luck are touchstones for survival.

The railway line through the insurgency-riddled far South has so far been blown up three times this year by Malay-Muslim separatist rebels.

Rebels blamed for ‘poisoning’ Damascus water

A statement by the Damascus City Water Supply and Sewage Authority said it had halted supplies after “terrorist attacks on all water resources feeding into Damascus and its surroundings”.

God and good luck guide train travellers in South Thailand

Despite heavy security, the Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok train line in Thailand has been bombed three times this year by insurgents demanding eventual independence

Khawaja Asif was responding to an invented story published on the website AWDNews and headlined: “Israeli Defense Minister: If Pakistan send ground troops into Syria on any pretext, we will destroy this country with a nuclear attack.”

“Israeli def min threatens nuclear retaliation presuming pak role in Syria against Daesh (Islamic State).Israel forgets Pakistan is a Nuclear state too” the Pakistani minister tweeted Friday.

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

render, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

After landing, Abe headed to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and Makiki Cemetery to lay wreaths, a tradition that other Japanese prime ministers have followed during their visits to Hawaii.

More than 310,000 people have been killed since Syria’s conflict erupted nearly six years ago.

EIJING, Dec 28, PTI - China has claimed “massive support from all sectors in Pakistan” for the USD 46 billion CPEC project as it hosts a high-level conference here tomorrow, days after a Pakistani army general invited India to be a part of the ambitious venture. China is also expected to announce a USD 1 billion soft loan at the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in which Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and chief ministers of all the Pakistan provinces are expected to participate, report on the official website of the CPEC said.

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The JCC which includes chief ministers of Pakistani provinces is expected to discuss steps to ensure smooth construction of the CPEC which is a prestigious project for President Xi Jinping.

Lt Gen Amir Riaz, Commander of Pakistan’s Southern Command had said that India should “shun enmity” with Pakistan and “join the CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits”. Subsequently, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also wondered about India’s reaction to the Pakistani general’s remarks.

“I wonder what is India’s take on this whether this is a good sign from Pakistan,” Hua said reacting to Riaz’s remarks, adding that China has an open mind

But for the rebels, who tag themselves ‘juwae’ or freedom

on India’s participation. “Surprise aside (over the general’s call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” said an article in state-run Global Times.

Ahead of the conference, Pakistani media reported that Islamabad is likely to secure a USD 1 billion soft loan for three road projects under the CPEC. Reports quoted Ashraf Zaman, spokesman for Pakistan’s National Highway Authority (NHA) as saying the roads are on the western route of CPEC, a mega network of roads, rail links, power plants and other infrastructure connecting western China’s Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s southern port of Gwadar. Zaman said a deal was reached with the Chinese to finance the three additional roads in November. Asked about the loan and the meeting, Hua told a media briefing here today that she has no information on the loan and the meeting.

At the same time she said the “CPEC has drawn massive support from all sectors in Pakistan.

We would like to work with the Pakistani side to press ahead with the development of the CPEC,” she said. Her comments followed reports in the Pakistani and Chinese media about criticism within Pakistan over the project on which India has also raised objections as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In the past, they had overwhelmingly kept their fight to the far South, affording most Thais a comfortable distance

Officials walk before the inaugural ceremony of The Chashma-III reactor. —AFP

Continued from Page 1 tant milestone in the journey to free the nation from scheduled power cuts. I am thankful to Allah and congratulate the entire nation,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told an inaugural ceremony attended by Chinese and Pakistani officials.

He added a fourth Chashma plant was expected to be commissioned by April 2017. Two more reactors would follow at an unspecified date in central Pakistan, as well as two giant 2,200 MW power stations in southern Karachi.

Islamabad is aiming to produce 8,800 MW from atomic energy by 2030.

Pakistan has been struggling to provide enough power to its nearly 200 million citizens for years, and Sharif has vowed to solve the crisis by 2018.

The energy sector has tra-

ditionally struggled to cover the cost of producing electricity, leading the government to divert $2 billion annually as a subsidy, according to a recent report commissioned by the British government.

China meanwhile is ramping up investment in its South Asian neighbour as part of a $46 billion project unveiled last year that will link its farwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s Gwadar port with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades.

Last week Pakistan’s main bourse announced that a Chinese consortium was set to acquire a 40 percent stake in the stock exchange in a deal estimated at $84 million.

Shanghai Electric announced in August it would buy a majority stake in the utility that supplies energy to Karachi for $1.7 billion, in the country’s biggest ever private-sector acquisition

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Hallucinogenic plant ayahuasca gains foothold in US

by Veronique Dupont

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OS ANGELES | AFP - Dominique was hooked on cocaine and smoked two packs of cigarettes a day until she stumbled onto ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic concoction that she says has changed her life.

The French-American woman, who lives in Los Angeles and did not want her real name used, is among thousands of people across the United States who are increasingly turning to the powerful psychedelic brew from the Amazon to overcome addiction, depression or psychological trauma.

The potion, prepared and consumed as part of a shamanic ritual, is especially gaining a following in Hollywood and Silicon Valley.

Thousands are flocking to sample the elixir and swear by its therapeutic properties, despite warnings from scientists and users that ayahuasca can be dangerous and even prove fatal, especially when mixed with other drugs.

ABOVE: the South American hallucinogenic potion is prepared and consumed as part of a shamanic ritual. A healer prepares a mixture of the Ayahuasca hallucinogenic liana and a psychoactive bush during a traditional indigenous ritual in Colombia (AFP Photo/Eitan Abramovich)

Ayahuasca’s proponents, who include celebrities such as Sting, Paul Simon, Tori Amos and Lindsey Lohan, say the plant offers a spiritual experience like no other. Many also say it has allowed them to overcome traumas that no other conventional therapy can tackle. “There’s been this misconception that it’s the hippies that come with feathers in their hair, but it’s pretty much the opposite,� says Jeff, who organizes ayahuasca ceremonies in the Los Angeles area and who did not want his real name used. “In a time defined by consumerism and entertainment, people want to have strong experiences, one might consider spiritual experiences, something sacred.�

According to Dennis McKenna, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, some 100 clandestine ayahuasca ceremonies are held nightly in New York and other cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

McKenna said it is difficult to get a firm count on the number of ceremonies held across the country as ayahuasca contains the hallucinogenic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is illegal in the United States and is in the same category as Ecstasy and heroin.

Two Brazilian churches in the western United States that use ayahuasca as a sacrament are exempt from the ban.

LEFT: Ayahuasca concoction is prepared and consumed as part of a shamanic ritual (AFP Photo/Eitan Abramovich) RIGHT: Hallucinogenic plant ayahuasca gains foothold in US (File photo) Firm believers in ayahuasca say they drink the foul-tasting tea only at intervals of several months and must observe a strict diet before sampling the brew.

- ‘Pink swallows’ The ceremonies are often held outdoors and are usually accompanied by meditation and spiritual songs called icaros.

Users of ayahuasca describe a sort of out-of-body experience that allows them to confront some of their worst fears. “I saw pink and violet swallows, and green geometric shapes,� recalled Leonard.

Such visions, however, are often accompanied by darker ones that are described as terrifying. Users also experience lots of vomiting, described as purging. “The purging aspect is very cathartic,� says Jeff. “They consider it antiparasitic in the jungle.�

Some say they come out of the experience with no distinct revelation while others describe a radical transformation. “I stopped smoking, started meditating and reconnecting with nature,� says Leonard. “And I made peace with my parents.�

The effects of the brew have prompted growing interest among scientists and researchers like Jessica Nielson, a University of California, San Francisco, neuroscientist who is studying ayahuasca.

Nielson said she became interested in the potion after trying it herself while on a trip to Peru. “Two people I was with in Peru who had severe PTSD seemed totally healed just after,� she said.

who studied ayahuasca’s use in a Brazilian church, said he is seeing a shift in attitude toward the brew and growing acceptance that it may be worth studying. “Western medicine and psychiatry often struggle in treating substance abusers and alcohol abusers,� Grob said. “So it’s certainly worth looking at it.�

While scientists in the United States confront legal obstacles in studying the brew, much research is being conducted in other countries, notably Spain and Brazil, where ayahuasca is legal.

Grob cited a pilot study in Brazil involving people suffering from chronic

depression and who didn’t respond well to anti-depressants. “The preliminary results are positive,� he said.

Still, scientists caution that the brew can be dangerous, especially if mixed with other drugs and should be avoided by those who have asthma, suffer from epilepsy and are bipolar or schizophrenic, as the concoction can trigger psychotic episodes. “You have to screen people to make sure everybody is mentally up for the experience,� said Jeff. “The worst I’ve had is somebody who was screaming for a couple hours,� he added. “But he was fine the next day and came back.�

Charles Grob, a psychiatrist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

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Too much ice, too little latte: Claims against Starbucks top ‘most ridiculous lawsuits’ list

by Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times

T

Its Top 10 rankings, chosen from the most popular stories on its website highlighting various lawsuits, were determined by a national survey of 5,000 consumers.

In the first Starbucks case, filed in Chicago, the coffee giant was accused of misleading customers by filling its iced beverage cups with ice rather than enough liquid to reach the advertised volume. The lawsuit alleged that an iced beverage advertised at 24 ounces contains about 14 ounces of fluid, and that ice isn’t

I

t’s been a tumultuous 2016 — both financially and politically. The year may have left some people wondering, what’s next? And, how will it affect me?

Accused of putting too much ice in their iced drinks, Starbucks is facing a “ridiculous” lawsuit. (File photo) a fluid or beverage.

The judge sided with Starbucks in dismissing the case, saying: “As Starbucks points out, ‘no reasonable consumer ordering an iced tea expects to receive a cup of tea with a side of ice.’ ” Further, he said, “it is not just the drinks’ names that convey to the consumer that ice will be included, but the website menu directly states that the drinks are served ‘over ice’ and include ice as an ingredient.”

The second lawsuit highlighted by the U.S. Chamber was filed by two latte drinkers in California who said that the company’s standardized latte recipe results in cups that are “25 percent underfilled.”

That case is still pending.

Other lawsuits that made the Chamber’s most ridiculous list include one filed by a California woman who said a lip balm’s twist-up mechanism didn’t allow her to use the balm at the bottom of the tube.

eing a successful businessperson or employee, having quality time with the spouse and kids, even tackling the laundry and working out — it turns out, you can do it all.

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At least that’s what Laura Vanderkam, author of “I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time,” said. She offered a variety of life hacks to make what you want to accomplish in your week actually happen during a recent Facebook Live interview with MarketWatch.

“Time is highly elastic,” Vanderkam said. “But time will stretch to accommodate what you choose to put into it.”

So if you’re wondering how you can do it all, and stay sane, here’s how you can get started:

Laura Vanderkam (Photo: Fox News) Think of the week in 168 hours rather than 24 hours Don’t think of what you can fit in 24 hours, think of how much you can fit in 168 hours, a week’s worth. Assuming someone works a regular 40hour work week and sleeps eight hours a night, that person has 72 additional hours to get whatever they need to get done.

Even factoring in an hour of commuting to work each way, there’s still 62 hours a week.

That’s a decent amount of time to spend on activities you have to do, although it’s important to factor in some downtime.

Write everything you accomplished — before you accomplish them Every year you get a performance evaluation at work, and you might get a family holiday letter too, where friends and family gush on all that’s happened in the past year. Imagine writing one yourself, but for the following year — what would you like to say you’ve accomplished? Having three to five goals gives you a sense

of what you can work on next year, and you can factor in the time needed to make it happen.

Want to run a marathon? Fill in a few time slots on the calendar to train. Want to go on a vacation with the family? Start planning it.

Actively log just one of your weeks to see how you manage time Vanderkam analyzed time logs of hundreds of women, by asking people in her professional networks and those reading her blog, but she’s also been managing her own for the past 20 months. She’s learned what others have: they might over-exaggerate how much they actually work. By keeping a log, she also knows the rhythms of her week, when she’ll have down time and how much she’s done. Time logs include everything, from sleep to checking email to swim lessons and dance recitals.

A. “The job market in 2017 will be about as good as it gets,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “There are currently a record number of job openings and layoffs are at record lows.”

Job growth should be strong next year, with more jobs across all pay scales, Zandi said. With the economy at fullemployment, pay increases should also be as large as they’ve been in a decade, and well above the rate of inflation.

The only soft spots Zandi sees will be in energy and other commodity-related industries, manufacturing that is sensitive to global trade, and industries being disrupted by technology, such as print media or brickand-mortar retailing.

“2017 will be a great year if you’re looking for a new job or a better one,” he said.

However, while the job market is good, it’s taking longer than ever to get hired, said Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor. The interview process now takes 22.9 days on average to complete in the U.S. as employers conduct additional screenings to find the right candidate, Chamberlain noted in a recent report.

Don’t expect jobs to look the same once you land them, either. Chamberlain predicts that automation will change every job. There may also be a shift away from flashy benefits packages in some industries in 2017. In the tech industry particularly, where fun perks are the norm, employers may be looking at which benefits give them the most bang for their buck. He also predicts employers may finally take action to level the gender pay gap, thanks to greater awareness, data availability and pay transparency.

Q. Will gas prices go up?

A. 2017 will likely be another cheap year to fuel your car, but not quite as good as 2016, several energy experts said.

A huge global glut in the oil supply has driven down prices in recent years, mean-

time to pay down high interest rate debt and insulate yourself from variable rate debts, said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

Don’t lose sleep over auto loans if you are in need of a new set of wheels, as a rate hike of this size has an inconsequential effect on affordability. And most student loans are federal and charge fixed rates.

But if you have private loans, you may want to look at your financing options as these of-

Q. What’s the job market going to look like?

by Alessandra Malito

A third of mothers spend at least 60 hours a week to household and family chores, a RetailMeNot survey found last year. Women spent 11 minutes more per day on housework compared with their male counterparts, but nearly a half hour more on food preparation and cleanup and 16 minutes more on childcare. And though a third of American couples see women as the breadwinners in the relationship, women are still often pressured to complete everyday tasks and motherhood.

ing consumers pay less at the pump. As of mid-December, gasoline is averaging $2.115 a gallon in the U.S., said Tom Kloza, global head of energy

Lacking a crystal ball, we asked a few economic experts what they think 2017 may hold in store for Americans’ personal finances. Here’s their take on what to expect in the year ahead:

How one woman manages to (almost) have it all

Vanderkam analyzed time logs (broken down into half hour increments) of hundreds of successful women (defined as earning at least $100,000 per year and having one young child) and found that they actually had time outside of work to devote to the many activities they needed, or wanted, to accomplish. This isn’t to be confused with doing absolutely everything: you might not be able to juggle 10 hobbies and be at your child’s school every day.

What 2017 may mean for your personal finances

by Sarah Skidmore Sell

wo lawsuits claiming that Starbucks doesn’t provide enough actual beverage in its drinks top an annual list of the year’s most ridiculous lawsuits, according to an arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The lawsuits — one accusing the Seattle-based coffee chain of putting too much ice in their iced drinks, and the other claiming Starbucks deliberately underfills its latte cups — were deemed most absurd by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform. The institute represents the business community and fights against what it calls “the country’s litigation explosion.”

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

The average family could see a 3 to 5 percent reduction in their tax bill under Trump’s proposals (File photo) analysis at the Oil Price Information Service. He expects 2016 will be the cheapest year for American motorists since 2004, when the average price was $2.265 a gallon.

But recently OPEC — short for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries — recently agreed to cut production beginning in January to restore some stability to the market. If the cartel’s members follow through, global oil production will slow, but not by much.

And while there is a likelihood that supply and demand will rebalance in 2017 under the OPEC agreement, Kloza said it’s also possible that various countries will cheat on production pledges. That could mess with oil and gasoline prices. He expects prices will range from $2.10-$2.75 a gallon nationwide over the course of 2017, with seasonal and regional fluctuations.

Patrick DeHaan at GasBuddy.com said he expects the national yearly average will be 20 to 30 cents a gallon higher than this year. With Americans driving an average of 15,000 miles a year each, using about 600 gallons of gasoline, that means someone driving a normal passenger vehicle will pay about $120 more on gas in 2017 than this year, DeHaan said.

Q. What should I expect from interest rates?

A. The Federal Reserve slightly raised its key interest rate this month and said it may raise rates up to three more times in 2017. But that doesn’t spell disaster for borrowing in the year ahead.

The Fed move will likely lead to higher rates for credit cards, home equity loans and adjustable-rate mortgages first. That means this is the

ten charge variable rates and may be impacted.

House shopping? That’s a mixed bag — mortgage rates were already volatile before the rate hike and that’s likely to continue. McBride said that even with hikes, mortgage rates will likely stay closer to 4 percent than 5 percent in 2017.

That’s still low by historical standards.

Savers may finally begin see some improvement in rates for savings and CDs. But it may take a while for that to play out, McBride warned.

And keep in mind that three potential hikes are just a prediction. This time last year the Fed said it would raise interest rates four times in 2016, but it has done so only once.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” McBride said.

Q. And what about my taxes, will they really change?

A. There’s potential for some major changes to the tax system next year under presidentelect Donald Trump’s proposals.

According to his action plan, Trump will simplify the tax system and lower the tax burden on Americans, primarily the middle class. He aims to reduce the number of tax brackets from seven to three.

And he says Americans will be able to deduct their childcare and eldercare expenses from their taxes, among other changes.

The average family could see a 3 to 5 percent reduction in their tax bill under Trump’s proposals, said David Prokupek, CEO of Jackson Hewitt.

While these are just proposals, Prokupek suspects they will move forward given their priority in Trump’s agenda and for the Republican-led Congress in place. (-AFP)

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HEALTH, SC & TECH

VOICE OF ASIA 15

New drug shows promise in repairing failing hearts

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ASHVILLE, Tennessee (UPI) - A new experimental drug has shown promise in restoring cardiac function after heart failure, according to results of an early human trial.

medical therapy.

Researchers examined the safety and efficacy of a single infusion of cimaglermin, which acts as a growth factor for the heart, helping the structural, metabolic and contractile ele-

The researchers found that an infusion of the drug cimaglermin was generally tolerated except for transient nausea and headache.

China plans to become 1st country to land on far side of moon

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Google CEO Sundar Pichai visits India, announcements for startups

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EIJING (UPI) - China today said it will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve the world’s first soft landing on the far side of the moon to showcase its ambitious space programme.

China will continue its lunar exploration project in the next five years, and strive to attain the automated extra-terrestrial sampling and returning technology by space explorers, a White Paper titled ‘China’s Space Activities in 2016’ released said.

China has already landed a rover on the moon in the past but wants to explore the dark side of the lunar surface to carve out a niche for itself as it has not been done by other countries.

“The lunar probe Chang’e-4 will conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earthmoon L2 point,” the white paper said.

“These findings support continued clinical development of the investigational drug cimaglermin, including further safety evaluations and detailing the potential improvement on clinical heart failure outcome measures,” said lead author of the study Daniel Lenihan from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Heart failure, characterised by a loss of cardiac function, is among the leading causes of death worldwide.

A significant portion of heart failure patients, particularly those with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, do not sufficiently respond to current

ments of the heart to repair itself following injury.

The study enrolled 40 heart failure patients who were taking optimal medical therapy for at least three months prior to the trial.

Compared to patients who received a placebo, patients who received a high dose of cimaglermin had a sustained increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, or pumping capacity, through 90 days after dosing, with the maximum increase reached at day 28, according to the study published in the journal JACC: Basic to Translational Science.

In twist to moon race, ISRO will carry Indian team’s Rover – and its competitor’s

The probe plans to fulfil the three strategic steps of “orbiting, landing and returning” for the lunar exploration project by launching the Chang’e-5 lunar probe by the end of 2017 and realising regional soft landing, sampling and return, it said.

Through the lunar exploration project, topographic and geological surveys will be implemented and laboratory research conducted on lunar samples, it said.

“Geological survey and research as well as low-frequency radio astronomy observation and research will be carried out targeting the landing area on the far side of the moon for a better understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon,” it added.

It also said China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 to carry out orbiting and roving exploration. China’s plan earlier to reach out Mars has not succeeded and it wants to catch up with other countries including India to enter Mars.

“China intends to execute its first Mars exploration operation, and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration,” the paper said.

TeamIndus’s Eca rover. The two rovers will be carried in a single launch slated for late December 2017 or early January 2018. (Photo credit: TeamIndus)

by Sandhya Ramesh n a first of its kind collaboration in a space-race to the moon, Japan’s Team HAKUTO has announced that their rover will be housed as a commercial payload onboard Bengaluru-based TeamIndus’s spacecraft. Along with the Japanese rover, called Moonraker, TeamIndus will also be carrying its own rover, Eca (pronounced “eeka”) – making this the first mission ever to carry two rovers to the moon. Shortly after touchdown on the satellite, scheduled to happen in early January 2018, the two rovers will be deployed.

I

The spacecraft housing the two rovers will be launched atop ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Earlier this month, TeamIndus had announced a commercial launch contract with ISRO, a major milestone in its bid to become the first private entity to attempt to land on the moon.

Both HAKUTO and TeamIndus are part of the $30-million Lunar XPrize, sponsored by Google. It is the largest incentivised competition in the world; to win it, a privately funded team has to soft-land a vehicle on the moon, move it to 500 m away from its landing site and then beam high-definition media back to Earth.

The partnership announcement has been met with a mix of elation and confusion because TeamIndus will now be carrying its competition along

with its own rover. As of now, it is still unclear what the sequence of events will be after touchdown. The best guess would be that after landing on the Moon, the spacecraft will either open up a ramp for or drop the TeamIndus rover first and then the Team HAKUTO rover.

Team HAKUTO had previously designed their mission to carry two rovers, the other one being called Tetris, tethered to each other. It was expected that Moonraker would transmit images while Tetris would explore the lunar craters, fulfilling the optional science mission set out by the GLXP council.

HAKUTO had also signed a collaboration with another team, Astrobotic, but which has since pulled out of the competition. Moonraker is the only rover that will attempt to land on the Moon now.

The Japanese team is also in collaboration with the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) to investigate radiation on the moon.

The two rovers will be housed within the spacecraft atop the PSLV. The rocket will deploy the spacecraft at 70,000 km above Earth. The craft will then perform two gravity assists around Earth, flinging itself towards the Moon. Once it gets close enough, the craft will slow itself down through four orbit reduction manoeuvres before touching down. The entire process is expected to take 15 days. (-UPI)

Space security expert He Qisong, from the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said that achieving the first soft landing on the far side of the moon is a new goal that indicates China has mastered the necessary technology to land a probe on a specific area of the moon.

It will conduct further studies and key technological research on the bringing back of samples from Mars, asteroid exploration, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, according to the white paper.

The paper also highlighted several of China plans to achieve major discoveries and breakthroughs in the frontier areas of space science including formation of BeiDou network consisting of 35 satellites for global navigation services by 2020 to rival America’s Global Position System, (GPS).

China will start providing basic services to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018, it said.

China also plans to set up its permanent space station by 2022.

China also plans to launch a hard X-ray modulation telescope to study the matter dynamics and high-energy radiation processes in the strong gravitational field of compact celestial bodies and black holes.

Last month, two Chinese astronauts spent a month in space aboard the Tiangong-2 experimental space station. It was China’s longest manned mission. The country is also set to start the operation of a permanently crewed space station six years from now.

The event is likely to see participation by Google in the Startup India and Digital India initiatives by the government. (Photo: Google.in)

D

EHLI (FirstPost) - Google CEO Sundar Pichai is in India on a private holiday trip, but will host an event on 4 January where new announcements for small businesses and startups are expected, according to a report in BGR.

the reviews.

The event will be attended by IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, as well as senior Google officials. The event is likely to see participation

by Google in the Startup India and Digital India initiatives by the government.

Google has previously encouraged startups in India by selecting seven Indian startups for the Launchpad Accelerator program. The program selects promising Startups, provides them $50,000 (roughly Rs 33,98,250) equity free funding each, identifies the critical challenges, and provides hands on training to tackle these issues. The startup teams will receive guidance from Google Engineers, product managers and mentors from other tech firms in Silicon valley.

Google introduced the “My Business” app in Rajasthan. The application provides a one point interface for small business owners to feed in and update information about their businesses on Google Search and Google Maps. Business owners can directly feed in the working hours, vacations, contact details and locations. The accounts are authenticated by Google, and the listings can be used by consumers to provide feedback and write reviews. Business owners can add photos to the listing, and respond to

The conference is the latest in a series of initiatives by Google of improving its presence in India. The move comes close on the heels of Google India collaborating with Ministry of Consumer Affairs to improve online consumer protection. The partnership between Google and Railtel to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots in railway stations has recently reached a milestone of 100 railway stations.

The project is called Railwire Wi-Fi, and aims to provide free wi-fi services in 400 stations across India.

Synthetic stem cells promise muscle regeneration without cancer risk

by Henry Bodkin

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cientists are hailing a pioneering stem cell technique that promises “off-the-shelf” treatment for people with damaged muscles without the existing risks.

Researchers have for the first time successfully implanted “synthetic” cardiac stem cells which successfully repaired muscle tissue that had been weakened by a heart attack.

Traditional stem cell therapy comes with a risk of cancer because scientists are unable to stop the cells replicating and forming tumours.

But because the man-made version is partly constructed from cell-mimicking microparticles, the cells do not “amplify” once implanted in patients.

They are also designed to bypass the body’s immune system in order to wipe out the risk of implants being rejected, meaning patients do not need to find a close relative willing to be a donor.

Stem cell therapies work by repairing damaged tissue, or “endogenous repair”, by secreting proteins and genetic materials.

Bone marrow transplant is currently the most widely used form, most often performed on patients with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukemia.

But researchers are also trying to develop safe and effective stem cell treatments for heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s.

Natural stem cells are extremely fragile, however, requiring careful storage and a laborious process of of typing - matching the proteins of donor and recipient - before they can be used.

Synthetic stem cells, by contrast, are easier to preserve and can be altered for use on various parts of the body.

It is also less important that they are derived from the patient’s own cells,

or a close match, because they do not trouble the body’s immune system.

“We are hoping that this may be a first step towards a truly off-the-shelf cell product that would enable people to receive beneficial stem cell therapies when they’re needed, without costly delays,” said Ke Cheng, associate professor of molecular biomedical sciences at North Carolina State University.

He and his colleagues fabricated a cell-mimicking microparticle (CMMP) from a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, and then added growth factor proteins that had been harvested from cultured human cardiac stem cells, finally coating the particle with a cardiac cell membrane.

It was tested both in a laboratory dish and also in a mouse which had suffered a heart attack and was found to promote the growth of cardiac cells in manner comparable to traditional stem cells.

Due to its structure, however, CMMP cannot replicate, which reduces the risk of tumor formation.

Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study states that the new technology is applicable to other types of stem cells.

“They synthetic cells operate much the same way as a deactivated vaccine works,” said Professor Cheng.

“Their membranes allow them to bypass the immune response, bind to cardiac tissue, release growth factors and generate repair.

“But they cannot amplify by themselves, so you get the benefits of stem cell therapy without the risks.”

Currently, donated stem cells need to closely match the patient’s own, meaning they often come from a brother or sister.

In the absence of a close relative, patients can undergo a so-called “matched unrelated donor transplant”, involving stem cells similar but not matching their own. (-UPI)

VOICE OF ASIA 16

Section 2

Young Life

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Delhi’s youngsters are love struck in the times of demonetisation

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Tel: 713-774-5140

Family time in the pond

Delhi’s youngsters are love struck in the times of demonetisation (Photo credit: HT Times)

by Bahaar Sharma

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EHLI - ‘Tis the season for love, cheer, happiness, parties and of course, exchanging gifts. People spend weeks, if not months researching the best gift for their significant others.

Alas! From Christmas gift to a New Year promise, everything has a price tag, and that is something to worry about in the times of demonetisation.

However, not to be deterred by block or bar, the young lovebirds are using every trick up their sleeves to manage enough cash to buy a gift. From standing in queues to making up excuses in front of parents, the youngsters in the Capital are making sure that nothing deprives them from the joy of giving (to the beloved).

PARENTS TO THE RESCUE “My boyfriend’s birthday was on 20th December and I was saving up for his gift. When demonetisation was announced, I knew I couldn’t exchange my savings worth 7,000 rupees, as I had exams coming up. A college friend, who is from Indore, suggested that I tell my father to exchange the money by telling him it belongs to her. My father was happy to help and I was able to get the new currency,” says Vedika Sharma*, who studies in Miranda House.

WAITING IN LINE FOR LOVE While some managed to get their money exchanged through parents, others were not so lucky. Nikita Singh*, from I.P. College, tells us, “My parents were quite stressed after demonetization was announced, so I knew I couldn’t approach them. I went to a bank nearby and deposited my savings worth 4000 rupees. Since the bank had run out of cash, I went to another bank. I had to stand in line for 3

hours, but I managed to withdraw the amount I needed to buy a new watch for my boyfriend.”

A couple of black swans take their fledglings to swim on a lake at the Yuanmingyuan Park in Beijing. (Photo: Wang Xibao/Xinhua/Zuma Press)

“I really wanted to gift my girlfriend something for Christmas and I decided on a luxury brand perfume.

When demonetisation was announced the only choice I was to get my old notes exchanged over the counter.

I stood in lines diligently for 5 days but still couldn’t managed to get 8,000 rupees worth of currency exchanged.

So, someone got me in touch with this guy who gave me 7 grands in lieu of 8, and I was happy with that. After all, we’ve been together for 3 years,” narrates Ankit Thakur*, 21, a student of Deshbandhu College.

3 Student loan refinance options for 2017

THE UNLIKELY HEROES: BOYFRIENDS’ PARENTS “My parents couldn’t help and there is no way I was going to stand in those long queues. I was ranting to my boyfriend about my helplessness when he said he could ask his father to exchange my notes. I was quite surprised but I handed over my savings anyway.

His father got the deed done and my boyfriend will get his gift on time,” says Aaina Mishra*, 20, who was evidently elated.

GOING CASH FREE Some decided to switch to card-based transactions. “I missed the deadline for exchanging old notes; therefore I had no choice but to deposit my savings in my bank account. After I had done that, I forced my parents to get a debit card made for me and was able to shop hassle free for my boyfriend,” shares Yukti Sharma*, 19.

Well, what can we say? All’s well that ends well. *names have been changed on request (-Hindustan Times)

Few young men are unable to report last partner’s contraceptive use

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ost young men say they know whether their last sexual partner used birth control and what kind it was, according to a recent U.S. study.

The results provide valuable data for programs intended to prevent unplanned pregnancies that are aimed at young men, the researchers write in American Journal of Men’s Health.

“The scope of the study was really just to look at whether we could use young men’s report in conducting evaluations of teen pregnancy prevention programs, or other research studies that rely on young men’s report,” lead author Samantha Garbers told Reuters Health in an email.

“But, it also has implications for programming around communication skills around birth control for young men, such as skill building around talking with new partners about birth control,” said Garbers, a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York.

Unlike many other studies, Garbers said, in this case the study team focused on how many young men were not able to answer the questions about their partner’s contraception use.

“We were specifically interested in how many guys said they don’t know - which is usually not reported when the results get written up,” she said.

Garbers and her colleagues examined data taken from the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth, a large study that included men and women 14 to 44 years old.

The researchers analyzed responses from 2,238 men whose last female sex partner was not someone they were living with or married to, and who were not trying to get pregnant with a partner or already had a partner that was pregnant.

About 85 percent of the men were never married and almost half were between the ages of 15 and 24.

Participants were asked, “That last time that you had sexual intercourse with (most recent partner) did she use any methods to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease?” Those who answered “yes” were next asked what methods their partner had used and were shown a list of contraceptive methods to choose from.

“We were relieved to find that almost all men of all age groups were able to answer the questions,” Garbers said. “Overall, 95 percent were able to answer both questions, and this did not differ significantly across age groups.”

The study could only determine if the men could answer the questions, but not if their answers were accurate, Garbers noted.

About 17 percent of the men said no contraception was used at all in their last sexual encounter, and another 30 percent said they had used condoms but their partner did not use contraception.

Race, ethnicity, education, even religious affiliations didn’t appear to affect the results, Garbers said, but what really mattered was the relationship between the male and his last partner.

“Guys whose last sexual partner was a new partner, meaning they had not had sex with that partner before that encounter, were significantly more likely to be unable to report whether their partner used a specific method” she said.

Almost 12 percent of the participants whose last encounter was with a new partner couldn’t report her birth control use, compared to less than 4 percent of men whose last partner

Student loan refinancing is becoming more mainstream, experts say

by Farran Powell

T

he start of the year is a popular time to improve personal finances.

Michael Golfman, a Colorado transplant working in New York City, took a hard look at his student loans around this time last year, choosing to refinance his debt to lower the monthly payments.

cially secure and don’t need the federal student loan protections, such as public service loan forgiveness, deferment or forbearance. “If it’s lower than your federal loan, why wouldn’t you take it?”

For borrowers interested in refinancing their student debt, here are several projections for 2017.

finance to pay down student loans and receive a lower mortgage rate, loan experts say.

Social Finance, Inc., a San Franciscobased online lender commonly called SoFi, launched the product – Student Loan Payoff Refi – last month, which allows homeowners with a loan-tovalue ratio of 80 percent or less to do exactly that with their home equity.

Say a borrower has $40,000 in student loans at a 6.5 percent rate and a home valued at $300,000 with a $200,000 mortgage at a 3.9 interest rate.

With the Student Loan Payoff Refi, the home’s equity can be cashed out to pay off the student loans, with the mortgage lowered to a new rate of 3.875 percent. In this case, the monthly payment would go down by more than $100.

The 36year-old refinanced more than $70,000 of federal and private student loans into one consolidated loan at Citizen’s Bank, a large lender in the student loan refinance space.

“Over the long haul, I’m probably saving about An estimated 8 million student loan borrowers – roughly a third of all people “Homeowners who $4,000 to who are paying down their student loans – are eligible to refinance their loans have student loan at a lower interest rate $5,000, and debt have the oppormonthly I’m tunity to take that debt and use that saving about $75,” the University of 1. Interest rate increases: The yield to pay off what is typically a higher Denver grad says. “I freed up a little in the 10-year Treasury rate has almost money, and that justified me getting a doubled since July to a rate of around rate on student loans,” says Michael Tannenbaum, chief revenue officer at car.”

2.6 percent in mid-December.

SoFi. While student loan experts say re“We have already seen some lenders The product, Tannenbaum says, is financing isn’t for everyone, it’s one increase their rates as a result of what aimed at parents who took out student way to lower an interest rate on a we refer to as the ‘Trump effect’ on student loan and reduce monthly pay- the 10-year Treasury,” says Stephen loans to pay for their kids’ college and at debt-strapped millennials who own ments.

Dash, CEO and founder of Credible. a home in relatively inexpensive houscom.

An estimated 8 million student loan ing markets. borrowers – roughly a third of all peoMany lenders, he says, use the 10Fannie Mae is backing the SoFi ple who are paying down their student year Treasury rate to determine the product; this option, experts say, is exloans – are eligible to refinance their fixed interest rates for 10-, 15- or 20loans at a lower interest rate, accord- year private student loans, which in- pected to be offered by other partner lenders in 2017. ing to a recent study by Credible.com, cludes those for refinancing. a multi-lender marketplace focused 3. An increasing number of lenders Experts say some people are trying in the space: Student loan borrowers on student loans. to lock down the lower interest rates “Refinancing is mostly for the older now, since some bank researchers ex- can expect to see more lenders enter side – late 20s and 30s – so you’re pect the yields on the Treasury to go the student loan refinance market, experts says. With a competitive market, kind of established in your financial up in early 2017. they say consumers will have more situation, as opposed to being 23 and “If you continue to see a rise in the choice and tailored options. straight out of college,” says Erin Lowry, author of the upcoming book 10-year bond rate beyond what’s ex“We’re going to continue seeing “Broke Millennial.” “Those folks pected, then you might see a change in more lenders in the market. I expect aren’t focused on it yet; those folks rates,” Dash says about rate increases more big banks to get into this space for longer-term, fixed-rate loans. are still trying to get their careers.”

– particularly now with the change in Lowry says refinancing is a good option for those who are more finanwasn’t new.

“This study highlights the importance of communication around the issues of contraception and safe sex in any relationship. It takes both a man and a woman to get pregnant, so both partners should be aware of what they are doing to prevent pregnancy,” Dr. Rachel Weinerman told Reuters Health in an email.

“It is reassuring to see that the overwhelming majority of men knew about their partner’s contraceptive use,” said Weinerman, a reproductive endocrinologist at the University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, Ohio, and UH Cleveland Medical Center who wasn’t involved in the study.

The findings also emphasize how important it is to have a conversation about safe sex prior to that initial sexual encounter, Weinerman said.

“Every relationship is going to be different, but it doesn’t have to be a long or awkward discussion. ‘What kind of birth control do you use?’ is a straightforward question that female partners should appreciate,” she said.

(-Reuters Health)

2. More innovative refinancing products: One product that’s in its infancy is using home equity as a cash-out re-

administration,” says Dash, the Credible.com CEO.

Christmas trash truck wish comes true for young boy battling cancer

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AWRENCE, Kan. -- Some special elves helped make a rare holiday home from the hospital extra special for a young boy in Kansas.

Santa and some of his helpers gathered at Lawrence Sanitation Department 320 to help make young Dragen Korynta’s dream of becoming a trash truck driver come true.

“Every birthday, Christmas that’s all he wants,” Evan Korynta, Dagen’s dad, told Fox 4. “Garbage trucks, model garbage trucks, he watches videos of garbage trucks.”

The city of Lawrence and an anonymous donor known as “The Chief Elf” helped make Saturday’s special delivery possible.

“They had heard about Dagen’s story from Children’s Mercy and wanted to do something for the holidays,” Ko-

rynta said.

According to Dagen’s father, the young boy has been through multiple bone marrow transplants and has spent nearly six months in the hospital doing various chemo treatments and dealing with all the side effects that come with treatments.

The personalized trash truck delivered by the Lawrence Sanitation Department helped Dagen finally enjoy a day away from the hospital.

Dagen may not get to keep the truck, but he did get some time at the controls thanks to Craig Pruett with the city of Lawrence.

“We’ve known Dagen for a few years now,” Pruett said. “All of our crews know him and have been following his progress. So another opportunity to make Dagen’s Christmas wish come true, we’d be glad.” (-AFP)

VOICE OF ASIA 17

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Bollywood -Hollywood

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

2016 box office crosses $11b for another record year

by Pamela McClintock

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Revenue for 2016 crossed an estimated $11.05 billion Monday and is on the verge of eclipsing the record $11.14 billion set in 2015 to end the year with $11.3 billion, according to projections from industry leader comScore.

Disney’s massive year is a big reason why another record will be set, including mid-December release Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which earned $96.1 million over the long Christmas weekend to jump the $300 million mark domestically on Monday.

A film’s initial box office run determines the length of its life in the multiplexes rather than the novelty of the subject or the innovative approach of the director.

‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and ‘Sing’ are among the Christmas titles helping to make the projected $11.3 billion milestone possible.

Illumination and Universal’s animated offering Sing, coming in at No. 2, also helped box-office revenue cross $11 billion.

The music-themed film took in an estimated $56.1 million for the Friday-Monday stretch, putting its six-day launch at $76.7 million. The family title opened Wednesday.

Hollywood is no doubt relieved that it can boast another

record, even if 2016 was a wild ride as the gap between the

have and the have nots widened. (-Hollywood Reporter)

T

he number of re-released U.S. films has increased by 26 times in the past five years, with some titles earning more revenue than during their initial run.

Among the top 20 films at the South Korean box office over the weekend of Dec. 16-18 were two reruns of Hollywood favorites: 2004’s The Phantom of the Opera returned to theaters after a dozen years to finish at No. 11, while Chicago made a comeback at No. 14 after first hitting local screens 13 years ago.

Experts say the re-releases are particularly popular for genres, such as romance films, that get less focus amid the flood of local crime dramas and thrillers in cinemas. Romantic

The winner: In a year when no other Hindi film garnered even Rs 200 crore, Sultan earned more than Rs 300 crore year. Airlift (Rs 129 cr), Rustom (127.42 cr) and Housefull 3 (Rs 107.70 cr) are at number 3, 4 and 6 in this list of moolah raking films.

experimenting with their characters. This year, Bollywood was no different. But while some films made money, some of those that flopped include many which released after the government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes in November, triggering a cash crunch.

Still 8 films crossed the Rs 100-crore mark in 2016.

Sultan: A lot has been said and written about Salman Khan’s charisma at the box office and he just keeps upping his game with every film. It’s debatable whether the content of his films have become better, but his numbers are always

by Lee Hyo-won

Some films have earned more revenue during their second time around. 500 Days of Summer brought in a total 139,000 admissions during its summer run this year, surpassing the 137,000 admissions it garnered back in 2010. South Korean industry observers largely measure box-office performance by admissions. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’s rerun last year recorded nearly double its initial performance, as 370,000 moviegoers saw the film compared with about 170,000 back in 2004.

Established superstars keep churning out similar films every year and refrain from

MS Dhoni – The Untold Story: Sushant Singh Rajput delivered the performance of a lifetime in this No. 2 grossing biopic

Hollywood reruns make up for lack of genre films in South Korea

South Korean cinemas are increasingly depending on re-releases — particularly of Hollywood titles. The number of re-releases multiplied by 26 times over the past five years.

In 2011, there were four rereleased titles, according to the Korean Film Council, as opposed to 107 in 2015.

Bollywood’s eight highest grossing films of 2016 UMBAI - Most of the big Bollywood releases of the year are weighed in terms of their net box office collection, both by the audience and the trade pundits.

OS ANGELES - The North American box office is enjoying another record year.

Through Monday, revenue is up 2.3 percent over the same period last year.

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staggering. In a year when no other Hindi film garnered even Rs 200 crore, Sultan earned more than Rs 300 crore.

MS Dhoni – The Untold Story: Sushant Singh Rajput delivered the performance of a lifetime in this biopic on India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The film received mixed reviews but scored well at the box office. At Rs 132.85 cr, MS Dhoni is the second highest grosser of 2016.

Airlift, Rustom and Housefull 3: If there is one actor who can stand up to the mighty Khans of Bollywood, it’s Akshay Kumar. Three of his films did phenomenal business this

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Apart from Anurag Kashyap’s Udta Punjab, Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil turned out to be the most controversial film of the year. First it was Aishwarya Rai’s sensuous scenes with Ranbir Kapoor and then Raj Thackeray’s objection to Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s presence in it, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil saw its ups and down.

But eventually this all paid in the producer’s favour when it ended up making Rs 112.39 cr.

ADHM is number 5 in the list.

Shivaay: Ajay Devgn’s Shivaay gave ADHM a good run for its money as both the films released on the same day, October 27. Devgn proved trade pundits wrong by making a strong impact at the box office. Shivaay is at number 7 with Rs 100.25 cr in its kitty.

Dangal has just started its journey and it has grossed more than Rs 106 cr in its first three days and there is a chance that it may turn out to be the most commercially successful film ever. (HT.com)

Twinkle Khanna angers Salman Khan’s fans ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ garnered nearly twice the number of moviegoers during its second run in South Korean theaters compared to its initial release in 2004 (Focus Features) comedy When Harry Met Sally, for example, is due back in theaters on Dec. 28, with The Notebook, The English Patient and Wicker Park among other romances that have returned to South Korean theaters.

“The rise in the number of replayed films can be attributed to the lack of diversity in film genres, as well as the domination of screens by blockbusters,” says film critic Kim Byung-jae.

According to a survey conducted between Nov. 29-Dec. 6 by the Korean Film Council, the top three reasons moviegoers watched reruns were: They saw the film, but not in a theater (49.7 percent); they already watched the film at the cinema but wanted to rewatch it (33.9 percent); and they did not watch the film but heard positive reviews through word of mouth (16.4 percent).

Another reason is the finan-

cial viability of reruns. Rights for re-releases cost about $50,000, according to local industry experts, or nothing at all if re-released within the contract period, which is normally seven years. Once re-released, the titles have a relatively low break-even point of about 10,000 admissions.

South Korean companies that are driving these re-releases have more reason to look back at old titles because of the relatively low marketing fee and extra revenue from the secondary market. According to the Korean Film Council, 500 Days of Summer ranked among the top 10 genre films in local video-on-demand services during the month of August following its theatrical rerelease in June.

Says Kim: “It’s a great commercial plus to re-screen titles that have already been well received by audiences.” (-Hollywood Reporter)

winkle Khanna, who is known for her nature of calling a spade a spade, has time and again proved that the pen is definitely mightier than a sword. Be it the launch of her book ‘Mrs. Funnybones’ or even the recently aired ‘Koffee With Karan’ episode, Twinkle Khanna was indeed a fun to watch and hear.

T

Well, it is her nature of letting her pen loose has now rubbed fans of Salman Khan the wrong way. In a recent column in a leading newspaper, Twinkle Khanna wrote stating “Alliance Wanted For One Of India’s Oldest But Most Eligible Bachelors: Dashing, non-vegetarian, successful and muscular Khandani boy. Excellent in dance, drama and art. Girl must be pretty, slim and enjoy long drives off the beaten path. Bride must not be very talkative, as groom cannot tolerate any buck buck. Caste no bar. Contact Sultan@Bhaijaan.com”.

Even though Twinkle Khanna had no intention to malign Salman Khan in any way, Bhai’s fans started trolling her in a big way on Twitter.

Come on... How about brushing off a cleaver tweet, fans?

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING VOICE OF ASIA

Section 2

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Five tips to stay healthy at the New Year

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EW YORK (AFP/Relaxnews) — At this time of year, when everyone tends to go overboard on fat, sugar and alcohol, it’s important to take extra care of yourself. Here are a few simple rules that will allow you to take full advantage of the holiday season.

Take care of your digestion The day following a party is often marked by headaches and stomach pain. Acetaminophen and vitamin-Cpacked lemon juice (taken on an empty stomach), are important allies in the fight against an unpleasant morning after. Deployed in tandem, they can relieve migraines and help purify the body by expelling toxins and burning fat.

aside some time for your favourite sport.

Take a guilt-free nap The body needs more energy to digest gargantuan dinners, so give yourself some additional rest. Even if you are at the office, you should still be able to take 20 minutes to give yourself a break.

Manage your stress To fully oxygenate your body and avoid that worn-out look, take the time

The fight to save Medicare and Medicaid begins in January

to do some deep breathing. This exercise will help you to recover your energy and it also has the added benefit of massaging your intestines: breathe in through your nose and keep your thorax relaxed while pushing out your stomach. Breathe out and allow your stomach to relax. Repeat four times.

Take a break. Breathe in while pushing out your stomach for a count of three. Breathe out through your mouth for a count of six. While breathing out, concentrate on the movement of your stomach, which will align with your spine. Repeat four times.

Drinking lots of water with high levels of minerals and bicarbonates will forestall hangovers and counterbalance the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Green tea, and thyme, artichoke, fennel, black radish and mint infusions help cleanse the liver, while ginger, cumin and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial in the wake of excessive consumption of fat and sugar.

Stock up on green vegetables No need to starve between parties.

Eat plenty of green vegetables for fibre, poultry and fish for lean proteins and drink plenty of broth. At the same time, avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol, and fat, and yes, that may mean foregoing leftovers from holiday dinners.

Stay active Start early and keep moving. Exercise promotes the release of endorphins, stimulates the cardiovascular system and burns calories. Walking or biking to work are good starting points, or if you are on vacation, set

Goal setting is an important piece when trying to put together the puzzle of change. New Year’s marks the end of the holidays and a chance for a fresh start. Traveling, relatives and the general aura of the holidays make unhealthy choices all too easy. Lately there has been a black cloud over the New Year resolution. Even uttering the words evokes something that won’t last. So how do you make a change that will stick?

Start with why - Figure out exactly what you want. Do you want to lose weight or fit in to a smaller pants size? Or is it something more general, like feeling better or keeping up with kids or grandkids? Whatever it may be, you must dig deep into your subconscious and figure out exactly what it is you aren’t happy with. Trust the process. Don’t get caught up in the end result.

The Woman’s Guide to Better Health in 2017

by Heather A. Smith, M.D. (WebMD)

W

omen are often the cornerstone of health within their family and community. Yet with their focus on their children, partners, parents and/or siblings, they often forgo their own well-being.

Ladies, at the cusp of this New Year, it’s time to regain control of your health and dedicate 2017 to yourself. At Montefiore Health System in Bronx, New York, I advise my patients to follow these seven ways to stay healthy and prevent future illnesses. Some items are easy; others might take more time or practice. But all will set you on a path toward better health in 2017.

1. Get screened.

Preventative or annual screenings ensure you’re aware of all health concerns and help outline ways to stay healthy.

Screening tests include: pap smears that check for abnormal cervical cells; mammograms that look for breast changes or cancer; colonoscopies that evaluate for

colon cancer or polyps; bone density tests that assess bone strength and risk of osteoporosis; and various other tests that check for anemia, cholesterol levels, sexually transmitted infections or abnormal sugar levels.

Selection and frequency of each test is usually based on age, activity and family history. Your doctor can help figure it out with you.

2. Protect your heart health.

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks and stroke, is the No. 1 cause of death among women.

There are more deaths every year from cardiovascular disease than from lung cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and accidental deaths combined. Know your risks, and learn how to decrease your chances of this happening to you.

The best way to optimize your heart health is to quit smoking. Within one year of quitting, you’ll have improved your health and lowered your risk of future heart disease to half that of someone who is still smoking. It’s also important

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to gain control of any other medical issues, such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. And lastly, get moving! Exercise – even if just a 30-minute walk most days of the week – can decrease your chances for heart disease by almost half.

3. Know if or when you want children.

Health is more than check-ups and blood levels. Another important factor to know is when or even if you want to have children. Do you want two kids five years from now? Are you trying to get pregnant today? Whatever path you choose, your doctor can help you navigate it by finding the right birth control for your body, your plans and your health. If you want to be pregnant in the near future, talk with your obstetrician to get a head start on healthy pregnancy living (i.e., starting prenatal vitamins, avoiding unpasteurized or under-cooked foods, and making sure any existing health problems are controlled as best as possible).

4. Pay attention to your mental health.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about yourself when caring for other people, especially in regards to

You’ve heard a lot less from Republicans, including popular vote loser Donald Trump, about plans to privatize Medicare and gut Medicaid under the new administration. In fact, House Speaker Paul Ryan has seemed to cool off a bit on the whole idea.

But don’t let your guard down, because with Trump’s proposed cabinet nominees, we have to keep up the fight. That starts with making sure Chuck Schumer and his Senate Democrats don’t allow these guys—Tom Price and Mick Mulvaney—an easy ride.

First up Georgia Rep. Price who will be under scrutiny as the nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services. Price is as extreme as extreme can get when it comes to getting the government out of healthcare, and that includes breaking the promises of Medicare and Medicaid forever.

Price, a former orthopedic surgeon and six-term House member from suburban Atlanta, has proposed policies that are more conservative than those of many House Republican colleagues. His vision for health reform hinges on eliminating much of the federal government’s role in favor of a free-market framework built on privatization, state flexibility and changes to the tax code. The vast majority of the 20 million people now covered under Obamacare would have far less robust coverage — if they got anything at all. […]

A close ally of Speaker Paul Ryan and his successor as House Budget Committee chairman, Price also supports privatizing Medicare so that seniors would receive fixed dollar amounts to buy coverage — an approach that Democrats lambaste as a voucher system that would gut a 50-yearold social contract and shift a growing share of health care costs onto seniors. Republicans argue the changes are needed to keep Medicare from going bankrupt.

Trump’s transition spokesman did not return calls Tuesday about whether the president-elect now shares his nominee’s views on Medicare.

Price also wants to limit federal Medicaid spending to give states a lump sum, or block grant, and more control over how they could use it — a dream of conservative Republicans for years and a nightmare for advocates for the poor who fear many would lose coverage. Trump has endorsed block grants.

Turning all the Medicaid money over to the state to use as they see fit—say, defunding Planned

your mind and emotions. The holiday time is stressful for everyone, and occasionally feeling sad can be normal. But if you find that your sadness is becoming more frequent, or that it’s getting in the way of your ability to care for yourself or others, reach out to your doctors for help. Depression and other forms of mental illness can be hard to talk about but are very common. In fact, more than 8 in 100 women will experience depression during the year, and up to 1 in 4 women will experience depression at least once in her lifetime. Getting help doesn’t necessarily mean taking medication – your doctor can work closely with you to figure out what’s best for you.

Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6776 Southwest Freeway Suite # 178 Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com

Parenthood or curtailing longterm care payments—would be a disaster. And it would only get worse from there. The implications of privatizing Medicare are pretty clear—much higher bills for enrollees, along with less government oversight on the quality of care. Which is exactly how Republicans want it to be.

That also includes Freedom Caucus maniac Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who Trump has tapped to direct the Office of Management and Budget—he’s the guy that sets all the taxing and spending priorities.

A Tea Party budget hawk who led the opposition to many of the funding compromises during the Obama era, Mulvaney vocally championed proposals by thenBudget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) and others to privatize Medicare or impose other major changes to the program. He relentlessly argued that cutting retirement programs like Medicare was the only way to “balance the budget,” the Tea Party call to arms. He hasn’t been shy about calling for a drastic refashioning of Medicare.

“Medicare as it exists today is finished,” Mulvaney said at a town hall in 2011. As OMB director, Mulvaney would have major sway within a Trump administration, and would play a key role in determining the administration’s position on mandatory programs like Medicare and Social Security, which Mulvaney once called a “Ponzi scheme.” His post requires confirmation by the Senate.

To select Medicare or Obamacare plan contact Sudhir Mathuria @ 713-771-2900.

5. Know your history.

Knowing your family’s health history is essential to knowing your risks for potential future illnesses. We may not always have a full picture of what has happened to everyone in our family, but the more information we have, the better. Certain diseases can be genetically passed, including: cancers (breast, ovarian, uterine, colon); heart disease or stroke; mental illness; and diabetes. Explore your family tree to learn about your past and share this information with your doctor.

Just because a family member was sick doesn’t mean you will be, too. It can help your doctor order the right tests for you, or even start screening earlier than usual.

Proof

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VOICE OF ASIA 19

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Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Increased 5.1% in October

by Michelle Jamrisko

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EW YORK, (Bloomberg - December 27, 2016) Home prices in 20 U.S. cities maintained a steady pace of increases in October while a gauge of nationwide property values rose by the most since mid-2014, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller data released Tuesday.

post-election spike in borrowing costs could reduce housing affordability until home-price appreciation slows. The prospects of faster income growth in a tight job market may also make higher interest rates easier to manage.

- Economist Takeaways “Home prices and the economy are both enjoying robust

pace gains in wages and personal income.

“Affordability measures based on median incomes, home prices and mortgage rates show declines of 20-30 percent since home prices bottomed in 2012. With the current high consumer confidence numbers and low unemployment rate, affordability trends do not suggest an immediate reversal in home price trends,” he said. “Nevertheless, home prices cannot rise faster than incomes and inflation indefinitely.”

All 20 cities in the index showed a year-overyear gain, led by a 10.7 percent advance in Seattle, and a 10.3 percent increase in Portland, Oregon

National home-price gauge increased 5.6 percent from 12 months earlier, the biggest gain since July 2014, to a record 185.06 (File Photo) Lean housing inventory has continued to put upward pressure on home values at the same time steady hiring has lifted demand, resulting in two years of steady gains in property prices of around 5 percent. A

numbers,” David Blitzer, chairman of the S&P index committee, said in a statement.

“However, mortgage interest rates rose in November and are expected to rise further as home prices continue to out-

New York had the smallest 12-month advance, at 1.7 percent After seasonal adjustment, Atlanta, had the biggest monthover-month growth, at 1.4 percent, followed by Cleveland at 1.3 percent

Hedge fund managers are raging bulls on the rally

by Jeff Cox, CNBC

H

edge funds have jacked up their bets on the stock market to their highest levels of 2016 and cut back on short positions to a three-year low amid a blistering post-election rally.

For the fourth quarter, the $3 trillion industry increased its net exposure — the difference between short and long positions — to 63 percent, a level that equates to a net $656 billion, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch data.

Hedge funds were last this optimistic in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Managers have been rewarded for their optimism. The S&P 500 is up 4.4 percent for the quarter, while the Dow Jones industrial average has surged 8.9 percent and is threatening to eclipse 20,000 for the first time.

Interestingly, the industry misjudged somewhat where the biggest gains would come.

Hedge funds cut their exposure to small-cap stocks to the lowest level since the second quarter of 2014, at a time when the Russell 2000 has jumped 9.6 percent.

Otherwise, though, hedge funds made some smart bets, according to BofAML’s tracking.

The industry cut its net short position in exchange-traded funds to $65 billion from $72 billion at the start of the quarter, the lowest since the third quarter of 2013.

During the third quarter, ETF buying focused most on the SPDR S&P 500 Trust, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets and Financial Select Sector SPDR funds. Those funds, respectively, have seen fourthquarter returns of 4.6 percent, -8.1 percent and 22.3 percent.

Conversely, the three mostsold ETFs were the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (down 0.8 percent for the quarter), the SPDR Gold

I

n its second year, the Cameron Business Symposium once again inspired University of St. Thomas students, faculty and industry leaders with encouraging and innovative business topics meant to impact people and organizations. Furthermore, the event, from the Hall of Fame induction to the final keynote address, embodied what the Cameron School of Business produces in their students: leadership and innovation.

Cameron School of Business Hall of Fame The event began the induction of the Cullen Trust for Higher Education to the Cameron School of Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Corbin J. Robertson, a descendent of the original Cullen family, gladly accepted the award on behalf of the Cullen Trust. In his speech, he cited the lifetime commitment the trust had and will continue to build on for the University of St. Thomas.

“The University of St. Thomas does a wonderful job of educating in a faith-based atmosphere,” Robertson said. “We adhere to the values the University of St. Thomas espouses to all their students. The diverse group of people and faces that I see swell my heart with pride.”

As a group, hedge funds in November rose 0.9 percent, posting their best month since July, as gauged by the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index. The index was up 4.5 percent for the year heading into December.

The enthusiasm hedge fund managers are showing is not universally shared.

As a group, Wall Street strategists are expecting the S&P 500 to gain just 4.2 percent in 2017.

That’s the most pessimistic outlook since 2005, according to Bespoke Investment Group.

However, that could change as the year ahead evolves. Citigroup, for instance, already has revised its 2017 outlook, upping its S&P 500 price target from 2,325 to 2,425, representing about a 7.2 percent gain from the current level.

Retail investors remain bullish. Some 44.6 percent expect the market to be higher in six months, according to the latest American Association of Individual Investors survey. That’s above the historical average of 38.5 percent.

Tesla and Panasonic team up on solar-panel cells

T

esla Motors Inc. and Panasonic Corp. said Tuesday that they would begin producing cells for solar panels next summer at a sprawling factory opening in Buffalo, N.Y., expanding a relationship between the two technology firms.

The Palo Alto, Calif., automaker and the Japanese electronics company said they had finalized plans announced in October to begin joint production of photovoltaic cells and modules to be used in solar

panels for roof tiles and other products.

The agreement builds off an existing relationship between Tesla and Panasonic, which includes making lithium ion battery cells for electric vehicles and solar storage at Tesla’s $5-billion Gigafactory being built outside Reno, as well as developing next-generation technology at Tesla’s expanding plant in Fremont, Calif.

The deal announced Tuesday involves Tesla making a “long-

Dr. Beena George with Mr. Corbin J. Robertson and Dr. Robert Ivany.

Focusing on the topic of family business, Mishal Kanoo, Cameron School of Business graduate, inspired the crowd with his leadership expertise and business ethics that greatly influence his corporate policies. Kanoo’s opening keynote speech found a way to focus on the issues present in a family work dynamic and how to overcome it in a way that is relatable across all obstacles in the business world.

“I would like to start by saying how indebted I am to the University and, more importantly, to the faculty and my friends who were with me and helped me have a different perspective on life,” Kanoo said. “Coming in as a 17 year old who had a

very sheltered life, and seeing life at the intersection of Westheimer and Montrose, you get different aspects in understanding how things are and work.”

Dr. Robert Ivany, president of the University, praised Kanoo for his commitment to helping others grapple with and understand issues from many disciplines that affect the business world: “Even though he is a busy business man, Mishal has found time to address these much larger issues in an insightful and comprehensive way,” Ivany said. “We cannot think of anyone who is a better embodiment of a leader of faith and character Mr. Mishal Kanoo.”

Toshiba says may book writedown of several billion dollars

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OKYO (AFP - December 27, 2016) - Toshiba said Tuesday it may book a one-time loss of several billion dollars over a US subsidiary’s acquisition of a nuclear power service company.

The company said it may need to write down the value of assets at CB&I Stone & Webster Inc., a nuclear plant builder Toshiba bought from Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. N.V. in 2015, as its plant construction business is struggling overseas.

Trust (off 13.6 percent) and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, the worst move as the fund has jumped 10.1 percent.

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Cameron Business Symposium Highlights Leadership, Innovation

The Tokyo-based conglomerate said in a statement that costs linked to the 2015 transaction will possibly come to “several billion US dollars, resulting in a negative impact on Toshiba’s financial results”.

Hedge funds very optimistic in general (Photo: veripipe.com)

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

The loss has yet to be finalized but the possible writedown could have a significant effect on the company, which is battling to overcome a massive window-dressing scandal.

Toshiba said it is now studying the possibility of increasing its capital if the loss damages its financial standing and will seek financial support from its main banks.

At a press conference Toshiba chief executive Satoshi Tsunakawa apologized to shareholders for causing “inconvenience,” adding “We are also considering capital (strengthening).”

As of the end of September, Toshiba had shareholder equity of 363.2 billion yen.

On the Tokyo stock market, Toshiba shares tumbled 11.6 percent to 391.60 yen on the day after reports that it may post a loss of up to 500 billion yen ($4.3 billion) in connection with its U.S. nuclear plant business.

Toshiba aims to return to profitability in the current fiscal year after slumping into a

net loss of 460 billion yen last year as it undertook sweeping restructuring after revealing it had overstated profits for years.

The major electronics maker last month revised upward its group net profit forecast for this fiscal year to 145 billion yen from 100 billion yen, citing robust chip sales.

Toshiba has been focusing on nuclear energy operations as its core business but struggling to win orders for new power plants both at home and abroad.

The company booked an impairment loss of about 250 billion yen in the U.S. nuclear business in the last fiscal year.

“We have no plans at the moment but we could re-examine its positioning in the future as necessary,” Tsunakawa said when asked about whether the company may review its nuclear business.

Mobile wallet market in India expected to reach Rs 1.512 billion by 2022

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ANGLALORE (PTI) - The mobile-wallet market in India is expected to grow at over 190 per cent to reach Rs 1,512 billion by financial year 2022 from the current level of about Rs.1.5 billion, says a study conducted jointly by trade body Assocham and business consulting firm RNCOS. The m-wallet transactions are likely to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 160 per cent to rise from just over half a billion in FY16 to 260 billion by FY22.

are the factor which will drive this growth.

“It is anticipated that market value of m-wallet transactions in India will grow at a CAGR of over 200 per cent to reach Rs 275 trillion by FY22 from Rs 206 billion in FY16,” said the study.

The m-wallet transactions, in market value terms, have grown about 20 times to reach Rs 206 billion in FY16 from Rs 10 billion in FY13.

Growing usage of smartphones, robust mobile internet penetration, growth of e-commerce sector together with increasing disposable incomes

“The mobile wallet market in India has been greatly benefited by demonetisation and its share in the total mobile payment volume transactions is likely to rise from 20 per cent in FY16 to 57 per cent by FY22,” says

term purchase commitment” with Panasonic for the solar cells and modules to be made at the Buffalo factory. Panasonic will cover the required capital costs, the company said. No financial terms were released.

The 1.2-million-square-foot Buffalo factory is being built

by SolarCity Corp., the San Mateo, Calif.-based solar panel company recently acquired by Tesla. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk was chairman of

the report.

The study titled ‘M-wallet: Scenario post-demonetisation’ was released by D.S. Rawat, secretary general, Assocham, Shushmul Maheshwari, CEO and founder, RNCOS and Babu Lal Jain, chairman of Assocham National Council on Cyber Aand Network Security.

It also revealed that postdemonetisation, the average wallet spend for retail has witnessed huge jump, and is expected to increase from Rs 500-700 to Rs 2,000-10,000 in the near term.

Mobile payment transactions in value terms are likely to cross Rs 2,200 trillion mark by FY22 from just over Rs 8 trillion in FY16.

SolarCity and a major investor in both companies.

New York state is spending $750 million to build the Buffalo factory, which will be leased to SolarCity for $1 a year. (-GreenTechMediacom)

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CULTURE

VOICE OF ASIA 20

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Astrology and Fruits: What they say about your personality mental stimulation and love to get into a good discussion. You tend to be a restless and highstrung person, and are easily excitable. While you are quick to strike up a friendship with someone, maintaining it does not seem to be easy for you.

Prof.Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, Rice University, Houston TX.

by Meenakshi Bhattacharjee

T

housands of people everyday log on to the web, grab a glossy magazine or flick to the back of a newspaper to quickly read their star signs. Will they be lucky, how is love looking and will they find a bag of money today or even get promoted. Astrology has been used throughout history, but maybe stars are not the best way to predict what kind of person you are – maybe the best way is fruit.

In Astrology each zodiac sign is associated with a fruit that is considered to be lucky for them. A fruit can change your luck and life by giving you positive and sharp vibes. It enlightens your reflexes and makes you confident. Almost all fruits and vegetables are good for us, but some are specially designed for us according to Astrology.

Always eat what you like but also eat what is good and beneficial for your overall growth.

It reveals your core points of strength.

Aries: For fiery Aries the best mind relaxing fruits are Lemon and Pear. All fruits suit this zodiac sign but lemon refreshes the body and pear improves enthusiasm and brain sharpness.

Citric acid in lemon cleans the system which encourages psychological satisfaction and pear kills the anger and makes them feel calm. As a pear lover, if you put your mind to something you can do it successfully, but by and large you tend to be fickle and have trouble completing a task with the enthusiasm you started it with. You need to know the results of your efforts almost immediately. You enjoy

Taurus: Same with the Taurus, they are real food lovers and live to eat. They like chewing something all the time and so the recommended fruit is bananas for them because it improves digestion and makes the liver healthy. If you love banana very much, you are very loving, gentle, warm and sympathetic not only to your kith’s and kin, but to everyone around you. You are of sweet disposition. This may manifest in you being found lacking in self-confidence and quite timid in nature. As a result, others may take undue advantage of your good nature, which may make you vulnerable. You will adore your partner in every way for his/her mental and physical comeliness and pulchritude.

You will enjoy a harmonious relationship with your partner.

Gemini: The best fruit for Gemini, the twins is mango.

Astrologically, mango invokes high energy in them. It boosts their sense of humor and gives them so much happiness, which is their key to success. If your fruit of choice is mango, you are a person to be reckoned with. Endowed with the faculty to have your own vision and views, you are often found to be a hard nut to crack. As you are led by your own observations and analytical reasoning, influencing you would be no easy task. As you maintain your own views, at times you may tend to be an extremist with strong likes and dislikes and may even take control of a situation. At times you may be venturesome and may even seem foolhardy by getting involved in something mentally challenging. Though strong and resolute, you are like a kitten when you are with your partner.

Cancer: In Astrology, Cancer is likely to find their luck and

health in pineapple as it works wonders. It makes them mercurial and self-reliant. Also, it helps them in organizing things honestly. It makes them spontaneous and quick. You are quick to decide and even quicker to act. You are brave in making career changes, if that is what is to your advantage. You have exceptional organizing abilities and are undaunted by the size of the task at hand. You tend to be self-reliant, sincere and honest in your dealings with others. Though you are not given to making friends very quickly, once you do, it is for life. You rarely, if ever, make romantic overtures. Your partner is often impressed with your sterling qualities, but disappointed in your ability to show affection.

Leo: Orange comes all the way only for you Leo. It will make you calm and you will be admired for your patience and will power. It will make you work harder than usual and help you have an aesthetic bent of mind. If orange is your favorite fruit; it speaks of a person who has enduring patience and willpower. You like to do things slowly, but very thoroughly, and are completely undaunted by hard work. You tend to be shy, but are a reliable and trustworthy friend. You have an aesthetic bent of mind. You select your partner with care and thought; you love with all your heart, and are not in it just for a fling. You avoid conflict at all costs.

Virgo: Virgo is a very passionate sign and practical too.

Coconut works wonderfully for Virgo as it makes them feel rejuvenated, witty, obstinate and practical. The coconut lover is a serious, very thoughtful and contemplative person. Though you enjoy socializing, you are particular about the company you keep. You tend to be stubborn, but not necessarily foolhardy. Shrewd, quick-witted and alert, you ensure that you are right on top of any given scenario, especially at work.

You need a partner with brains, and while passion is important it certainly isn’t everything for you.

Libra: Cherry makes you imaginative, creative and loyal.

It nourishes the imagination and makes you flow freely. Cherry gives you real inner happiness and builds your communication skills. If cherry is your favorite fruit, life isn’t always as sweet for you. You often face ups and downs, particularly professionally and find that you make small sums of money, instead of a lump sum. You have a fertile imagination and are often involved in creative pursuits. You are a very sincere and loyal partner, but find that expressing your feelings is not easy. Your home is your haven, and you love nothing more than being surrounded by close family and your beloved partner.

Scorpio: Black grapes make the Scorpio polite and add a zest to their life. It makes your nature moderate, adds an aesthetic sense and helps you deal with anger issues quickly. If you relish black grapes more than any other fruit, you are a polite and good-natured person in general, though there may be quick flare-ups occasionally that cool down just as quickly.

Endowed with abundant aesthetic sense, you enjoy beauty in all its manifestations. You are a lover of beauty in human forms. Your sociable and gregarious nature exudes warmth and it endears others to you, and you are popular in any group. You are uniquely zestful and zealous in your approach to life and its challenges. Fully indulgent in the finer aspects of life, you enjoy everything in your life and work. You enjoy your style of dress and your way of life. It would be ideal if your partner also shares your zeal and enthusiasm for life Sagittarius: Sagittarius should go for Strawberries, because they are sweet and everybody loves them! They are red and they represent love. If you look at it closely enough it is shaped like a heart. A lover of strawberries would be a modest and quiet person, but conservative in values and approach to life. You could be sensitive at times. Thoughtful and contemplative in general disposition,

Our New Issue of

you are rarely impulsive or rash in your decisions and actions.

You are quite ambitious in nature and work hard to achieve your heart’s desire. You are good at anything that requires much detailing or working with numbers. You are quick at finding fault with others and that may create strained relations.

You would be comfortable with a partner with brains rather than one with looks or passion.

Being reserved in nature, you may not be comfortable in expressing your affection to your partner.

Capricorn: Apples are best for your heart and make you feel like a leader. It empowers your actions, promotes goodwill and makes them brave. If apple is your choice, you are an extrovert enjoying the exuberance of life. You are extravagant, impulsive and outspoken and may have a bit of a temper in your actions. Notwithstanding the dearth of great organizational acumen on your part, you may still make a good team leader and may be good at leading ahead. You are capable of taking prompt actions in most situations. Being prone to exuberant exertions, you relish trips immeasurably. Your charisma and verve in love will excite your partner indulgently. You enthusiasm for life is matchless.

Aquarius: Aquarius’s best fruit is papaya, which promotes a good sense of humor and sweet nature. It cleans the system and makes the brain healthy. You are fearless and take what happens in life, in your stride. You give considerable thought to the things you do. You have a sense of humor that along with your generous nature keeps you in most people’s good books.

You are a go-getter in your professional life, and have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. You enjoy meeting new people and seeing new sights whenever you can. Your sense of humor is what attracts members of the opposite sex to you more than anything else. It is simply charming!

Pisces: Watermelon is made

for Pisces, what a way to celebrate the water sign! Ironically enough, always sweet and nourishing, but they still have their hard spots (seeds). This fruit is great for keeping water sign Pisces hydrated. If you are a watermelon lover you are one with extreme courage to carry over everything you do sparing neither the energy, nor the time or the effort to complete the job flawlessly. You are known to easily handle the most challenging of problems.

So, go ahead and check your fruit sign, and see if you match up. With the New Year approaching I hope you will try to enrich your life with the fruits that are good for you and correspond to your star signs.

A very happy Holiday Season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all Readers.

Have it all Continued from page 14 Early mornings when you are alert and have not used up your energy for the day have been known to be a great time to get a lot of work done, including leisurely activities such as writing a novel and exercising. Even highly successful public figures find it’s the best time. It’s also a time to tackle difficult tasks (like running or paying bills) before you get distracted or general anxiety sets in. The same can be true of late nights for some people, though. If after putting the kids to bed works for you to do low energy activities, such as responding to emails, do it, Vanderkam said.

Convince yourself that this task will make your life better At first glance, you may think you have no time to accomplish anything, but when something becomes necessary, such as a broken boiler, you make the time. The same goes for activities you consider a priority.

For example, emails won’t feel like work when you’re writing them out about a project you’re excited about. (Replying to emails may feel more like work.) “We don’t build the lives we want by saving time, we build the lives we want and then time saves itself,” she said during her TED talk. (-AFP)

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VOICE OF ASIA 21

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Your Horoscope for the Week of December 30, 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 social position will allow you to bring others together. Remember, everyone’s heart is in the same place. You’ll have too much vigor and cheer for one person, so you might as well spread it around. Give the gift of yourself to someone, who could really use a spiritual lift right now. The feeling is more important than the reason for doing it. If it feels right, do it. Spread the joy. Example is certainly the best teacher.

In your quest for the good life, others may think you are too materialistic. Show them that searching for the comfort of security is not just obtaining the material stuff. Set the moral tone in a group that’s looking for some deeper direction. You first need to sell the idea, then you can work on the rest. Your concern with how something looks may frustrate those who are more interested in the content. Your understanding of what is appealing will convince them to join your cause. You need to choose your team very carefully.

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May

Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov

Instead of dwelling on the past, consider what still lies ahead of you. You may seem aloof, but if confronted, your cautious nature will take over. The world around you has many needs and you can fill more than you realize. Don’t allow fatigue to make you vulnerable, watch your energy level. You may want to dream however misguided, but you know you have to be more realistic. Erratic behavior will only cause you to lose. You may be eager to see the future, but need to find more patience. Be ready to help others in need.

A good opportunity may be hard for you to find. You’re detached enough from them to see where they lead to. The facts and figures are in your favor. Others will be happy to help you, once you show your true colors. Stop wishing and start doing. Think bigger. Find the perfect materials and do it right the first time. Someone may challenge your memory but your organized mind and instinct will be right on the target. Use your spare time for personal improvement. You’ve earned the right to feel good about your physical appearance.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Relax and celebrate. Your life will overflow with energy, spreading your special magic to everyone you meet. Perfection is relative but you may feel as if you’ve achieved it. The best leaders inspire rather than dictate. Your time has come at last. Charm and gentle persuasion will be your greatest assets. Your time and energy are more important than your money. Common interests suggest a promising future with someone who understands your motives. Forgotten friends, loves and hobbies will become important once again.

Something will heighten your awareness of a cold world over which you have no control. Sincere actions will be the most important. You should no longer be shy about your powers to help others. Help along someone who may be going through this awareness for the first time. What answers you can’t find, you’ll invent. Take the time to bring your art supplies outside and you’ll be able to create some real works of art. Your inner self will reflect in everything that passes through your hands. You’ll be able to relearn an old lesson of patience.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July The competition may be confused when you seem to give them your secrets, but listen to their ideas. You may have wanted to make changes where none were required.

Communication will bring you the wisdom you need. Don’t give up on your friends.

A dreaded re-union will turn out to be a memorable event. The word from a friend or partner will set you in motion. Use your positive energy to propel other’s engines. Teamwork is a welcomed alternative to the childish games that have been going on, lately.

Friendship and romance will flourish this week. You’re likely to get just about anything you want. Don’t refuse any social invitations. Forget the formalities, you need to go where you are needed, spreading your sunshine along the way. You’ll score more points by just being yourself. Use conversation to draw others out of their shells. Ask questions, in order to make others think about what they’re saying. If you hit a nerve, press harder.

Deep issues may cause reactions. If you see trouble coming, protect those most in need.

Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August You should know that your perspective can create the world around you. Your talking is a favorite thing for people who need to recharge their batteries. Make them feel at home, continue the trend. Heads will turn when you walk in and take your rightful place.

Your honesty and humor will dispel any rumors you having an attitude. You’re a mix of mystery, love and humor. You have no interest in giving into unreasonable demands. Being tough might cost you, but it’ll be well worth it. Your first response will be your best.

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Look carefully at an impulse that was not part of the original plan. Be sure to consult with your partners before making any sudden changes. You’ll benefit from an associate’s information. Your mind can figure out any scenario. You’ll be able to process the information into a solid business plan. Everyone involved will walk away from the deal enriched. Take care of personal details that you may have overlooked, before. Let go of all that extra stress. Enjoying yourself is easy once you try. No crisis here.

BD

You love people for who they are and need to express it. Remember that circumstances can turn against you as easily as you turn them to your advantage. Your friendship is far stronger than the little differences that have interfered with it. You need to tone down your criticism, in order to make your point clearer. No one wants to listen to someone who continues to dwell on their faults. Instead you should be trying to bring out their positive traits. Allow your love to take on a life of its own.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March Create a force that stabilizes rather than one that makes more waves. Your quick wit and creative imagination will guide you smoothly if you hit any rough spots. You know by instinct what others need to learn in higher education. Mysterious cosmic forces will have a familiar feeling to them. Don’t allow noisy people with opinions to rob you of your appetite for excitement and adventure. A soft touch will be wasted on those with thick skin. You need to keep your cool and approach the situation very carefully. Your blunt honesty will score more points than anything. The right people will understand your message.

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VOICE OF ASIA 23

Houston Community College Request for 4XDOLÂżFDWLRQV 5)3

/DQGVFDSLQJ DQG Grounds 0DLQWHQDQFH 6HUYLFHV 6HUYLFH $UHD 1R 3URMHFW 1R Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs. edu/district/departments/procurement.

Houston Community College Parking Lot & Parking Garage Cleaning Services RFP 17-24 Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday,February 7, 2017.

Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs. edu/district/departments/procurement.

HARVEST RICE, INC NOW HIRING HARVEST RICE, INC., a family owned rice milling and packaging operation, with facilities located in McGehee, AR, and in Otwell (near Jonesboro), AR, is looking to build a community of employees who value loyalty, dedication & hard work. We are looking for the right candidates to help us expand our family of employees. The positions needed are as follows: ADMINISTRATIVE / OFFICE / TRANSPORTATION for both locations SKILLED LABOR, i.e., PACKAGING, MANUAL, MACHINE OPERATORS – McGehee, AR location Harvest Rice, Inc. is family owned and operated for over 25 years and we value employer / employee relationships, so in addition to our competitive compensation & benefits package, we will consider offering assistance with relocation and schooling, depending on the circumstance.

Anyone interested in this unique opportunity, please send resumes to Deborah Shriver, H.R. Manager at: dshriver@ gulfpac.com.

Please visit our company website at www.gulfpac.com to find out more about our capabilities, our technologies & innovations and our commitment to quality & food safety.

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

Houston Community College Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (CSP) Culinary Art Building Project No. 17-31 Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11B01, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.

Pre-proposal meeting will be held on January 10, 2017 at 11:00 am at Central Campus, 1300 Holman Street, San Jacinto Auditorium, Houston, Texas 77004.

Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs.edu/procurement.

Houston Community College Request for 4XDOLÂżFDWLRQV 5)4

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MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK

Empathy Matters When You’re Making a Tough Decision

GULF RICE MILLING, INC., NOW HIRING Gulf Rice Milling, Inc., a leader in rice milling and rice packaging and distribution, has an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated individual looking to be part of a company that is experiencing tremendous growth. Gulf Rice is looking for a PRODUCTION PLANNING MANAGER to help implement our company’s high standards by managing the production scheduling, warehouse and shipping departments.

This position is located in Houston, TX. The main job responsibilities are as follows: Organize the production scheduling process to maximize output and lower labor costs while maintaining a high on-time service.

Implement a new schedule that considers machine capacities and material availability.

Improve inventory accuracy to reduce machine downtime Ensure efficient and accurate shipping of finished goods.

Work closely with Production, Sales and Purchasing Departments.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, preferable and a big plus, or other Operations and Supply Chain majors Minimum 5 years of experience managing a Production Planning Dept.

High MS Excel proficiency Preferably bi-lingual English/Spanish Our employees enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package that includes Medical Insurance, 401K Plan, Vision, Dental, Sick Time, Paid Vacation and Holidays.

Please send resumes to Deborah Shriver, H.R. Manager at dshriver@gulfpac.com.

Please visit our company website at www.gulfpac.com to find out more about our capabilities, our technologies & innovations and our commitment to quality & food safety.

Check out the latest articles in our

When faced with a hard choice, it’s comforting to think that if you can just get the right information and use the right analytics, you can make the right decision.

But serious problems are rarely black-andwhite, and tools and techniques alone won’t give you answers. You also need empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of the people who will be affected by the outcome of your decision — employees, customers, or otherwise.

Consider what you would really care about if you were in another person’s situation. Ask yourself, and others, what you would be thinking and feeling if you were among the people hit hardest by the decision. If you’re not sure, reach out to those people or to people who can represent their experience in direct, concrete ways. If you’re making this decision in a group — as many tough calls are made — ask someone in the room to play the role of the outsider as vividly and persuasively as they can, so everyone else hears at least some version of the needs of the people a decision will affect.

Source: Adapted from “Timeless Advice for Making a Hard Choice,�

by Joseph L. Badaracco WWW.HBR.ORG

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VOICE OF ASIA 24

FRIDAY, December 30, 2016

HERE ARE 51 REASONS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

We’ll keep you entertained with our top-ranked museum district, our renowned theater district and one of the nation’s best ballet companies.

We’re home to top-notch Tex-Mex, the best BBQ and over 10,000 other restaurants serving the food of more than 70 countries and American regions.

You may have heard we’re the most diverse region in the U.S. and speak over 145 languages.

We have the world’s largest medical center, including the premier hospitals in the country.

We have the award-winning Buffalo Bayou Park, the massive Memorial Park (3X the size of Central Park), the beautiful Discovery Green and more golf courses than you can shake a putter at, making us one of the 10 greenest cities in the U.S. Galveston beach is a short drive away.

So is the San Jacinto Monument, Battleship Texas, The Woodlands Waterway and the Kemah Boardwalk.

If you’re looking for a job, we’re a top city for young professionals, with the most Fortune 500 companies outside of NYC. And even better, our paychecks stretch further than anywhere else.

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

As the nation’s fourth-largest city, we’re the Energy Capital of the World and have a nightlife full of energy.

We’re the birthplace of NASA, Dennis Quaid (and brother Randy), Jennifer Garner (Golden Globe winner), Jim Parsons (AKA Sheldon Cooper), ZZ Top (formed here in 1969) and, of course, Beyoncé.

Ever heard of the rodeo?

Ours is the world’s largest.

And our Port of Houston is a pretty BIG deal, too (it’s #2 in total tonnage).

We’re passionate about the Houston Zoo, the Houston Texans and everything about J.J. Watt.

Don’t forget out outstanding bar scene, the Anheuser-Busch brewery and nearly a dozen craft breweries with arguably the best beer in the country.

Our 655 square miles could contain NYC, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Seattle, which gives us plenty of space for our 15 million visitors each year.

(It helps to have two major airports, including one of the nation’s largest.)

So clear your schedule, and get your gear from The Galleria.

Gather the whole entire family for 10 free days of Super Bowl LIVE. Get pumped for live music, some good ol’ Texas eats and football at its finest, because the Super Bowl is coming to Houston, y’all!

We’ve earned our bragging rights.

Super Bowl LI is produced by the NFL and the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee