Voice of Asia e paper December 16 2016

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VOICE OF ASIA 1

QUARTERLY MAGAZINE www.healthlinemag.com

VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

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Vol. 29 No. 50 Friday, December 16, 2016 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 24 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

ISKCON 50’s Four Day Celebrations a Grand Success

ISKCON of Houston temple priests blowing the Conch shell at the start of the gala on December 8th 2016 in Houston, TX. Photo credit: by Murali Santhana.

Guests who attended ISKCON’s 50th gala got a guided tour of the temple during the gala. Photo credit: by Murali Santhana.

Read Report on Page 9

Anne Sung wins runoff race for HISD Board HOUSTON - Anne Sung was elected to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Saturday, according to unofficial results reported by the Harris County Clerk’s Office. Anne Sung defeated John Luman. The results will be official once they are canvassed.

Continued on page 4

Indra Nooyi joins Elon Musk and Travis Kalanick on Trump’s strategic team

I

ndian-American PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has joined Donald Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum that aims to assist the presidentelect in implementing his economic agenda, the presidential transition team said today.

Anne Sung poses in an undated photograph

Chennai-born Nooyi, 61, is the only Indian-origin executive in the 19member President’s Strategic and Policy Forum, which was first announced early this week. Three new members were also announced in addition to the current 16.

The other corporate bigwigs to join the forum are Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, and SpaceX and Tesla chairman Elon Musk. The forum, composed of some of America’s most highly respected and successful business leaders, will meet with the president frequently to share their specific experience and knowledge as the president implements his economic agenda, a media release said adding the forum will be chaired by Stephen A Schwarzman, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone.

Continued on page 6

Indra Nooyi. Photo credit: DNA.

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

VOICE OF ASIA Publisher:

Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief:

Austin Correspondent: Print & Media Marketing: Marketing:

Office Manager:

Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Jacob David Susan Pothanikat Priyan Mathew

Columnists: Legal: Richard M. Alderman Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Research: Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Health Insurance: Sudhir Mathuria Astrology: Hardik Vyas

VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Editor Online:

Shobana Muratee

The powerless people of Aleppo

by Emily Dreyfuss (Wired)

T

he tweets come from civilians in the last rebel-held neighborhoods of Syria’s besieged city of Aleppo, and from those hoping in vain to help them from afar as government forces advance closer.

The United Nations estimates that 82 people were killed yesterday, and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s army seems hours away from capturing the eastern side of the city that had eluded conquest for the past four-and-a-half years. In photos and videos geotagged Aleppo, bodies are strewn in the street and women beg for help. The White Helmets, a volunteer group that has for years worked to protect Aleppo’s civilians and clear the dead after attacks, has abandoned hope.

Since 2011, Syrians have taken to Twitter, Facebook, and

All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher.

Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143.

Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@ voiceofasiagroup.com Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $30 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints.

Although paid advertisements may appear in Voice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, the Voice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement.

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Instagram to beseech the West for support—both humanitarian aid and political pressure to end the civil war.

The incoming Trump administration is far more open to the Russian position on Syria, and since August, Assad and the Russian forces supporting him have made considerable military gains. In the past 48 hours, they have pushed further into the rebel-held areas of Aleppo.

Now, in what will likely be the final hours of the fight, they tweet not because it might help, but because they can do little else. Reduced to two square kilometers in the city, the rebel area of Aleppo lacks any route of escape except into the hands of the Assad regime. Some women reportedly chose suicide yesterday rather than face capture by the government.

Others, crouched in bombedout hallways amid the rubble of their former city, turn to the

tiny devices in their hands to share with the world their horror, fear, anguish, rage.

Journalist Bilal Kareem spoke in a video Monday night as blasts rang all around him.

“We may not be able to send any more messages as regime forces push closer and closer,” he said.

Seven-year-old Bana Alabed and her mother Fatemah, who in the past few months captured the attention of Western media with their frank and chilling descriptions of life in eastern

Aleppo, tweeted on Monday night that they were surprised to still be alive. By Tuesday morning, Bana was bracing for death.

The New York Times today reported that civilians trying to flee were being shot. The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting. In Istanbul, thousands protested outside the Russian embassy hoping for an end to the siege. The rest of the world could do little more than read Twitter. And weep. And apologize.

Ignorance and Bigotry is not Conservatism: A Word of Caution for American Conservative Activists eign origin who feel alienated and excluded.

Chandra K. Mittal, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., FCP

by Chandra K. Mittal, Ph.D.

A

s has happened in about every election cycle since the election of President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930, the election cycle of 2016 too witnessed renewed calls for America to rededicate itself to the principles of conservatism as envisioned by the American Founding Fathers. Except this time candidate Donald Trump’s election message of conservatism became synonymous with populism and divisiveness as it reached a new height or perhaps “a new low” as some are calling it.

Donald Trump’s appeal obviously did trigger high turnout of so-called “conservative” voters in the Middle-America which helped him win the US Presidency. But it has left an indelible mark of fear and insecurity on almost half of the US voters’ population that got stigmatized, demonized, intimidated, and marginalized by many followers of Donald Trump. This specially included the so-called conservative media whose polarizing voice negatively did (and continues to) affect the psyche of non-Whites, nonChristians, and people of for-

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In the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory, the phrase “taking the country back” caught on in some quarters creating the perception as if the country has been so far taken over by some illegitimate group of Americans. Along with high degree of euphoria and enthusiasm among the conservatives, there was also corresponding unleashing of negative social inertia emboldening the ignorant and the bigots in America who perpetrated unjust acts against the minorities and immigrants in the name of conservatism. Many indecent incidences included verbal abuse, racial and anti-religious slurs, and a few cases of violence, all perpetrated by zealots in the name of American “conservatism”.

This is totally unjustified and represents gross ignorance on the part of conservative rankand-file who are lost in their own echo chamber. Fact is that all immigration (both legal and illegal) in the US has been primarily to meet the industrial needs of America. One has to only look at the industries in high technology fields like information, engineering, medicine, etc. where US does not have enough technically qualified skilled people to meet its demand. So, US companies are hiring trained workforce from other countries by opening immigration. Exactly same scenario is playing out in outsourcing arena where Ameri-

can industry is renting technical services from overseas or shifting manufacturing operations there to utilize the skilled manpower available.

Under these circumstances, it is unfair and highly illogical for conservatives to blame immigrant communities or their cultures, which is, of course, bound to follow them in the new land. Indeed, constant anti-immigrant, anti-racial and anti-foreigner drumbeat by the conservatives can prove to be detrimental for American economic interest and jeopardize its progress. Contrary to the negative perceptions created by the ignorant, immigrant generation represents a sincere, honest and hardworking group of people who are themselves indeed “conservative” in their approach towards their personal life and make significant economic contributions to the US economy.

Historically, it is a fact that America was founded on the principles of social and economic conservatism coupled with individual freedom, liberty and justice for all. Since then, however, due to changes in the national and international situations including political, economic, demographic, technologic etc. it gone through several adjustments with modern American conservatism being born in the 1930s in response to Roosevelt’s liberalism represented by the “New Deal”. While debates about conservatism-liberalism balance is a continuing feature of

a democratic government, adherence to extremist views is neither practical nor advisable.

Today, President-Elect Donald Trump’s vision for “America First” is supposed to fulfill the promise of modern American conservatism and regain America’s lost glory. But America cannot achieve this goal by dividing or alienating a significant portion of its population. It has to be inclusive of all its citizens irrespective of race, religion or the national origin. This is, of course, something many rank-and-file conservatives may not subscribe to and will likely present a challenge to Donald Trump because of their inward outlook and orientation.

Given the reality of America life today, American conservatism will have to embrace and accept the racial-, religious- and cultural- diversity of America.

While this may be somewhat of a new experience for many American conservatives compared to the “old” world which has adjusted to multi-dimensional diversity over centuries, it will unify America, strengthen its society and propel it towards a prosperous future. And tt is only through inclusion that Donald Trump can “Make America Great Again and realize his America First vision.

Dr. Chandra Mittal is Professor at Houston Community College and Co-Founder of Indo-American Association (IAA). Contact: drckmittal@ yahoo.com: Twitter: @drchandramittal

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VOICE OF ASIA 3

COMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Second Front Page

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Indian Doctors Charity Club hosts Volunteer’s Appreciation Lunch

by Shobana Muratee

H

OUSTON - Indian Doctors Charity Clinic, (IDCC) held its 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Sunday, December 12th at the BAPS temple in Stafford, Texas to a modest gathering of 50 plus guests and supporters.

Welcoming KC Mehta, IDCC Secretary and Treasurer introduced the IDCC Board: Chairman and Medical Director Dr. KT Shah, Chairperson and Medical Director-Elect Dr. Kiran Gandhi, Board Member Dr. Suresh Moonath, Sunita Moonat (also former president), Dr. Jay Raman and Dr. Subodh Chauhan, Dr. Nirwat, Mr. Harish Khatrani, Meena Datt, and Dr. Manish Gandhi.

Giving a brief history of IDCC, Mehta said, “We are the child of the Indian Doctor’s Association (IDA) that was formed in 1981 to provide a platform for social and professional activities.”

Soon they found that there was a need in the community for a charity clinic.

As a result, in Sep 1997 a task force was formed to explore the feasibility of charity clinic. Eighteen months later, after much deliberation the Indian Doctor Club Charitable Foundation was formed in 1999. Mehta then recognized Dr. Sunita Moonat, the first president of the IDCC. He thanked the volunteers for their continued support.

Special thanks to IDCC partner IndoAmerican Charity Foundation (IACF).

This year, in partnership with IACF and IDA the IDCC had a fundraising event ‘Walkathon’ and with their help raised $25000 Mehta mentioned. In 2017 the Walkathon will be held in month of April 22 at the Lost Creek Park in Sugar Land he announced and the funds raised will go to IDCC. Mehta also announced that IDCC had started an eye clinic. Dr. Ravi Chandru, Ophthalmologist will be heading the unit. Dr. Chandru and his wife also agreed to donate the entire equipment amounting to about $22,000. “Every time he amazes me as he is constantly working to finding thing for eye clinic at no cost to us,” he said. “Recently, he contacted all the pharmaceutical companies who make eye drops and got them to give us at no charge to us.”

Dr. KT Shah gave an overview of the working of IDCC staring with its location at 6550 Mapleridge

Dr. KT Shah presenting an insight into to IDCC working. Also seen is Dr. Subodh Chauhan, Suite 229, Houston, Texas 77081.

The clinic, roviding free” medical services by volunteer doctors and nurses from the Indian community is open every Saturday from 8am – 12 noon up to 1pm. Every Saturday 2030 patients are seen and are planning on expanding to over 35-40. “Currently there are only two volunteer doctors and the wait is too long.” Dr. Shah expressed his appreciation to Dr. Chandru who has already started with IDCC and conducted two eye clinics so far. He plans to see on one Saturday a month in the future. Dr. Chandru not only procured eye drops worth over $4000 free for the clinic but plans on doing cataract surgeries at a very nominal cost or even free for the clinic Dr. Shah mentioned. Dr. Priti Parvadi a neurologist has also committed to seeing neurology patients at the clinic he said.

ognized on the occasion for their long standing volunteer work at the clinic was Dr. Jay Raman, General Surgeon who will be on a stand by for the Clinic. Dr. Shah also said that Dr. Kiran Gandhi will be soon replacing him due

Indian community as a whole is also helping he said and mentioned IACF, and businessman like Ajay Gupta, Sumeet Shah, and Jawar Bakshi have offered to help. Dr. Shah also recognized clinic workers Debarah Ray, longest serving person and Lilliana Nunez (both bilingual), Reggi Mercy and Emily Sierra. He also recognized medical student volunteer Aprotin Choudary and others volunteers including Ms. Coco and Lilliana daughter. Among the doctors that were rec-

KC Mehta welcoming the guests. Photos by Shobana Muratee to his knee problem and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Hema Sarvadi, Rheumatologist and Dr. Poly, oncologist from Methodist will also be volunteering for the clinic. The event concluded on a very encouraging note and was

Volunteers, guests and members of IDCC, IACF and IDA

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VOICE OF ASIA 4

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Sanjay Ramabhadran The People’s Lawyer honored by the American Jewish Committee www.peopleslawyer.net

Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

There is no debtor’s prison Q. Can I be arrested for not paying my credit card bill? The debt collector said he is sending the police out to my house if I don’t promptly pay.

A. You cannot be arrested if you don’t pay your credit card bill! There is no debtor’s prison in Texas. If you don’t pay the money you owe you may be sued, but you cannot be put in jail. In fact, the threat to throw you in jail for not paying your bills violates both federal and state debt collection laws. For more information about what may happen if you don’t pay your bills and your rights under our debt collection laws, visit the debt collection section on my website, www.peopleslawyer.net. You also may want to file a complaint with the Texas Consumer Complaint Center to see if it can help, www.texasccc.com.

Q. I did a small construction job and was paid with a check after I completed the work. I deposited the check in my account, but it was returned because the person who gave me the check stopped payment. I went to his bank and they said it was not their problem. How do I get paid? Why doesn’t his bank owe me the money?

A. The bank does not owe you the money because a bank generally has no liability when a check is written by one of its customers.

A check is simply the customer’s order to the bank to

pay money to someone else.

The bank usually pays the check, and that is the end of the matter. But if there is not enough money in the account or the customer tells the bank not to pay (by issuing a stop payment order), the bank will promptly return the check and it has no further liability. You should always view a check as the customer’s promise to pay, not an obligation of the bank.

Fortunately, however, you are not out of luck. When a check is not paid, the person who wrote the check remains responsible. I suggest you let the person know you expect him to promptly pay the check, with cash this time, and that if he doesn’t pay you will file a claim in justice court. If you do have to sue, you can collect the amount of the check plus and fees your bank may have charged and the costs of filing the lawsuit.

Q. I spoke with my neighbor about replacing our fence.

She told me to go ahead, she would “pay half.� Now she won’t pay. What are my rights?

A. As a general rule, unless there is a community association rule requiring costs be divided, neighbors do not have an obligation to split the costs of a fence. The neighbor’s promise to “pay half,� however, may be enforceable.

If someone simply makes a promise to pay you money, for example to make a gift, the law will not enforce that promise. On the other hand, if

someone makes a promise in exchange for your performing a task, it becomes legally enforceable. Based on what you say, you built the fence in exchange for your neighbor’s promise to “pay half.� In my opinion that makes her promise enforceable. I suggest you let her know you expect to be paid, and consider justice court if she doesn’t pay.

Q. How do you get collection agencies to stop calling for really old debts? One keeps calling about a 15 year old debt.

A. As I have said before, even if a debt is 15 years old, you still owe it and a collector can ask you to pay.

After seven years, however, it is “obsolete,� and should no longer appear on your credit report. After four years it is too late to sue. In other words, you still have a moral obligation to pay old debts, but you cannot be legally forced to pay.

If you have decided that you are not going to pay the debt, federal law allows you to stop all further communication by sending a letter to the debt collector demanding it stop. I suggest you send the letter by certified mail. If the debt collector continues to harass you, it will be violating federal and state debt collection laws.

To learn more about our debt collection laws or other laws that protect you, visit my website, www.peopleslawyer.net.

Do you want to know more about your legal rights? Check out my website, www.peopleslawyer.net

L-R: Sanjay Ramabhadran with the Human Relations Award joined by honorees, Gilbert Garcia, Tony Chase and Dr. Stephen Klineberg who received Distinguished Public Service Award.

Since 1981, AJC Houston has presented The Human Relations Award annually to a civic or business leader demonstrating exceptional work in making a difference in Houston and in preserving America’s democratic heritage. On December 12, 2016, AJC honored Tony Chase, Gilbert Garcia and Sanjay Ramabhadran with the Human Relations Award celebrating Houston’s diversity.

The Distinguished Public Service award was presented to Dr. Stephen Klineberg for his pioneering work on the Houston Survey.

The event at the Houstonian

featured over 200 guests - the Who’s Who of Houston including Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen, former Mayor Annise Parker, former Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Ambassador Schechter, Consul General of India Dr. Anupam Ray, METRO Chair Carrin Patman, Houston First Chair David Mincberg, State Representative Elect MaryAnn Perez, IACCGH President Joya Shukla, IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia, IAPAC President Dr. Karun Sreerama and Consul Generals from multiple countries. CoChairs Collin Cox, Roland Garcia, Gordon Quan and Marc Melcher spoke about the honor-

ees contributions to Houston.

Past recipients of the award include Shell Oil, Governor Ann Richards, Ambassador Schechter, Mayor Whitmire, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, Ric Campo and Welcome Wilson Sr. The American Jewish Committee - Houston, founded in 1946 is a respected voice in the local, political, religious, and academic arenas. As it works to protect human rights around the world, it is equally committed to strengthening the community and enriching the quality of life for all of our residents.

Anne Sung wins .....

Continued from Page 1 Sung is a product of HISD, attending Askew Elementary, TH Rogers School and graduating from Bellaire High School.

Sung earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and master’s degrees in physics and public policy from Harvard University. Sung was a member of Teach for America and previously taught physics at HISD. She was named Lee High School’s

Teacher of the Year in 2011 and is currently the Chief Strategy Officer and Vice President of Project GRAD Houston. “As a former student of HISD, I am grateful for the education that I received, and now the opportunity to serve the district,� said Sung. “This is a tremendous honor and I want to work to give students the opportunities that I had.�

Sung will be sworn in during the first 2017 Board of Education meeting on January 12.

Sung will fill the unexpired term of outgoing District VII Trustee Harvin Moore, which runs through 2017.

The HISD Board of Education is comprised of nine trustees who each serve a four-year term.

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VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

FORT BEND VIEW Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Sugar Land’s New Entertainment Centre promises an extravagant cultural experience

www.voiceofasiaonline.com

Child Advocates of Fort Bend receives grant

Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land opens January 2017

by Shobana Muratee SUGAR LAND (Wednesday, December 14, 2016) - At an exclusive preview and behind-the-scenes tour of the new entertainment facility on Wednesday, Gary Becker, president of Ace SL LLC, which partnered with Sugar Land to design and build the new Smart Financial Centre, said the performance line up and the ticket sales were great. Located on Lexington Blvd. and U.S. 59, the venue officially opens to the public next month.

Gary Becker, president of Ace SL LLC, giving a tour of the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. Photo(s)

by Shobana Muratee.

RIGHT: The newly completed Smart Financial Centre will be the cultural and entertainment spotlight of the Fort Bend event calendar year around.

The top entertainers are booked now for 2017 and beyond.

Notable performances for every musical taste.

Singing stars of the Broadway show “Dirty Dancing” Linsey Hailes Linsey Hailes and Jordan Edwin Andre, performers of Broadand Jordan Edway show ‘Dirty Dancing’ scheduled to open Jan 20 - 22. win Andre, sang the theme song “I ley, ‘Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage’, Had the Time of My Life” and Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Reba McEntire gave a feel of the acoustics in and Kristin Chenoweth. the auditorium which were (For details on list of performances visit: http:// phenomenal. The show opens at the Centre on Friday, Janu- smartfinancial.centresugarland.com/ ary 20, 2017 and will run five Of the many attractions at Smart Financial Cenperformances through Jan. 22. tre will be Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land’s Luxury Starting with Jerry Seinfeld, on Lounge and the Cypress-based Rockin’ & Roastin’ January 14, 2017, other notable Coffee Inc., founded by Joey Kramer, which will be performances to follow that the exclusive coffee provider when the Centre opens month will be that of Don Hen- in January 2017.

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he Texas Bar Foundation recently awarded Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) a $5,000 grant. These funds will be used to support the Multidisciplinary Team Enhancement Program (MEP). MEP began in late 2015 as a way of identifying children who are victims of abuse and would otherwise fall through the cracks of the child welfare system.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is the only agency in Fort Bend County exclusively dedicated to providing critical services, all free of charge,

to abused and neglected children and their non-offending family members.

A CAFB Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) staff member reviews all state intake reports of child abuse, assesses whether they meet criteria for sexual abuse or severe physical abuse and, if so, refers the case to CPS and law enforcement. The CAC acts as a coordinating entity amongst CAFB partner agencies ensuring that all parties are informed and abused children are receiving the help that they need to overcome the trauma they have endured.

The volunteers at Child Advocates of Fort Bend during a swearing-in ceremony at Judge Ronald R. Pope’s courtroom earlier in the year. (Photo: CAFB)

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Ring in the New Year in Sugar Land Town Square

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UGAR LAND, Texas – Make this New Year’s Eve a sweet one to remember with a vibrant celebration for all ages featuring world-class entertainment, state-of-the-art technology and a unique 3D midnight light show!

Sugar Land’s New Year’s Eve on the Square extravaganza is the only free regional celebration that features award-winning 3D entertainment, fireworks, street performers and activities for families and adults of all ages.

Dance the night away at the largest New Year’s Eve dance party in Fort Bend County with music by Austin’s show band, Electric Circus! The event will feature cirque-style street performers including stilt walkers, aerial artists, circus-themed side stage shows and a jaw-dropping 3D-video projection midnight show with never before seen images on the façade of the iconic City Hall.

The two-part celebration kicks off at 7 p.m. with a celebration for families with children of all ages

Sugar Land Town Square Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land.

with a children’s DJ, live entertainment, food and beverages and a mini fireworks show at 9 p.m. to end the celebration for the kid-

dos; the adult portion of the event will begin at 10 p.m. and will include features such as circus street performers, DJ mixed with

the live band and adult beverages. The event will conclude with a 3D light show, a countdown to the new year and a one-of-a-kind

sugar cube drop specifically designed with Sugar Land in mind.

Event transportation includes access to free shuttle services from Mercer Stadium that will run from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., as well as limited free parking in the onsite Texas or Lone Star garages.

Taxi services will also be readily available for parties not interested in driving to and from the big event. Also, designated drivers in attendance will receive free soft drinks throughout the evening.

The New Year’s Eve event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 31, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Alcohol will be available for purchase during the second part of the celebration beginning at 10 p.m.

For more information about the event, contact Sugar Land Parks and Recreation Department at (281) 275-2885 or visit www. sugarlandtx.gov/specialevents for a complete listing of events.

Don’t forget to LIKE the Sugar Land Parks & Recreation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ SugarLandParks for more event information and for a chance to win special event giveaways.

Indra Nooyi Sushila and Dr. Durga Agrawal to be honored at 2017 Asia Society’s Tiger Ball Continued from page 1

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OUSTON - On Thursday, December 8th, Consul General of India Houston, Dr. Anupam Ray and his wife hosted a kick off to the Asia Society’s annual event Tiger Ball at their residence here.

Picture taken at Consul General Anupam Ray’s with the honorees Dr. Durga and his wife Sushila Agrawal and other guests. Photo credit: Indian Consulate Face Book

Thermo Fisher Scientific Cleans Contaminated City Ditch

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UGAR LAND, TX - Thermo Fisher has removed contamination from seven properties and the City’s east-west portion of the ditch near Thermo Fisher’s facility at 1410 Gillingham Lane.

Remediation of the northsouth portion of the City’s ditch is expected to be completed by the end of December. Restoration and replacement of the dirt in the ditch will begin in January.

Surveys of surrounding properties continue, including rights-of-way along Eldridge Road. Motorists will likely see surveyors with hand-held detection equipment during the next two weeks.

Sugar Land City Council approved an agreement on Oct. 18 with Thermo Fisher Scientific that ensures the remediation of contaminated property and the surveying and remediation of surrounding properties.

On April 20, 2015, the City of Sugar Land was notified by the news media that a small amount of radioactive material was accidently released inside Thermo Fisher’s facility on April 14, 2015. Because the state is not currently required to notify the City of such material releases, the City of Sugar Land took proactive, deliberate measures to obtain answers from Thermo Fisher and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the environmental regulatory agency responsible for monitoring radioactive materials and remediation.

As part of these efforts, the City learned in March 2016 that very small amounts of radiation were detected in a Cityowned ditch near the Thermo Fisher facility. According to DSHS, and also confirmed by the City’s independent environmental consultant, ESE Partners, there is no risk to the general public.

Because Chapter 11 of the City’s Development Code pro-

hibits illicit discharges into City ditches, the City secured a remediation agreement with Thermo Fisher that holds the company to the highest standard by ensuring Thermo Fisher restores City-owned and all other affected properties to their original condition and conducts surveying and remediation of surrounding properties. Highlights of the agreement follow: Thermo Fisher will continue to survey affected properties to ensure no more contamination exists.

Thermo Fisher will remove all contaminated materials on City property and any found on affected properties.

Thermo Fisher will restore all properties to their original condition.

Thermo Fisher will remain the legal owner of all contaminated materials.

Contaminated materials will be disposed of at a licensed facility.

Thermo Fisher will reimburse the City for all costs related to the settlement agreement. This includes expenses related to City staff, outside legal counsel and environmental consultant.

There will be no cost to taxpayers.

Thermo Fisher will cover all related costs associated with remediation activities until the DSHS determines all properties have been remediated.

DSHS is the state regulatory agency responsible for radioactive materials.

“The safety, health and welfare of Sugar Land residents, area workers, landowners, businesses and all other constituents has and always will be the top priority for the City of Sugar Land,” said Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman.

The City is in communication with its state representatives to ensure the City is notified of future regulatory violations, which may include the possibility of future legislative action.

Magnificent India honoring long time Asia Society supporters Sushila and Durga Agrawal will be held on Friday, March 3, 2017. The festive evening event will once again take place inside the Asia Society Museum District location.

The events Co-Chairs are Gina and Devinder Bhatia, Marie and Vijay Goradia, and Angela and Chowdary Yalamanchili and Honorary CoChairs are Renu and Suresh Khator, Raj and Jugal Melani, Nalani and Virendra Mathur, and Nidhika and Pershant Mehta.

Please contact Cori Capetillo at CCapetillo@AsiaSociety. org or 713.496.9917 with any questions.

siCo, Nooyi heads a company that has more than USD 63 billion in annual net revenue, and more than USD 35 billion in the US alone.

“America has the most innovative and vibrant companies in the world, and the pioneering CEOs joining this forum today are at the top of their fields,” Trump said.

PepsiCo is the largest US food and beverage company with about 110,000 employees and 100 plants across the country. During the general election, Nooyi was a known supporter of Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

“My administration is going to work together with the private sector to improve the business climate and make it attractive for firms to create new jobs across the United States from Silicon Valley to the heartland,” he said.

After Trump’s victory she said that Clinton’s defeat in the election has left her daughters, gay workers, employees and nonwhites devastated as there was “serious concern” among them about their safety in the US with Trump as president.

According to the presidential transition team, members of the forum will be charged with providing their individual views to the president informed by their unique vantage points in the private sector on how government policy impacts economic growth, job creation and productivity.

“I had to answer a lot of questions from my daughters, from our employees. They were all in mourning. Our employees were all crying. The question that they are asking, especially those who are not white - ‘Are we safe’, women are asking ‘Are we safe’, LGBT people are asking ‘Are we safe’,” she said at a New York conference on November 10.

“The forum is designed to provide direct input to the president from many of the best and brightest in the business world in a frank, non-bureaucratic and non-partisan manner,” the media release said.

As chairman and CEO of Pep-

At the same time she congratulated Trump on his victory. “The process of democracy happened, we just have to let life go on. We have to come together and life has to go on,” she said.

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Indian-American teens bag Houton Tamils pay tributes to Tamil $200K in science contest Nadu CM, late Selvi J. Jayalalithaa MTS, BKM, and TNF

by Vivek Natarajan

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Vineet Edupuganti and Shriya and Adhya Beesam (Photo: Siemens Caring Hands via Facebook)

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OUSTON - Three IndianAmerican teenagers, including identical twin sisters, in the US have bagged a total scholarship worth US $200,000 in a science competition for their innovative research that will help doctors diagnose health problems including schizophrenia.

Shriya and Adhya Beesam, 16, who are 11th grade students in Plano, Texas shared the US $100,000 grand prize in the 17th annual Siemens Math, Science and Technology Competition on Tuesday for their project entitled, ‘Linked Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System: A Novel Approach to Schizophrenia Diagnosis’.

Vineet Edupuganti, a senior at Oregon Episcopal School, won the top individual award worth US $100,000 for developing an ingestible battery that could transform the way doctors diagnose and monitor health problems deep in the body. Edupuganti’s invention, entitled ‘Development of a High-Performance Biodegradable Battery for Transient Electronics’, which he calls a “high-performance biodegradable battery for transient electronics,” was appreciated by the judges at the contest. His work could simplify how medical practitioners diagnose conditions that affect internal organs, such as gastrointestinal disorders, that currently require complex imaging or invasive procedures to diagnose.

“These scholars are poised to transform the lives of millions around the globe...I cannot wait to see where their dedication and innovative thinking will lead them and the rest of us

as well,” David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation said.

In their research, the twins, developed a new approach to diagnose schizophrenia earlier in patients using both brain scans and psychiatric evaluations, the WFAA reported. “All of the judges, including myself, were very impressed that high school students even juniors and sophomores were able to produce such advanced research and with an extremely sound command of the science,” said lead judge Megan Leftwich, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the George Washington University.

Leftwich said the students looked at real problems and all tried to go a step further in their own journey and analysis. “This was a very difficult group to have to choose a winner from,” she added.

The Beesams lost their uncle to schizophrenia years ago. Their uncle was misdiagnosed for several years before eventually being diagnosed as schizophrenic. The twins say the late diagnosis and delay of care contributed to his suicide. “People diagnosed with schizophrenia are 50% more likely to commit or attempt suicide,” Shriya said.

The Beesams say the loss of the uncle served as motivation during their research and work. “It was amazing after we won when a mother came up to me and thanked us for our work because her son has schizophrenia and she’s happy to see people talking about the disease,” Adhya said.

The sisters said their success is due

he Indian state of Tamil Nadu lost its incumbent Chief minister, Selvi J. Jayalalithaa a week back.

Many Houston Tamil people personally felt the loss and organized a community wide tribute to Amma as Late. Selvi J. Jayalalithaa was known. The event was organized

by Bharathi Kalai Manram (BKM), Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) and the Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF Houston Chapter) and was held on 11th December, 2016 in the visitor’s center of Sri Meenak- Members of MTS, BKM, and TNF shi Temple.

The event started with a minute of silence. Vice consul, Indian Consulate of Houston, Mr. Devendar Kumar spoke and paid tributes to Amma. Then community leaders S. Narayanan (MTS), Tupil Narasiman (MTS and BKM), Govindan Somaskanthan (TNF), Dr. Thiruvengadam Arumugam (BKM), Dr. Padmini Ranganathan (MTS), Anantha Aiyer (Tamil Stage creations), Dr. Kas Saranathan (Meenakshi Theatres and BKM), Sam Kannappan (MTS and GOPIO), and Srikanth Venugopalan (MTS and TNF) spoke. All the speeches were tinged with emotion and sense of personal connect with the departed leader. The

overarching theme was the achievement of Selvi JJ as a leader in a typical male dominated society, her fierce determination, her sense of compassion for the poor, her welfare legacy in the form of pro poor schemes, and her many talents.

Later, the Bharathi Kalai Manram had its Annual general meeting in the same venue. The meeting paid tributes to great Tamil artistes who had passed away recently.

The first was Sri M. Balamurali Krishna, a renowned musician, composer, creator of ragas, playback singer, viola player, music director: in short,

a multifaceted genius. His trademark voice, innovative spirit, clear diction were remembered as was his trademark song Oru Naal Poduma from the block buster Tamil movie Thiruvilayadal.

The second was Sri Cho Ramaswamy, a renowned lawyer, playwright, dramatist, actor, and journalist, a man of many talents who wore many hats.

His trademark wit, honesty, candidness, and clarity of thought along with his plays, and his magazine were remembered by the audience as was the fact that his contrarian but sincere views elicited respect and following in not only in Tamil Nadu but across the whole of India.

Read on Community & Diaspora Visit us online : www. voiceofasiaonline.com to their hard workethic and relentless curiosity, adding anyone can use that combination to succeed in life.

The US $100,000 will go towards the twins’ college education.

In the individual category scholarship awards, high-school final year students Manan Shah of Los Altos,

California, received US $50,000; Prateek Kalakuntla from Plano, Texas, got US $30,000, and Pranav Sivakumar, of Tower Lakes, Illinois, won US $20,000. Nikhil Cheerla, a high school final year student, and Anika Cheerla, a tenth grade student, from Cupertino in California shared the US $50,000 scholarship team prize.

The 2016 Siemens Competition awards were presented at The George Washington University in Washington, DC More 2,000 students eventually became the 19 high school finalists for 2016.

(-PTI)

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

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OUSTON, Texas, December 13, 2016 – The Neighbors Emergency Center Texas City location is pleased to recognize its first year of service to the local community. Neighbors Emergency Center Texas City began seeing patients December 12, 2015 and reports more than 3,100 patients have received exceptional emergency medical care at this location over the last year. Neighbors Texas City is located at 3302 Palmer Hwy. The center’s phone number is 409-943-4550.

Neighbors Emergency Center Texas City Completes First Year of Service to Local Community cies strike. From adults to kids, from heart attacks to stitches and X-rays, we will continue to provide the best emergency care possible throughout the next year and beyond.”

Neighbors prides itself on active community involvement.

In Texas City, Neighbors has been privileged to participate in local events that benefit health and wellness, local youth and families, and education.

Over the last year this center received the Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission, a nationally recognized independent accreditation organization committed to certifying facilities with the safest, highest quality, best-value health care.

Besides outstanding personalized ER care with short wait times, Neighbors has also brought approximately 30 jobs to the area economy by hiring local board-certified physicians and medical teams with emergency room experience that treat all adult and pediatric emergencies. The Texas City location’s Medical Director is Kenneth Direkly, MD, and the location’s Facility Director is Brandi Bilek. Neighbors is a product of the community with

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Neighbors provided TCPD appreciation lunch in June 2016. doctors, nurses, and medical teams living near the centers they work, therefore, being in tune with community news, events and people.

“It’s hard to believe that a year has already flown by Neighbors Emergency Center Texas City,” stated Dr. Direkly.

“We have had an exciting year providing for the medical needs

of the surrounding communities and we value the relationships that we have fostered. Always ready and willing, we want to be the neighbor that the community turns to when emergen-

Neighbors Texas City has supported many non-profit organizations such as the Texas City Run by the Bay in April, where Neighbors partnered with the Texas City La Marque Chamber of Commerce and United Way for this fun, family-friendly daylong event. Neighbors was honored to sponsor the Texas City Firefighter Games in July, with all proceeds donated to surrounding fire departments.

This three-day event included a parade and many festivities on 6th Street including the firefighter brigade that Neighbors participated in.

In the community, Neighbors Texas City sponsored the State of the Industry Luncheon

in March. Neighbors was also proud to sponsor the beverage cart at the Texas City Police Department Golf Tournament in May and provided an appreciation lunch for all of Texas City Police Department in June.

To support education, Neighbors Texas City was happy to donate all the breakfast beverages at the Texas City Independent School District’s Back to School Convocation in August.

These local activities are just part of what makes Neighbors unique and the industry leader in freestanding emergency room care. Neighbors’ core values of being compassionate and patient-centered; treating patients in a nurturing and honorable way; having friendly and welcoming employees; and always being transparent, accountable and cost-conscious are the pillars of Neighbors Emergency Center Texas City.

About Neighbors Emergency Center: Neighbors Health, LLC. operates Neighbors Emergency Center, a series of 24-hour freestanding emergency centers have seen rapid growth in Texas since 2009.

Neighbors’ 30 Texas locations service many communities, including Houston, Austin, Baytown, and Crosby, with a new center in Lubbock.

New AARP Fraud Prevention Handbook Outlines Common Scams And How To Protect Yourself gator.org.

card in your wallet, and limit the number of credit cards you carry.

Don’t carry your Social Security

To download the free AARP Fraud Prevention Handbook in English and Chinese, visit aarp.org/aapi.

AARP Foundation draws attention to social isolation with the launch of Connect2Affect New Platform Drives Awareness, Provides Information and Solutions for Over 8 Million Older Adults at Risk of Isolation or Loneliness ASHINGTON, DC AARP Foundation recently announced the launch of Connect2Affect, a response to the growing epidemic of isolation affecting more than 8 million older adults. The goal of Connect2Affect is to create a network that not only builds awareness about social isolation and its impact, but also identifies solutions.

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ASHINGTON, D.C., December 14, 2016 – Approximately 15 million people are victims of identity theft every year. AARP’s new free Fraud Prevention Handbook outlines how to protect yourself from common types of fraud. It uncovers the strategies that scammers use and provides resources to help you defend yourself against their tricks.

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“Con artists often target immigrant communities because they are particularly vulnerable, but knowing how they work can help you spot and avoid scams,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “AARP launched the Fraud Watch Network to provide people with information about what makes them vulnerable and the tools they need to outsmart con artists before they strike.”

Common scams include: An immigration scammer might place an advertisement in the newspaper or online offering to provide legal advice, help with paperwork, or other tasks involved in the immigration process. The scammer usually asks for an upfront fee, takes the money, and disappears immediately.

Some scammers might use a natural disaster or current event to appeal to their target’s emotions. Setting up a fake charity, they solicit generous contributions using standard methods to collect “donations.”

Blessing scams appeal to people’s superstitious beliefs.

They first appeared in China and have seen a rise in the United States in recent years.

Posing as a fortune-teller, the scammer will say that he or she can sense a curse on the target or a member of the target’s family.

Most telemarketing scams involve offering targets highly attractive deals like vacations, trial offers, loans, or subscriptions that end up having hidden fees. A scammer may pose as a charming salesperson, making small talk and claiming to work for a reputable company.

A few steps to protect yourself against scams and identity theft include: Never give personal information, credit card numbers, or Social Security number to telemarketers who call you on the phone. If they pressure you, they could likely be a scammer.

Double-check references for door-to-door sales, home repair offers and other products. Verify that businesses and others who contact you are who they claim to be before you provide any personal information. If you think the request for information is legitimate, contact the company at a number you know is valid to verify the request.

Check out a charity before donating to make sure they are legitimate at charitywatch.org or charitynavi-

Strong social connections are fundamental to physical and mental wellbeing. But recent research shows that the negative health consequences of chronic isolation and loneliness, while harmful at any age, are especially so for older adults. According to a study published last year in Perspectives on Psychological Science, the health effects of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. An earlier report found that subjective feelings of loneliness can increase the risk of death by anywhere from 26 percent to 45 percent.

“Social isolation is a complex problem, one that desperately needs our attention,” said AARP Foundation President Lisa Marsh Ryerson. “With

Connect2Affect, we want to encourage new research, create a deeper understanding of loneliness and isolation, and identify innovative solutions to help adults age 50 and older build the social connections they need to thrive.”

Spearheaded by AARP Foundation, in collaboration with the Gerontological Society of America, Give an Hour, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and UnitedHealth Group, Connect2Affect features tools and resources to help evaluate isolation risk, reach out to others who may be feeling lonely and disconnected, and find practical ways to reconnect with the community. Content on the website, connect2affect.org, is drawn from leading voices such as the American Society on Aging, Boston College, Huffington Post and many more.

Connect2Affect’s online tool includes a fast, easy self-assessment test that asks yes or no questions relating to relationships, mobility and major life changes. The assessment, which will continue to evolve as new findings on social isolation emerge,

can be taken at any age - giving users the opportunity to consider how they want to age and the types of relationships they want to have as they get older.

For more information about social isolation and the Connect2Affect platform, please visit connect2affect. org.

AARP Foundation works to ensure that low-income older adults have nutritious food, affordable housing, a steady income, and strong and sustaining bonds. We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to innovation and our passion for problem-solving.

Supported by vigorous legal advocacy, we create and advance effective solutions that help struggling older adults transform their lives. AARP Foundation is the affiliated charity of AARP. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into ‘Real Possibilities’ by changing the way America defines aging.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 9

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

ISKCON 50’s Four Day Celebrations a Grand Success!

Godfrey Townsend concert dedicated to George Harrison

A view of some of the audience attending the ISKCON 50th Gala at Houston Hare Krishna Dham. Photos by Murali Santhana.

by Chirag Bhatt

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SKCON 50, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City in 1966 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada [1896-1977], was celebrated in Houston over four consecutive days, beginning with a formal gala on Thursday, December 8 at the society’s state-of-the art neo-Vedic temple on West 34th Street. The Houston festivities were part of the second major “ISKCON 50” celebration held in the U.S. in 2016, following a Washington, D.C. gala in November which was addressed by Tulsi Gabbard, America’s first Hindu Congresswoman, along with political and interfaith leaders in the nation’s capital.

The Houston gala attracted more than 340 guests from government, business, education, medicine, interfaith/religious organizations, media, and entertainment as well as visiting ISKCON leaders. Featured speakers included Dr. Ravi Gupta, Director of Religious Studies at Utah State University (after being home-schooled by Krishna conscious parents, he graduated from Boise State as a teenager and became one of the youngest students to ever receive a PhD at Oxford University). Dr. Helen Ebaugh, who has taught World Religions at the University of Houston for forty years, praised ISKCON’s participation in local interfaith dialogue, and Judge R.K. Sandill of Harris County’s 127th District Court—the first district court judge in Texas of South Asian descent—commended ISKCON’s cultural and spiritual contributions in places he has lived, including Toronto, London and Houston.

Also speaking were Malati Devi, a leading senior woman disciple of Srila Prabhupada who pioneered ISKCON in London and Ohio; Sesha Das, acting chairman of ISKCON’S Governing Body Commission; Joshua Greene, author of Swami in a Strange Land, a new biography on Swami Prabhupada; Huber Hutchin Robinson, General Secretary of NIOS (North American Institute for Oriental and Occidental Studies); and a representative for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a longtime supporter of ISKCON-Houston.

Special guests also included Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg; Pat Hallisey, Mayor of League City and his wife Janice; Dr. Catherine O’Brien, vice chancellor of San Jacinto College; David Williams, Principal at Seabrook Intermediate School; Matt Khan of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, who remarked, “The hospitality was exceptional and I learned a great deal about the history of ISKCON.” Also attending were Rev. Gena Davis of Houston’s grace Episcopal Church, a certified yoga teacher who incorporates yoga in her ministry; Rev. David Carter of the Unitarian Church of Wichita, Kansas; representatives of the Focolare community; board members of Houston’s Rothko Chapel; and Dr. Zahra Jamal, Associate Director of the Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance at Rice University. Representatives of Hindu organizations included those from BAPS, Voice of Sanatan Hinduism, Hindus of Greater Houston, ICC, the Hindu Heritage Foundation, Ashtalaksmi Temple, Sri Sita Ram Foundation, Mahatma Gandhi Library, Banke Bihari Pariwar, the Indo American Political Group and the Youth Leadership Development Program (YLDP). The gala also featured art and devotional music (kirtan) by local artists and a unique ice sculpture and rangoli (colored powder) depiction of the ISKCON logo.

On Friday, December 9, a special musical tribute to the famous musician, George Harrison, was presented as part two of ISKCON 50. Joshua Greene, author also of the biography, Here Comes The Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison and acoustic guitarist/vocalist, Godfrey Townsend—who has performed with rock greats including John Entwistle, bassist of The Who; Jack Bruce, bassist and vocalist of Cream; Dave Mason, guitar/vocalist of Traffic; and Alan Parsons Project—presented 90 minutes of fascinating audio/visual clips from

HG Anuttama Das, was a Speaker and Host of the ISKCON 50 gala event.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and local attorney Penny Shaw (center) celebrate the gala surrounded by devotee friends

Harris County Judge Ravi Sandill (127 Dist. Crt. ) delivering his speech.

Speaker Dr. Ravi M. Gupta addressing the gathering George’s childhood through his musical and spiritual journey, and that, along with the superb music, earned them a standing ovation. Besides George Harrison’s love of India, the sitar, Ravi Shankar and his studying meditation in Rishikesh, George met ISKCON’s founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada, chanted the Hare Krishna mantra, put spirituality into his songs, donated $19,000 for the printing of Krshna: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he also donated the property that is now the site of Bhaktivedanta Manor, ISKCON’s largest temple in Europe.

On Saturday, December 10, Gita Jayanti—the appearance of the Bhagavad-gita—was honored as the third part of the ISKCON 50. Srimad Bhagavad- HH Hanumat Presaka Swami giving his talk to the devotees Gita is India’s timeless classic which inspired Mahatma Gandhi, and is also known as the book that caused a non-violent revolution that rocked the world!

Saturday marked the actual day that Lord Krishna spoke Bhagavad-gita to His great friend and disciple—Arjuna.

Co-sponsors of the auspicious event were Ashirwad a blessing-A Lifestyle Vedic School, the Mahatma Gandhi Guru Bhakti Dasi, ISKCON of Houston Outreach DirecLibrary of Houston tor and her husband Sarvabhauma Prabhu at the gala. and Voice of Sanatan Hinduism. A Bhagavad-gita doll display

by Amani Krishnaswami, featuring Krishna’s universal form, the dice match and battlefield of Kurukshetra was presented. All 18 chapters were read—700 shlokas—over four hours, and a fire sacrifice or yajna was performed. Chapter summaries were pro- Happy lady volunteers at ISKCON’s 50 gala vided by ISKCON’s His Holiness Bhakti Goswami, Sesa Das, Radhika Raman Sundar Goswami and His Grace Ra- Das and Mrs. Geetha Ravula served as dhika Raman Das (Dr. Ravi Gupta). A the judges. 25 kids participated in three children’s competition—“Gita Fest”— categories, with three winners in each was held, with kids participating from category. Each child received a par‘Ashirwad a blessing,’ the Ashtalak- ticipants’ certificate. In the evening HH shmi temple, Goswami Academy, ISK- Hanumat Presaka Swami and Sesa Das CON Sunday School and many kids discussed the essence of the Bhagavadfrom the Houston area. Bhakti Sundar

Speaker HG Malati Devi dasi delivering her speech.

Gita Jayanti Judging with HH Bhaktisundar Goswami and Geetha Ravula

Swati Murali danced a classical interpretation to the chants and raps of Gaura Klein (in blue) gita and its application in daily life.

ISKCON’s Vrinda Boodram coordinated the event, which also featured kirtan by members of the ISKCON youth traveling bus party.

Sunday, December 11, day four of ISKCON 50’s celebration—a tribute to Srila Prabhupada—featured talks by His Holiness Bhakti Sundar Goswami and His Holiness Hanumat Presaka Goswami and ended with a special dance, slide show & contemporary rendition of Markine Bhagavat Dharma,

Srila Prabhupada’s poem on board the boat - the Jaladuta, performed by second generation ISKCON youths, Swathi Murali, Ramdas Shingdia and Gaura Klein. Everyone understood Srila Prabhupada’s importance to ISKCON and the world.

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai. Vsist: www.iskconhouston.org Photo Credit: Murali Santhana. (Gala) Thejas (Concert) Geetha Ravula (Gita Jayanti)

VOICE OF ASIA 10

Qatar flew home 10,000 labor abuse victims in 2015

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OHA, Qatar | AFP | 12/13/2016- All the flights were paid for by the state, said officials, who gave no more details about the nature of the abuses or any measures taken against employers.

Human rights groups have long claimed that labour conditions in Qatar, the host of the 2022 football World Cup, leave vulnerable workers open to abuse.

Doha has introduced a new contract-based system for foreign workers from December 13, which it says will give more protection to workers and safeguard their rights.

Under “kafala”, all foreign workers working in Qatar required a local sponsor, in the form of an individual or company, and needed their permission to switch jobs or leave the country.

Under the new system, workers will still need the permission of their employer to leave the country.

There are 2.1 million migrant labourers in Qatar, according to the ministry, from countries including Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

Many are working on World Cup infrastructure projects

Cyclone kills 10 in south India’s tech hub

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HENNAI, India | AFP | Tuesday 12/12/2016 - At least 10 people were killed when Cyclone Vardah slammed into the southern Indian tech hub of Chennai, bringing down houses and cutting off the electricity supply, authorities said Tuesday.

Most were crushed by trees uprooted in winds of up to 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour, which also cut power across large swathes of southern India on Monday.

India’s meteorological department said Vardah, which forced the evacuation of 18,000 people, was the worst cyclonic storm to hit the capital of Tamil Nadu state in more than two decades.

“So far 10 people are confirmed dead. We will get reports from rural areas as the day progresses, but the worst is over,” said Abhishek Shandiyal, spokesman for the National Diaster Management Authority.

The cyclone was weakening as it moved inland, he added.

Television footage from Chennai, where huge floods last year killed at least 250 people, showed cars overturned by the strong winds and heavy rain.

The city is a centre for auto manufacturing and IT outsourcing.

It is also scheduled to host the fifth Test match between England and India starting Friday, now in doubt after the storm.

Team India said no decision had yet been taken about moving the Test.

Chennai international airport was shut for almost 12 hours but resumed operations on Tuesday, an airport official said. Train services have also partially resumed.

India’s eastern coast and neighbouring Bangladesh are routinely hit by severe storms between April and December that cause deaths and widespread property damage.

In 1999, more than 8,000 people were killed when a cyclone battered the eastern state of Orissa.

India arrests 20 over failure to stand for anthem EW DELHI, India | AFP | Tuesday 12/13/2016 Around 20 people have been arrested in India, accused of failing to stand for the national anthem in cinemas, police said Tuesday, two weeks after the country’s top court made it compulsory.

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The Supreme Court ruled on November 30 that cinemas should play the national anthem before every screening, and that the audience should stand, drawing angry accusations of an assault on civil liberties.

“All the cinema halls in India shall play the national anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the national anthem,” the judges said.

Twelve people were arrested on Monday at an international film festival in the southern state of Kerala for failing to observe the order, police said.

They said the film-goers, who have not been identified, had refused to stand after being asked to do so by organisers and police.

“They were formally arrested and later released on bail,” said Sparjan Kumar, police chief of Kerala state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

Kumar said six of the 12 had been assaulted after refusing to stand, but that no charges would be brought

against the attackers.

“We are yet to receive a complaint over the assault. There is no investigation in (that) incident,” he told AFP by phone.

Another eight people were arrested on Sunday at a cinema in the southern city of Chennai after being assaulted by a group of 20 men during the interval for allegedly refusing to stand.

They were reportedly charged under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and face up to three years in jail if found guilty.

The Supreme Court did not specify a penalty for failure to stand.

Kumar said the 12 cinemagoers arrested in his state had been charged with various related offences, including contempt of court.

Before the latest order, the playing of the national anthem was only compulsory in the western state of Maharashtra -- home to the Bollywood film industry -- and standing was optional.

There were however a number of reports of cinemagoers being attacked for failing to stand, even before the court gave its ruling.

In October, a wheelchair-user was assaulted in a Mumbai cinema by fellow members of the audience who apparently failed to realise he was disabled.

US military grounds Osprey planes in Japan after crash

T

OKYO (AFP) - The US Marines suspended flights of their Osprey aircraft in Japan on Wednesday as anger mounts over an accident that saw one of the hybrid planes crash off the southern island of Okinawa.

The incident came at a delicate time, with Tokyo and Washington pushing to build a new airbase on Okinawa despite local opposition against the heavy US military presence there and concerns by residents about the Osprey.

The MV-22 Osprey, a so-called tiltrotor plane that can carry 24 troops, is half helicopter half turboprop and boasts the manoeuvrability of a chopper and the speed and range of a fixedwing aircraft.

But a series of accidents mostly in the United States involving the plane

ASIA/WORLD

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Miss Universe criticised for whale shark swim in Philippines ANILA, Philippines | AFP | 12/13/2016 - Environmentalists have hit out at organisers of the Miss Universe beauty pageant in the Philippines, calling them “irresponsible” for letting contestants swim with endangered whale sharks.

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A group of bikini-clad Miss Universe candidates were photographed smiling and waving from boats on their way to swim with the world’s largest living fish in waters off the island of Cebu on Tuesday, ahead of January’s contest.

Tourists swimming with the creatures is strongly discouraged by environmental groups, who say feeding whale sharks makes them dependent and also leaves them vulnerable to poaching or injuries from boat propellers.

“We are afraid because with Miss Universe going there, the Philippines is promoting a bad tourism practice,” Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia told AFP. “We are telling the world it’s okay to do this, aggravating this kind of behaviour.”

The Philippines is hosting Miss Universe next year and the tourism department said the trip was part of an inspection of potential competition sites.

The whale shark visit was coordinated with the help of the local municipality “which promised a well managed marine interaction experi-

Tourists swimming with whale sharks is strongly discouraged by environmental groups ence”, tourism undersecretary Kat De Castro told AFP. Wildlife conservation groups in the Philippines have for years opposed whale shark tourism in Cebu’s Oslob city, but local officials say the practice is a source of livelihood for the community. Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines opposes this.

“It’s irresponsible and unsustainable. It’s not even ecotourism. You sacrifice the environment just for a selfie,” the group’s director AA Yaptinchay told AFP. A veterinarian and aquatic ecologist, Yaptinchay urged the government to enforce guidelines including

“Miss Universe, please don’t be a bitch to the environment”, Gabriel Yap wrote on Facebook.

Besides environmental issues, security has been a concern for the Miss Universe competition.

In August, authorities said they were looking into a “serious” threat by an Islamic State-related group to bomb the pageant.

by Luc Olinga EW YORK CITY | AFP | Tuesday 12/12/2016 - resident-elect Donald Trump’s threat to slap punitive tariffs on Chinese goods is a worry for firms that trade with the country in the US Midwest, a decisive region in the Republican’s election triumph.

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Strong support across America’s “Rust Belt,” and frustration at lost industrial jobs blamed on globalization, carried Trump to victory last month in key battleground states, including Michigan and Ohio.

But some companies in the region that benefit from global trade are worried about early signs the president-elect plans to take a hardline stance with China.

“We export a lot of products to China,” said David Shogren, president of US International Foods. “My fear is whatever changes Trump makes ... that China will retaliate in some ways.”

The St. Louis company depends on China as a key export market for peanut butter, mustard, nuts, cereals and other items. About 50 percent of its revenues are tied to China, compared with just five percent to its home market.

“Our customers may switch from US products to other countries: Europe, Australia, New Zealand or Japan, or other exporting countries,” Shogren said.

Shogren said his company is trying to build markets in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

Trump during the campaign threatened to impose 45 percent tariffs on China, saying the world’s second biggest economy has stiffed the US with currency manipulation and illegal subsidies.

“China will take a tit-for-tat approach,” said an editorial in Global Times, a Chinese newspaper that is close to the government.

“A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus. US auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and US soybean and maize

A copy of the Chinese magazine Global People with a cover story asking “Why did Trump win?” in Shanghai ( Photo: AFP) imports will be halted,” it warned.

“China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the US.” China also responded sharply to Trump’s decision to accept a phone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ingwen and to suggestions he is rethinking the decades-old US “One China policy.”

The One China policy is the “political bedrock” of relations with the US, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

If it is “compromised or disrupted” cooperation in major fields would be “out of the question,” Geng added.

- Writing to Trump Ohio-based Progressive Molding Technologies imports tooling from China that enables it to compete with Chinese rivals.

“My fear is we will lose access to China’s cheap tools,” said president Laird Daubenspeck. “At that point, I will anticipate the our customers will start to slow down new product launches and we will see less growth.”

Daubenspeck has written twice to Trump, once after he was elected and a second time after the Taiwan phone call.

“My biggest fear is he doesn’t understand the impact his words have.”

in the water to reduce injuries to crew and avoid flying over Okinawan residential areas, he told reporters.

The crash happened overnight after the aircraft damaged one of its propellers during an aerial refuelling drill with another plane around 10 pm on Tuesday (1300 GMT), according to

showed the main wings of the craft broken in half and the cockpit separated from partially submerged fuselage.

Nicholson said that investigations were under way and flights would not resume until he was satisfied with the results of the reviews.

Of the five crew members aboard, one needed “a few more days” of medical attention, one suffered a broken bone and the other three did not require serious attention, Nicholson said.

The MV-22 Osprey, is a socalled tiltrotor plane that can carry 24 troops, is half helicopter, half turboprop aircraft

The Osprey pilot guided the violently shaking aircraft to shallow waters near US Marine base Camp Schwab, and conducted “a controlled landing”

Internet users in the social mediaobsessed nation expressed outrage online.

Trump tough talk on China worries US exporters

have prompted protests by Okinawa residents.

Marine Lieutenant General Lawrence Nicholson.

maintaining a three-metre distance from the whale sharks and prohibiting swimmers from touching them.

He stressed, however, that the incident was not due to a mechanical problem with the aircraft.

“We apologise to Okinawan people, who perhaps will lose faith and confidence in the Osprey based on this accident,” he said.

“I hope that they will not.”

Japanese public broadcaster NHK

The incident quickly sparked anger on Okinawa a strategic outpost of US military power where the local governor has spearheaded a campaign against the presence of US bases, while in Tokyo the government demanded the halt to flights, which the Marines later announced.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the accident “serious” and “regrettable”, while Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga, an outspoken critic of the US military presence, called the incident “really outrageous”.

Among big manufacturers, Boeing is especially vulnerable. About one out of three Boeing 737 planes delivered in 2015 was destined for China.

The company just announced Monday that it will reduce production of its 777 starting in August, which will have an impact on employment.

General Motors also could see its business disrupted in a trade war.

China is GM’s biggest market for cars, with 2.38 million vehicles sold in the first eight months of 2016, compared with 1.96 million in the US. GM also manufactures the Buick Envision in China, which is exported to the US and could suffer under US tariffs.

A GM spokesman said it was too early to comment on any potential shifts in trade policy, but noted that GM chief executive Mary Barra agreed to participate in Trump’s strategic and policy forum, along with other top chief executives.

The century-old National Foreign Trade Council on Monday said it will work with the new administration but will fight protectionism.

“And we’re prepared to argue against the use of trade restrictions as a way of achieving greater economic growth -- history has shown that really isn’t an effective way of doing that,” Rufus Yerxa, head of the 300company NFTC, whose members export about $3 trillion a year.

The accident came as Japanese media reported that another Osprey landed on its fuselage late Tuesday at Futenma airbase, located in a crowded Okinawan residential district.

The US military told the Japanese government that the plane had trouble deploying its landing gear, chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Tokyo and Washington want to move the Futenma base to a sparsely populated area in the north of the island, but many locals, including Onaga, want it removed altogether.

More than half the approximately 47,000 American troops in Japan under a decades-long security alliance are stationed on Okinawa, the site of a major World War II battle that was followed by a 27-year US occupation of the island.

US/WORLD

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

China installs weapons systems on Trump picks climate skeptic artificial islands - U.S. think tank Perry for top U.S. energy job

By David Brunnstrom

W

W

ASHINGTON, DC (AFP) - Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he will nominate former Republican primary rival Rick Perry to lead the department of Energy, an agency that the former Texas governor once wanted to abolish.

ASHINGTON (AFP) - China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported on Wednesday, citing new satellite imagery.

“As the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry created created a business climate that produced millions of new jobs and lower energy prices in his state, and he will bring that same approach to our entire country as Secretary of Energy,” Trump said in a statement announcing the selection.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said its findings come despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing has no intention to militarize the islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries.

AMTI said it had been tracking construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the Spratly Islands since June and July. China has already built military length airstrips on these islands.

“It now seems that these structures are an evolution of point-defense fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron reefs,” it said citing images taken in November and made available to AFP. “This model has gone through another evolution at (the) much-larger bases on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs.”

Satellite images of Hughes and Gaven reefs showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft guns and what were likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) to protect against cruise missile strikes, it said.

Images from Fiery Cross Reef showed towers that likely contained targeting radar, it said.

AMTI said covers had been installed on the towers at Fiery Cross, but the size of platforms on these and the covers suggested they concealed defense systems similar to those at the smaller reefs.

“These gun and probable

A satellite image shows what CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says appears to be anti-aircraft guns and what are likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) on the artificial island Subi Reef in the South China Sea in this image released on December 13, 2016. (PHOTO: Courtesy CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe/Handout) CIWS emplacements show that Beijing is serious about defense of its artificial islands in case of an armed contingency in the South China Sea,” it said.

“Among other things, they would be the last line of defense against cruise missiles launched by the United States or others against these soon-tobe-operational air bases.”

AMTI director Greg Poling said AMTI had spent months trying to figure out what the purposes of the structures was.

“This is the first time that we’re confident in saying they are anti-aircraft and CIWS emplacements. We did not know that they had systems this big and this advanced there,” he told AFP. “This is militarization. The Chinese can argue that it’s only for defensive purposes, but if you are building giant anti-aircraft gun and CIWS emplacements, it means that you are prepping for a future conflict.

“They keep saying they are not militarizing, but they could deploy fighter jets and surface-

to-air missiles tomorrow if they wanted to,” he said. “Now they have all the infrastructure in place for these interlocking rings of defense and power projection.”The report said the installations would likely back up a defensive umbrella provided by a future deployment of mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) platforms like the HQ-9 system deployed to Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, farther to the north in the South China Sea. It forecast that such a deployment could happen “at any time,” noting a recent Fox News report that components for SAM systems have been spotted at the southeastern Chinese port of Jieyang, possibly destined for the South China Sea. China has said military construction on the islands will be limited to necessary defensive requirements.

The United States has criticized what it called China’s militarization of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by

Perry, citing his experience as governor of “the nation’s largest energy producing state,” said in a statement that “I know American energy is critical to our economy and our security.

I look forward to engaging in a conversation about the development, stewardship and regulation of our energy resources, safeguarding our nuclear arsenal, and promoting an American energy policy that creates jobs and puts America first.”

Perry unsuccessfully sought the presidency twice, and the Energy department played a role in his infamous “oops” moment during his run for the 2012 Republican nomination.

During a debate in late 2011, Perry could name only two of three Cabinet departments he wanted to abolish; Energy was the one he couldn’t recall.

A Texas A&M University graduate, an Air Force veteran, and a former farmer, Perry became governor of Texas after George W. Bush won the presidency in 2000. Perry did not seek re-election in 2014.

During his unsuccessful campaign for the presidency in 2016, Perry and Trump attacked each other vehemently conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

U.S. President-elect Don-

Our New Issue of

FormerTexas Governor Rick Perry (AFP Photo / Jewel Samad) during the early part of the Republican primary campaign.

Perry described Trump as “a cancer on conservatism,” while Trump said Perry started wearing glasses to try and make himself look smarter.

Democrats quickly noted that Perry is a board member and owns stock in Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, the company trying to build the disputed Dakota Access pipeline.

They also question his overall qualifications, noting that the department of Energy is responsible for securing nuclear weapons.

“I’m not confident that Rick Perry is fully cognizant of the role that DOE plays in keeping our nuclear deterrent safe, secure and reliable,” said U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “He is utterly unqualified to lead this critical agency.”

tion of tacos and bumpkins.”

Before the appointment was announced, Trump aides cited the job and economic growth in Texas during Perry’s years as governor.

“We talk about Texas’s economic revival, and a lot of that had to do with the energy sector,” said Trump transition spokesman Jason Miller.

As for Perry’s past calls to eliminate the federal department of Energy, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said appointees are buying into the president-elect’s agenda, not the other way around.

“They’re buying into president-elect’s vision and his desire to real change brought to Washington,” Spicer said.

The conservative Club for Growth, applauding the Perry selection, called on him to fulfill his 2012 campaign pledge after all and eliminate the department he is now called on to lead.

The Twitter feed of the nuclear-armed dictatorship said, “Donald Trump minister of nuclear weapons Richard Perry known as governor of Texas province, famed for its produc-

The department of Energy “is little more than the government’s own venture capital firm for energy-related activities, and it’s time for the cronyism to end. Governor Perry has a prime opportunity to serve taxpayers by closing its doors,” said Club for Growth president David McIntosh.

ald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has also criticized Chinese behavior in the South China Sea while signaling he

may adopt a tougher approach to China’s assertive behavior in the region than President Barack Obama.

The Perry nomination also drew scorn from the nation of North Korea.

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First impressions matter a lot more than you think

Pushpa Basnet awarded as CNN Superhero 2016

by Shana Lebowitz

M

aking judgments about someone’s personality based on the way they look is something humans do automatically, without thinking.

Once you get to know the person, those judgments gradually dissipate and get replaced by new assessments of what they’re really like.

Pushpa Basnet in 2012 after winning Hero Of The Year award. (Photo:CNN)

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ATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) - Pushpa Basnet doesn’t need an alarm clock. Every morning, the sound of 40 children wakes her up in the two-story rental home she shares with them.

As she helps the children dress for school, Basnet might appear to be a housemother of sorts. But the real story is more complicated.

All of these children once lived in Nepal’s prisons. This 28-year-old woman has saved every one of them from a life behind bars.

Pushpa Basnet was awarded as CNN Superhero 2016 in Los Angeles on Monday, December 11 in a live ceremony broadcast on CNN worldwide.

As a former Hero Of The Year winner in 2012, she was nominated for the award, and viewers voted for her.

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world -- according to UNICEF, 55% of the population lives below the international poverty line -- so it lacks the social safety net that exists in most Western nations. Space is extremely limited in the few children’s homes affiliated with the government.

who have started groups to get children out of prison. Since 2005, she has assisted more than 100 children of incarcerated parents. She runs a day care program for children under 6 and a residential home where mostly older children receive education, food, medical care and a chance to live a more normal life.

“I had a very fortunate life, with a good education,” Basnet said. “I should give it to somebody else.”

Basnet was just 21 when she discovered her calling, she said. While her family ran a successful business, she was studying social work in college. As part of her studies, she visited a women’s prison and was appalled by the dire conditions. She also was shocked to discover children living behind bars.

One baby girl grabbed Basnet’s shawl and gave her a big smile.

“I felt she was calling me,” Basnet said. “I went back home and told my parents about it. They told me it was a normal thing and that in a couple of days I’d forget it. But I couldn’t forget.”

So when no local guardian is available, an arrested parent often must choose between bringing their children to jail with them or letting them live on the streets. Nepal’s Department of Prison Management estimates 80 children live in the nation’s prisons.

When Basnet decided to start a day care to get incarcerated children out from behind the prison walls, her parents were against the idea at first -- she had no job or way to sustain it financially. Eventually, they helped support her.

“It’s not fair for (these) children to live in the prison because they haven’t done anything wrong,” said Basnet, who started a nongovernmental organization to help. “My mission is to make sure no child grows up behind prison walls.”

But prison officials, government workers and even some of the imprisoned mothers she approached doubted that someone her age could handle such a project.

Basnet is one of several in Nepal

“When I started, nobody believed in me,” Basnet said. “People thought I was crazy. They laughed at me.”

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ObamaCare It’s the Law. You must enroll!

Except that second bit, while believable, isn’t exactly true. According to new research, our first impressions of people in photographs influence our perception of those people even after we’ve interacted with them personally.

There are a number of things that are fascinating about this research, which was led by researchers at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey; Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey; and Cornell University. Here’s the first: In a small preliminary study, people said they believed that their initial impressions of a person in a photo would change if they had the chance to meet the person.

For the main study, 55 “perceivers” looked at photos of four females either smiling or displaying a neutral expression. They were asked to evaluate the people in the photos on how much they liked them and how attractive they were, and to rate them on different personality traits, including openness to new experiences, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Between one and six months later, the perceivers arrived at the lab, supposedly to participate in a study on social interactions. They were asked to interact with another participant while being videotaped.

A second fascinating bit: What the perceivers didn’t know was that the other participant was one of the people whose photograph they had viewed a month earlier.

The two participants interacted for 20 minutes: for 10 minutes in a trivia game, and for 10 minutes during which they were asked to get to know each other as well as possible. Once again, the perceivers were asked to rate the other participant on likability and different personality traits.

As it turns out, personality judgments based on the photos were almost the same in the real-life condition, with the exception of extroversion. The perceivers rated the participants even more similarly on likability.

Perhaps the most fascinating feature of this study is that, when independent observers reviewed the videotapes of the interactions, they found that perceivers who’d viewed the people in the photographs more favorably acted more warmly toward those people when they met them in real life. The photographed people reciprocated by acting more warmly toward the perceivers, confirming the perceivers’ positive impressions of them.

The general takeaway here is that first impressions are a lot stickier than we’re inclined to believe — and often they work like self-fulfilling prophecies.

That said, psychologists have found that there are certain ways to reverse first impressions, if you’re actively trying to do so (which the perceivers in this study weren’t). For example, if

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someone views you negatively, you can help them see your behavior in a new context: Say you ignore an acquaintance on the street because you just had a massive fight with your partner and aren’t in the mood to talk. Later you find out that the acquaintance thinks you’re a jerk. You might want to get in touch with her and explain that you normally love talking to her, but you’d just finished sobbing and didn’t want to embarrass yourself or her.

Now that you’re aware of how durable first impressions can be, you can take steps to counteract this effect.

As you’re getting to know someone, ask yourself questions about how you feel about the person and why — and whether any of those perceptions are ripe for revision. (BusinessInsider.com)

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LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

India’s colonial-era opera How Western advertising sold house restored to past glory Chinese a lifestyle illusion

by Jason Wordie

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odern advertising is designed to convince otherwise sensible people to want products and services they don’t need; essential items, after all, sell themselves with little or no marketing.

Successful advertising techniques construct an imagined world of glamour, luxury and social status that – much like the fantasy realm of cinema – can be accessed by the simple expedient of having enough money to pay the entry fee.

Americanisation – or a focus-group concocted entrée to a carefully coiffed and manicured, faux-French or fantasy-Italian lifestyle. Local property advertising takes this approach to its ultimate extreme.

With roto­gravure printing processes advancing and produc­tion costs dropping dramatically, by the early 1930s, brightly coloured advertise­ments had appeared for a wide variety of consumer goods.

But what form did local advertising take in the past? And how has technological progress transformed it?

All these graphic designs had a compel­ling lifestyle component. Fabrics, kerosene, matches, cosmetics, electrical appliances – all were enthusiastically marketed. The most popular adverts were by tobacco companies, using saturation marketing techniques via posters, newspapers and magazines to push their addictive products.

Nineteenth- and early 20th-century streetscape photography provides insights into nascent Hong Kong advertising. Painted-cloth banners hung

The economic power of such marketing exercises should not be underestimated; if a newspaper or magazine derived signi­ficant revenue from ad-

The opera house in Mumbai was in danger of colapse before a restoration designed by architect Abha Narain Lambah (AFP Photo/Punit PARANJPE).

by Peter Hutchison

M

umbai, India, (AFP) - India’s only surviving opera house has been restored to its colonial-era glory, reopening to the public more than two decades after it closed in disrepair.

Once the place to be seen for Mumbai’s great and good it was forced to close in the 1990s after years of financial struggles.

But a painstaking seven-year project has transformed the century-old building in Mumbai from a crumbling wreck in danger of collapse to an ornate replica of its 1916 glory days, albeit with some important updates.

“One of the biggest challenges was bringing in modern acoustics, sound, lighting and air conditioning, all the requirements of a 21st century theatre, while ensuring it didn’t jar with restoring a listed interior,” architect Abha Narain Lambah told AFP. The Royal Opera House was built in a Baroque style complete with Italian balustrades, marble statues, crystal chandeliers and a gold ceiling. It was inaugurated by Britain’s King George V in 1911 and completed in 1916.

Only operas were performed on stage for its first two decades -- entertainment for the Indian elite and British administrators involved in the running of the empire.

When films started to become popular, the venue, which lies near the popular Girgaum Chowpatty beach in the city’s south, was altered to double-up as a cinema.

As Bollywood captured popular imagination, it soon became the place for the city’s wealthy to watch the latest hit. It could also have inspired a generation of actors -- superstar Amitabh Bachchan fondly recalls watching movies there as a child.

It showcased productions from talent such as actor Prithviraj Kapoor and Marathi star Bal Gandharva.

The property was bought by the Maharaja of Gondal, a royal family from nearby Gujarat, in the early 1950s, a few years after India gained its independence from Britain.

And yet it could not maintain its appeal -- by the 1980s the venture was struggling financially and the building was in urgent need of repairs.

“The Indian cinema industry was going through one of its worst phases due to video piracy. People literally stopped going to cinema halls to watch movies.

“Most theatres shut down as there was no income to even meet daily costs. So there was no scope for any upgradation,” the opera house’s director, Ashish Doshi, told AFP.

Top travel agents reveal what’s hot in luxury travel for 2017

Neon signs and posters jostle for the public’s attention in Mong Kok, in 2009. Photo: SCMP) Advertising saturates our daily lives.

Neon signs, roadside hoardings, posters on public transport, fliers, informa­ tion traded from internet searches, maga­zine-style newspaper colour supplements where the editorial content offers only the thinnest anchor for the adverts that paid for it in the first place – the list of media that exhort us to purchase this, do that, or become the other is never ending.

Campaigns often play on socioeconomic insecurities and – yes – ethnic and nation­al inferiority complexes.

European “princesses” in fairy-tale castles touting products destined squarely for the Chinese market make this point clear.

In this sense, Hong Kong’s rampant embrace of Western consumerism is ultimately a form of cultur­al A new report from American Express released during the International Luxury Travel Mart (ILTM) held this week in Cannes, France revealed an 110% increase in intent by consumers to use retail travel agents for this upcoming holiday season and 79% growth in actual usage year over year from 2015 to 2016.

Why use a travel agent?

Americans will be going back to Paris and Europe in 2017 say top travel professionals attending the International Luxury Travel Mart in Cannes, France this week. (Photo credit: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)

by Doug Gollan

You’ve seen the ads I’m sure.

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While travel brings us memories that will last a lifetime, when things go sideways, it can have us wanting to shout out the window, or at least silently scream. Instead of sitting on hold during flight delays and cancellations, wasting hours if not days trying to rearrange travel plans or attempting to keystroke an intelligent conversation in 200 characters via instant message chat with a call center worker, consumers like you are coming back to professional travel advisors. Research by MMGY Global shows this as a five-year trend, with the largest growth in travel agent usage by Millennials.

hether its politics, long lines or trying to return something you bought on the Internet, some days it seems like we live in a world channeled by fictional network news anchor Howard Beale of those famous words, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.” As airlines, online travel agencies, and hotel groups have merged causing IT meltdowns, delays, lapses in services, confusion in benefits and stingier loyalty programs, more consumers are turning to humans to help them plan their travel despite advertising pleas by travel suppliers to “book direct.”

Depending on what you are looking for, agents can save you money or add value, and often both. In either case, agents save consumers time doing the legwork – research shows over four hours. A study by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) released earlier this year revealed agents save customers $452 per trip.

Agency groups such as Virtuoso, Travel Leaders, Ensemble, The Affluent Traveler Collection and Signature, which provide marketing support for independently owned travel agencies, all have hotel programs similar to what American Express offers through Fine Hotels & Resorts.

These programs provide you

from poles, changing with the time of year and the goods on offer, were the most common advertisements. “New supply of black vinegar, sourced direct from Central China”, “First hairy crabs of the season”, “Most efficient ointment for piles” ran the straightforward descriptions.

Following the first world war, brightly coloured posters became widespread in China’s Westernised port cities, from there moving inland across the country. Along with obvious imitations, indigenous variations of art deco, Bauhaus, modernist and other contemporary styles developed during the Nationalist period that drama­tically influenced graphic design for Chinese characters. Commercial and graphic art burgeoned as costs for paper, paints and dyes steadily fell.

extras like free breakfast for two, upgrades, late check-out and sometimes even food or spa credits. Certain luxury hotel groups give their top producing travel agents perks to pass along to you. The value of the goodies can run over $1,000 per stay.

Of course, a key element the top agents bring is insider knowledge and relationships. Roeland Voss, CEO of Belmond, which operates luxury hotels, trains and boats, says of agents, “They know exactly which suites are best for their customers. They know where the elevators are. They know what times of the year the weather is bad. Many times they know more about our hotels than we do.”

vertisers selling a particular product, then any negative coverage for that product – or the company that hawked it – was likely to be down­played or ignored completely. Tobacco offers a prime example.

From Penang to Honolulu, poster and magazine adverts helped create a lifestyle illusion for those who – in the days before mass travel – would probably never have the opportunity to explore that city’s frequently unlovely realities for themselves. From the early 50s, Hong Kong took on the role once enjoyed by Shanghai as cultural beacon for the Chinese diaspora; one it retained until, in recent years, the city’s once-unique brand of starlight began to fade with the rise of China’s social, political and cultural influence.

(-South China Morning Post)

Agents also travel extensively to inspect hotels, see what’s new and what now needs some loving care before they will send their clients, and they attend trade shows like ILTM to network with hotel and supplier executives, including hotel general managers. Alison Gilmore, ILTM’s director said. “Even in these days of the internet, smartphones and all the advantages of instant ‘virtual’ connection, the face-to-face meeting has never been so important. In fact, because we rely on connections from behind a screen so much, when we come together to network we almost rediscover how much more effective the personal touch is for building business and business opportunities.” (Forbes.com)

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Speaker Ryan, Members of House & Senate to sign Bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act

‘World’s heaviest woman’ to fly to India for surgery replied to his plea within hours.

Abd El Aty’s sister had approached him about two months ago, saying her sister needed urgent medical attention.

Max proudly wearing his #CuresNOW button. (Photo: Paul Ryan’s Office)

Today’s ceremony included Max Schill, who was born with a rare disease called Noonan Syndrome, has been a leading advocate for this bipartisan legislation. Max turns 8 next week, and as he wrote on gop.gov, “My birthday wish is that 21st Century Cures will pass and become a law.”

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ASHINGTON, DC December 8, 2016 - Today, Speaker Paul Ryan (RWI)—joined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and other members of the House and Senate—signed the 21st Century Cures Act, bipartisan legislation to reform our approach to medical research and innovation. With his signature, the bill now goes to the president’s desk to become law. Below are Speaker Ryan’s opening remarks for the enrollment ceremony: “What a day, and what a moment. I could not think of a better way to end the year than by signing this bill. This

is exactly the kind of legislation that we need to be passing. This bill takes head on one of the big challenges we face: curing what today are considered incurable diseases. I don’t have to tell any of you that this moment was a very, very long time coming.

And we would not be here if it were not for the tireless, relentless work by so many people that are standing here today like Fred Upton. And now, we have a lot to show for it.

“I just want to say to all those legislators here, fantastic—you guys just did such a good job. Look what we have to show for it: More money for medical research; a streamlined process for approving new drugs and devices. That means millions of patients will get the treatments that

they need. I’m talking about people like our good friend over here, Max Schill. Speeding up medical innovation could mean fewer surgeries and less hassle for Max. It could mean millions of Americans get to live longer, healthier lives. If that doesn’t convince you that we need this bill, then I don’t know what will.

“I’d also be remiss if I did not recognize the good work of Congressman Tim Murphy. Tim Murphy, just like everybody else on Cures, worked so hard on getting mental health reform over the finish line—criss-crossing America, listening, doing hearings, talking to people about how to fix these issues. He’s led the charge to bring attention and the resources to mental health issues.

“But all of you have worked very hard to put the patient back in charge. That’s what this is all about.

I am so proud of all of the accomplishments of these members, and I simply want to say: Thank you and job well done.”

Hacking India

by Max Bearak

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omewhere in India, a young man is sitting in a room, parked in front of his computer, smoking copious amounts of marijuana and causing great embarrassment to some of the country’s biggest movers and shakers.

He and a group of others — who he claims number in the “higher single digits” and are based around the world — go by the name Legion. Over the past two weeks, they have hacked into four high-profile Twitter accounts, commandeering them as vehicles to release the account owners’ personal telephone numbers, bank account details and email passwords. Their first target was Rahul Gandhi, the heir to the Congress party, which has held power in India for much of its post-colonial history. Next was Vijay Mallya, the embattled former chairman of India’s biggest liquor company, who fled to Britain in March amid allegations of financial fraud and money laundering.

Speaking through encrypted instantmessaging software, one of the hackers told The Washington Post about Legion’s motives and plans for future hacks. We chatted Saturday, hours before he would burst back into the public consciousness through the Twitter accounts of Barkha Dutt and Ravish Kumar, two prominent news show hosts who work for the NDTV channel. In the messages that are reproduced below, the user marked LC is from “Legion Crew,” and the user marked M is, well, me.

LC and I were able to get in touch initially through email, as he had posted an address in one of his rapid-fire tweets from Mallya’s account — before it was suspended by Twitter, that is. From the get-go, he was friendly.

Rather, he said Legion wasn’t even interested in “political data” until a few weeks ago. He said that the group was in possession of several terabytes of raw data concerning all sorts of “interests” and that within that trove the hackers had identified gigabytes worth of information relating to Indian public figures. He said the data was choosing the targets for them, not the other way around.

From Dutt’s Twitter account, they shared a link to a “partial” data dump of approximately 1.2 gigabytes of her

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

The man who targets the rich and powerful, talks motives, music, drugs and next targets

Indian surgeon Muffazal Lakdawala offered to carry out the weight reduction procedure free of charge after hearing about Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, who weighs around 500kg. (Photo: YouTube)

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EW DELHI, India | AFP | 12/9/2016 - An Egyptian who is believed to be the world’s heaviest woman is to fly to India for weight reduction surgery after the country’s foreign minister personally intervened to secure her a visa.

Indian surgeon Muffazal Lakdawala had offered to carry out the procedure free of charge after hearing about Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, who weighs around 500 kilogrammes (1,100 pounds).

But her request for a visa was initially rejected, prompting Lakdawala to tweet a request for help to India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj.

“She is a bundle of diseases. She needs surgery urgently,” the surgeon said of Abd El Aty, 36, who is expected to fly to the western city of Mumbai next week for the procedure.

“Her sister said she hasn’t left her room in 25 years. I just thought ‘Oh my god, I have to help. I’ll do it pro bono, no problem’.”

Lakdawala said he was astonished when Swaraj, who is herself ill in hospital awaiting a liver transplant,

Her family told the doctor that as a child she was diagnosed with elephantiasis, a condition that causes the limbs and other body parts to swell, leaving her almost immobile.

Later she suffered a stroke and was rendered bedridden, triggering a series of ailments including diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension and sleep apnoea.

Lakdawala, who has operated on government ministers in the past, said he was nervous but would do all he could to make Abd El Aty comfortable.

“I would be lying if I said I was 100 percent confident. There are many challenges, but I will try my level best to help her,” he told AFP by phone.

Abd El Aty would need a couple of months in post-surgery care in India before heading back home in Egypt, he said.

Bariatric surgery is essentially a stomach-shrinking bypass procedure carried out on those wanting to lose excessive weight.

It is increasingly common in India, which has a growing problem with obesity, particularly in urban areas.

India is a key destination for medical tourists because it offers quality services at a fraction of the cost of western countries and no waiting lists.

Computer games relieve phantom limb pain: study

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ARIS, | AFP - Amputees who played computer games using a virtual, onscreen arm, experienced relief from the phantom pain that often afflicts people who have lost a limb, scientists said Friday.

Clockwise, from top left: Rahul Gandhi, vice president of India’s Congress party; Lalit Modi, ex-chairman of the Indian Premier League cricket championship; business tycoon Vijay Mallya; journalist Barkha Dutt. (Prakash Singh/ Agence France-Presse via Getty Images; Carl Court/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images; Saurabh Das/Associated Press; Jemal Countess/Getty Images) emails. A spokesman for Twitter India declined to comment on the hacks.

When I asked him how they came into possession of so much data, he was vague, and said they just “ended up with access to over 40k+ servers in India, and we decided — hey, why not write a tool to sift through them for interesting data?”

But one clear motive for releasing some of the data is disdain for the targets. When they were in control of Gandhi’s account (about 1.3 million followers), they used it to repeatedly mock his intelligence. With Mallya (about 5.5 million followers), they lambasted his alleged criminality, casting themselves as Robin Hood figures. The root of the disdain may partly derive from a sort of technological superiority complex, too.

LC expressed derision at how easily he had found so much personal data.

As for upcoming targets, LC indicated that he and his fellow hackers had their sights set on bigger things. While tweeting Saturday night from the NDTV hosts’ accounts, he warned that the next target would be Lalit Modi, a businessman, former head of India’s commercial cricket league, and outspoken supporter

of the party currently in power. But, speaking with me, he said individual targets were just an appetizer.

He claimed that his group had access to servers like that of India’s biggest private hospital chain, Apollo. He said they were unsure about releasing data from those servers because it might cause “chaos.”

He’d rather spend doing drugs and making electronic music. Listing Brian Eno, Aphex Twin and Global Communication as artists that influence him, he said that progressive house music was his real passion and that the hacks barely provided him with an adrenaline kick.

He said he particularly disliked spending time in India’s capital, New Delhi, and suggested that he might try to go to Russia — to do some more drugs.

(WashingtonPost. com)

Fourteen amputees who took part in a trial reported dramatic pain reduction after 12 sessions which saw them “using” their missing arm in virtual reality.

Lingering pain: Phantom limb pain occurs when nerve endings at the amputation site continue sending pain signals to the brain, making it think the limb is still there. (Photo credit:Reuters) . A video of the treatment can be watched here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=ek7JHGC-T4E

Patients reported a near 50-percent reduction in pain duration, frequency and intensity, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.

“The results from our study suggest that it may be useful to ‘exercise’ the phantom limb,” said study lead author Max Ortiz Catalan of the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

People who have lost an arm or leg often report pain where the limb used to be -- sometimes years after the amputation and often severe enough to affect

their quality of life and mental health.

Phantom limb pain occurs when nerve endings at the amputation site continue sending pain signals to the brain, making it think the limb is still there.

One existing method involves the patient use their remaining arm while looking in a mirror to make it appear to the brain, in the reflection, as if it is the missing arm moving.

It does not always work and cannot be used by double amputees.

Young Life

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Millennials set trends in tourism Young Author: Nujeen

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ANILA - In the age of social media, millennials are the new trendsetters of the tourism industry, travel advocates said in a show on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

said.

“What we are trying to do is get these areas into mainstream tourism to have standards on safety without removing the rawness [of the destination],” he said.

Philippine Tour Operators Association President Cesar Cruz said millennials have developed a tourism market on their own just by posting photos and sharing experiences on social media.

Travel blogger Jonah Meneses shared how millennials are changing the tourism landscape by opting to book airfare promos first even without a guaranteed land arrangement.

He explained how millennials nowadays compete to be the first to go to a certain destination or experience an activity which develops publicity for destinations that are yet to be developed.

Meneses said millennials are keen on going to certain destinations such as South Korea to experience the culture of the country which they usually see on television programs.

According to Philippine Travel Agencies Association President Michelle Victoria, airfare promo bookings account for around 20 percent of customers who adjust to the available time periods for travel.

Cruz and Victoria, meanwhile, urged local government units in the country to help travel advocates in promoting tourism given the two major events to happen in the Philippines next year-the Miss Universe 2016 Pageant and the ASEAN summit. (Tagalog News)

“Some destinations can be developed through the social media especially now that we have the millennial market,” Cruz said on ANC’s “Talkback.”

However, there are risks in millennials travelling to destinations that are yet to be developed since most of these locations are still “raw” and lack “standard safety guidelines,” Cruz

Tot test spots future crooks, druggies, deadbeat dads: study

by Marlowe Hood

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ARIS | AFP | 12/12/2016 Testing for intelligence, motor skills and troubled behaviour at age three showed which tots were likely to wind up behind bars or as deadbeat dads later in life, a long-term study reported Monday.

The results should make it possible to deliver help to young kids at risk before they wind up with a rap sheet or a drug addiction, said the study, which measured the social cost of early childhood privation.

The findings published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour may also apply to other wealthy societies with comparable income inequalities and social safety nets.

A fifth of 38-year-olds in New Zealand account for four-fifths of criminal convictions and two-thirds of welfare dependence in their age group, the study found.

All the participants in the so-called Dunedin Study -- representing the full socio-economic spectrum of New Zealand society -- were born in the city of that name between April 1972 and March 1973.

Follow-up tests and evaluations were performed at two-year intervals up to age 15, and at three- or four-year intervals after that.

The outcomes were matched against comprehensive government and health records.

“Most expenses from social problems are concentrated in a small segment of the population,” said Avshalom Caspi, lead author of the study and a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Duke University in the United States.

The study revealed other concrete measures of the cost to society generated by a minority born into difficult circumstances.

The troubled 20 percent accounted for three quarters of fatherless childrearing and drug prescriptions, as well as more than half of hospital nights and cigarettes smoked.

- Digitalised lives This group also carried 40 percent of their age cohort’s obese weight, and filed 36 percent of personal-injury insurance claims.

The real-life laboratory giving rise to these numbers is a long-term evaluation that has tracked 1,000 New Zealanders from cradle to the cusp of middle age.

Bangladesh actors demand shutdown of Turkish TV serial Dhaka, Bangladesh | AFP | 12/12/2016 – Bangladeshi actors and directors called for a ban Monday on the steamy Turkish period drama Sultan Suleiman, saying the show’s “rampant sex” was destroying the local TV industry and fuelling divorce.

Since a dubbed version started airing in Bangladesh in November 2015, the serial on the life of the 16th century Ottoman king known as Suleiman the Magnificent has been a massive ratings success.

Its popularity has prompted other networks to run similar foreign serials during prime-time, bumping many locally-produced shows off the schedule.

However industry chiefs say local actors have missed out on millions of dollars’ worth of pay as a result while dozens of studios have been forced to close. “It all started with Sultan Suleiman. These serials are destroying our industry which employs thousands of actors and crew, “Gazi Rakayet, the head of the Bangladeshi Directors’ Guild, told AFP.

“We can predict this quite well, beginning at age three, by assessing a child’s history of disadvantage, and particularly ‘brain health’,” he noted in a statement.

In a long-term experiment involving 1,000 people, the first of a dozen evaluations from age three to 38 measured IQ, language and motor skills, and rated the children for their tolerance of frustration, as well as restlessness and impulsive behaviour.

and spends a comparable amount on health care.

“We know every location they’ve lived, every name they’ve used,” said Terrie Moffitt, a professor at Duke who also took part in the study.

“The digitalization of people’s lives allows us to quantify precisely how much a person costs society,” he added, noting that many experts were skeptical that the Dunedin data could be accurately linked up with public records.

The Big Brother overtones of the study should not be used to single out the “costly” members of society for ridicule or blame, the authors cautioned.

Being able to identify children struggling early in life should instead be seen as an opportunity to intervene and “change their trajectories -- for everyone’s benefits,” Moffitt said.

The researchers argued that New Zealand is a good “laboratory” because it has income gaps similar to those in the United States and Britain,

“In a survey, we’ve found half of all studios have been shut down due to lack of work. Hundreds of actors have been affected. Even the top actors have lost some 50 percent of their income. “ Rakayet has estimated a total loss of income for actors to be around $8 million a year. The government has yet to respond but several commentators have defended the foreign serials, saying viewers are switching over from local dramas because of poor storylines.

Others however say the dramas are undermining family values in the conservative Muslim-majority nation, with scenes set in Sultan Suleiman’s harem coming in for particular criticism.

“Sex is rampant in Sultan Suleiman and other foreign serials,” said the actor Mamunur Rashid who heads the Federation of TV Professionals Organization.

Clean cookstoves fail to curb pneumonia in kids: study

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ARIS, France | AFP | 12/6/2016 - Disappointed researchers reported Wednesday that a two-year trial in rural sub-Saharan Africa showed clean-burning indoor cookstoves did not reduce cases of pneumonia in young children, as hoped.

Investigators and health advocates had expected that closed stoves rather than smoke-producing open fires would dramatically curb health problems linked with household air pollution.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that indoor air pollution -- notably soot and other fine particles -- kills more than four million people every year around the world, mostly in Africa.

Young children are thought to be especially vulnerable. In Malawi, pneumonia is the leading cause of death

among under five-year-olds.

For the experiment, the families of more than 10,000 very young children in villages across two districts in Malawi were divided into two groups.

One continued using traditional, open-fire wood- or dung-burning stoves for cooking and heating for the duration of the two-year experiment.

Families in the other group were given clean-burning cookstoves that also used biomass -- organic matter derived from animals or plants.

“There had been the assumption that the use of cleaner cookstoves will

bring about health benefits and save lives,” said lead investigator Kevin Mortimer of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

But the new stoves had “no effect on the incidence of pneumonia” in the children, the researchers concluded.

Published in The Lancet, the study did show that children living in the clean stove homes had 42 percent fewer burns than their counterparts in the other group.

“The reductions in burn-related injuries is encouraging from a safety perspective,” Mortimer said

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– One Girl’s Incredible Journey from War-torn Syria in a Wheelchair

by Prerna Raturi

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o one should have a coming-of-age story like hers. And although it’s also an adventurous journey full of nail-biting moments, you wouldn’t wish a “road trip” experience like that on anyone.

But Nujeen Mustafa does it, flees from war-torn Syria, travels all the way to Germany on a wheelchair, and lives to tell the tale. Not only that, she tells the tale like it is — sharing her fears and insecurities, reporting the events as they unfold before her in Aleppo and Manib, crossing the Mediterranean and finally getting to attend school in Cologne — without letting any kind of cynicism set in.

Nujeen – One girl’s incredible journey from war-torn Syria in a wheelchair by Nujeen Mustafa with Christina Lamb is an account citizens of the world must read. That is because the book gives a face to the global emergency, as a mass migration of asylum seekers from western and south Asia, Africa and the Western Balkans continues to reach European shores. You witness the harrowing journey millions of people took from their homelands, uprooting themselves from their traditional roots, running for their lives on foot; at the mercy of local people’s kindness; on dinghies that sank killing hundreds of men, women, and children; and ending up at borders that were often closed to them. In that sense, Nujeen’s 3,593-mile journey

dreams about her future, and views on everything from marriage to politics, to learning English from TV shows.

The book marvellously weaves in the dark, unsure days of bombings in Syria and Daesh (Nujeen refuses to call it the Islamic State) infiltration. “…

Nasrine could see the bombs landing right by our house. She was terrified.

Finally the planes flew away. When the power came back, I turned up the TV and watched a Turkish drama series called Samar while Ayee got a broom and swept up the broken glass and rubble.”

In Cologne, settling down in a world

Nujeen Mustafa’s account of her journey from Syria to Germany “in a wheelchair” is a story that gives a face to a global emergency and is a must-read from Syria to Turkey, Greece, and on to Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and finally to Germany, is a leaf out of a child refugee’s life, dealing with smugglers and governments that don’t want you, as well as some very kind strangers.

At the same time, the book is as much about a teenager getting her fix of soap operas, wrangling “disability benefits” from friends and family since she suffered from a condition called tetraspasticity”, having big

where she didn’t have to fear bombs but is still a little unsure of, what with some voices rising against immigrants, Nujeen is finally growing up.

She’s learning to live with the fact that not all people are welcoming and not all people hate others, she’s accepting how she may not become an astronaut and is finally confronting her disability and learning to be independent. She is learning to accept herself as she is. Like any other teenager.

(DNAIndia.com)

‘Spy’ toys face complaints from EU, US watchdogs

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RUSSELS, Belgium | EU and US consumer watchdogs announced Tuesday they are filing complaints against a clutch of smart toys that can “spy” on children and their homes, for allegedly breaching privacy and data protection laws.

The complaints target smart toys My Friend Cayla, i-QUE Intelligent Robot and Hello Barbie, according to the European Consumer Organisation BEUC and US groups like the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

Complaints are being filed with French and other European authorities Complaints have been made about a number of as well as the US Federal smart toys, such as the talking doll “My Friend Trade Commission.

Cayla”, that critics say breach privacy laws by I n t e r n e t - c o n n e c t e d allowing people to spy on children (AFP Photo/) Cayla and i-QUE, manufactured by Los Angelesbased Genesis Toys, hook up with a user via a phone or tablet while Hello Barbie links to the internet through Wi-Fi, said the consultancy Bouvet on behalf of the Norwegian Consumer Council.

Hello Barbie is not sold in Europe.

“By purpose and design, these toys record and collect the private conversations of young children without any limitations on collection, use, or disclosure of this personal information,” EPIC and other US watchdogs said in their complaint, which they say “concerns toys that spy”.

“The toys subject young children to ongoing surveillance and are deployed in homes across the United States without any meaningful data protection standards,” they said.

“They pose an imminent and immediate threat to the safety and security of children in the United States,” they added.

BEUC, citing the study commissioned by the Norwegian Consumer

Council, expressed security concerns.

“With simple steps, anyone can take control of the toys through a mobile phone. This makes it possible to talk and listen through the toy without having physical access to the toy,” it added.

It alleged the terms breach the EU Unfair Contract Terms Directive and the EU Data Protection Directive and possibly the Toy Safety Directive.

“Anything the child tells the doll is transferred to the US-based company Nuance Communications, who specialises in speech recognition technologies,” it said.

“The company reserves the right to share this information with other third parties, and to use speech data for a wide variety of purposes,” it said.

“The toys are embedded with preprogrammed phrases, where they endorse different commercial products,” BEUC said.

VOICE OF ASIA 17

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Nursing a drink and pointing a gun, Riz Ahmed lives the dream with Yami Gautam ditches her girl-next- own ‘Star Wars’ figure door image for Sarkar 3

Actors Michael Kenneth Williams and Riz Ahmed (R) speak onstage at the HBO portion of the 2016 Television Critics Association Summer Tour (AFP Photo/Frederick M. Brown)

by Frankie TAGGART

Yami Gautam in the film Sarkar 3

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am Gopal Varma revealed the cast of Sarkar 3 on Monday, and the cast member who caught Twitterati attention seems to be Yami Gautam with her highvoltage image makeover.

Yami, best known for her romantic roles in Vicky Donor and Sanam Re, is seen striking gritty poses in the film’s early photos Varma released on social media.

The extreme close-up snapshots focus on her angry gaze and intense expression.

In various shots, she is seen nursing a drink and pointing a

gun at the camera, underlining the fact that she is ready for hard action this time.

“Yami Gautam will be playing the role of Annu Karkare in the film... (she) plays a character who wants to take revenge on Sarkar for killing her father,” Varma tweeted along with the pictures.

The film maker, on his handle @RGVzoomin also familiarised fans with other fresh actors who will join the star cast along with Amitabh Bachchan’s Subhash Nagre in the third film of the series.

While Abhishek Bachchan’s character was killed off in

Sarkar Raj, second film in the series, the other protagonist of the earlier film essayed by Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan is missing from Sarkar 3.

Varma said this was necessary because the new film is set in another time and situation.

“Jackie (Shroff) plays one of the main antagonists, referred to as Sir, in Sarkar 3,” revealed Varma, along with the fact that Manoj Bajpayee, Amit Sadh, Ronit Roy, Rohini Hattangadi and Bharat Dabholkar would comprise the prop cast. “Manoj Bajpayee my old enemy in Sarkar 3,” joked @RGVzoomin.

Kaabil Hoon: Hrithik Roshan, Yami Gautam’s chemistry saves this cliched, synthetic song

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he title song of Sanjay Gupta’s revenge drama Kaabil is a breath of fresh air but only if we limit our purview to the glimpses of the film that we have seen so far.

The soft and celebratory song, titled ‘Kaabil Hoon’ is a refreshing change after watching the intense trailer and posters of the Hrithik Roshan film.

Though this song lightens up the mood of the film, it is nothing we have not listened to before. Rajesh Roshan’s last album was the superhero flick Krrish 3 in 2013. It took three years for him to record another song and the outcome is certainly not worth the wait.

He started his career with the 1974 film Kunwara Baap directed by Mehmood. He went on to compose the music for hits like Julie and the Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai but his growth as a music director comes across as stunted as the title song of Kaabil sounds familiar and monoto-

S

AN FRANCISCO, | AFP | Riz Ahmed has just celebrated his 34th birthday, but with his slender physique, cut-glass cheekbones and neat, jet-black hair, the “Rogue One” star could just about pass for a teenager.

It’s hard to believe a decade has passed since the British actor emerged as one of the most interesting figures in British cinema in Michael Winterbottom’s docu-drama “The Road to Guantanamo.”

A dozen movie roles in the intervening years have won him acclaim for the virtuosity of his performances and diversity of acting choices. But even he could not have predicted the stratospheric turn his career would take in 2016.

nous. It seems like Rajesh has not taken into consideration the technical improvement that the Hindi music industry has seen over the years.

The only fresh aspect of the music is the trumpet sound but one can hear it only a few times in the song that lasts over five

minutes. It comes as no surprise that the teaser of the song that was released by Hrithik a couple of days ago consists of this trumpet sound only. This is because it is the only memorable part of the entire song.

Courtesy: First Post

cargo pilot Bodhi Rook, a shill for the Empire who changes sides to fight for the rebels.

“It was a kind of a surreal, amazing moment,” the Londonborn son of Pakistani immigrants says as he recalls first holding that most coveted of trophies, his own “Star Wars” figure.

“It’s a ‘Star Wars’ movie, but at the same time it’s quite different,” he tells AFP at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic special-effects studio in San Francisco.

“I remember playing with those toys as a kid, and to be part of that universe in plastic is an amazing thing.”

“It feels more like a gritty, realistic war movie -- dirt under fingernails, boots on the ground -- that immersive kind of feel which is exciting to me.”

Ahmed’s turn in “Rogue One” -- the latest multimillion-dollar iteration of the “Star Wars” universe -- comes at the end of a year in which he transformed from respected indie actor into major player.

Yami Gautam and Hrithik Roshan in a still from ‘Kaabil’

‘The Night Of’ Star John Turturro talks about his underdog character, bonding with co-star Riz Ahmed, and his friendship with James Gandolfini

Still basking in acclaim for 2014’s “Nightcrawler” -- his first big Hollywood part -- he took another step toward Tinseltown’s A-list with a key role in Paul Greengrass’s “Jason Bourne.”

He cemented his fame with a starring part in the HBO crime miniseries “The Night Of” as Naz Khan, a Pakistani-American college student accused of murdering a girl on New York’s Upper West Side.

- ‘Gritty’ In “Rogue One,” Ahmed plays

“I always look for flawed characters,” Ahmed says. “I don’t know why, but I love characters with a strong sense of regret, or feel a burning desire to put something right.”

Roles in more independent films followed alongside a sideline career as rapper “Riz MC,” in which the outspoken actor has riffed on politics, race and inequality as one half of the hiphop outfit “Swet Shop Boys.”

- ‘Retreating into tribalism’ -

Ahmed’s story -- a workingclass kid who won a scholarship to private school and studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University -surprises those who only see the actor refracted through the roles he has played.

The duo recently produced a track titled “T5,” which name checks Donald Trump before the chorus line: “Oh no, we’re in trouble, TSA always wanna burst my bubble/Always get a random check when I rock the stubble.”

Ahmed has portrayed suspected jihadists in “The Road to Guantanamo” (2006) and “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” (2012) and drug dealers in “Shifty” (2008) and “Ill Manors” (2012).

The refrain refers to Ahmed’s frustration and anger at being racially profiled -- and sometimes brutally treated -- at airports in Britain and America, about which the unashamedly political performer has written and spoken extensively.

His breakout performance came in the role of the idealistic but murderous leader of a British jihadist cell in Chris Morris’s controversial, critically acclaimed 2010 satire “Four Lions.”

It’s not surprising Ahmed’s entry into the ‘Star Wars’ universe has come through a part in what the trade press has described as the most overtly political movie of the franchise.

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Section 2

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Preventing cancer spread: mouse study points to fat

by Mariëtte Le Roux

P

ARIS, France | AFP | Wednesday 12/7/2016 - Spanish scientists announced Wednesday they may have identified a way to stop cancer from spreading, at least in mice, and said it could be linked to eating fat.

Writing in the journal Nature, the team said they had discovered a type of tumour cell which spreads cancer from organ to organ -- a process known as metastasis, which is what makes the disease so deadly.

They also found that the cells carry a receptor, dubbed CD36, known to regulate the uptake of fats.

In experiments with mice given human tumors, metastasis was “significantly reduced” by using antibodies to block the CD36 receptor, the researchers said.

Metastasis happens when cancer cells break free from a tumour and travel through the blood or lymphatic system to establish new colonies elsewhere in the body.

An estimated 90 percent of cancer deaths happen due to metastasis, the research team said.

Not all cancer cells do this, however, and being able to identify and kill the ones that will travel is a top priority in cancer research.

The latest findings make CD36 a possible target for anti-cancer drugs, the researchers said.

But they stressed the discovery was a “long way” from finding application in human medicine.

The antibody used in the

Salvador Aznar Benitah of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona told AFP. “We are developing new blocking antibodies for human use that we hope to be able to test in a relatively short period of time (between four and ten years) in patients,” he explained by email.

More work is needed to confirm the role of fat and diet in cancer metastasis in humans, added Benitah.

“But these results are certainly a warning sign, since they strongly indicate that metastatic cells are exquisitely sensitive to the fatty acids we consume in our diets.”

Outside experts described the findings as “significant” but said it was too early to understand the implications for human cancer.

“Mouse models give us important clues to understanding biology, but the findings in mice do not always transfer to humans,” said Paul Pharaoh, professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Cambridge.

This worked for human mouth, skin and breast cancer.

In some rodents, metastatic cells were completely wiped out, said the team, enthusing that “things like this don’t happen every day”.

Receptors are protein molecules on cells which receive instructioncarrying chemical signals from outside.

In further tests, mice with CD36rich cells and fed a high-fat diet developed more, and larger, metastases than their cousins on normal diets, the researchers said.

experiments does not yet exist in a format fit for human use.

- Warning sign “Ours is a new step that we hope in the future will not only contribute to our better understanding of how and why tumors generate metastasis, but also to devise ways to attack these metastatic cells,” study leader

As for the fat link, observers underlined that human and mouse diets were nothing alike.

“There is no evidence that adopting a low-fat diet or excluding certain fats will help slow the spread of cancer in patients,” said Emma Smith of Cancer Research UK. Cancer patients need many calories to cope with the physical toll taken by therapy.

Could flickering light treat Alzheimer’s?

Flickering lights were found drastically reduce levels of plaques in the brain in mice with Alzheimer’s symptoms, new research suggests

P

ARIS, France | AFP | 12/7/2016 - Scientists have used flickering LED lights to shrink, in mouse brains, the beta amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in humans, they reported on Wednesday.

While too early to say if this could translate into a much-needed treatment for the debilitating illness, it does present a promising avenue for further research, said the team -- some of whom have started a company to do just that.

“It’s a big ‘if’,” said Li-Huei Tsai of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who co-authored the study. “But if humans behave similarly to mice in response to this treatment, I would say the potential is just enormous, because it is so non-invasive and it’s so accessible.”

She underlined that many therapies shown to work in mice in the past have failed in humans.

Her cautionary note was echoed by outside experts, who said the findings were “potentially” interesting.

The therapy is believed to work by inducing electrical brain waves thought to have become dysfunctional in people with Alzheimer’s. It involves exposing mice to flickering LED light to try and influence the brain’s electrical activity.

After an hour of stimulation, the researchers found a 40- to 50-percent lowering of beta amyloid levels in the hippocampus, the part of the brain where memory is thought to reside, they said.

And after a week of treatment, plaques and free-floating amyloid proteins were “markedly reduced,” the team said in a statement.

According to the World Health Organization, dementia affects some 47.5 million people worldwide -- with

7.7 million new cases every year.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause, responsible for 60-70 percent of dementia cases. The disease typically progresses from forgetfulness and absent-mindedness to major memory loss and near total dependence as sufferers become unaware of time and place.

Alzheimer’s was first identified more than 100 years ago, but there is still no effective treatment or cure, and scientists disagree on its causes -- including the role of beta amyloid plaques.

The study “might well give us a spark for new avenues of research to further explore the relationship between rhythms of electrical activity in the brain and Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Doug Brown, director of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, a British charity.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Don’t Skip Part B Medicare Coverage for Outpatient Services, Even If You Have Other Insurance When Cindy Hunter received her Medicare card in the mail last spring, she said she “didn’t know a lot about Medicare.” She and her husband, retired teachers who live in a Philadelphia suburb, decided she didn’t need it because she shared his retiree health insurance, which covered her treatment for ovarian cancer.

“We were so thankful we had good insurance,” she said. So she sent back the card, telling officials she would keep Medicare Part A, which is free for most older or disabled Americans and covers hospitalization, some nursing home stays and home health care. But she turned down Part B, which covers doctor visits and other outpatient care and comes with a monthly premium charge. A new Medicare card arrived that says she only has Part A. Her story isn’t unique.

When Stan Withers left a job at a medical device company to become vice president of a small start-up near Sacramento, Calif., he took his health insurance with him. Under a federal law known as COBRA, he paid the full cost to continue his coverage from his previous employer. A few years earlier, when he turned 65, he signed up for Medicare’s Part A. With the addition of a COBRA plan, he thought he didn’t need Medicare Part B. Hunter and Withers now know they were wrong and are stuck with medical bills their insurance won’t cover. Hunter called it “an honest mistake” and said there was nothing in the written materials she and her husband received indicating that if they had Medicare Part A, his retiree coverage could not replace Medicare Part B. Withers had no idea he made a bad choice Thousands of seniors unwittingly make similar mistakes every year, believing that because they have some type of health insurance they don’t have to worry about signing up for Medicare Part B. Generally, insurance other than that provided by a current employer will not exempt them from Medicare’s strict enrollment requirements.

Advocates for seniors and some members of Congress want to fix the problem, backed by a broad, unlikely group of unions, health insurers, patient organizations, health care providers and even eight former Medicare administrators.

Medicare’s Part B enrollment rules haven’t changed since the program was created in 1965. Seniors can enroll only when they first become eligible — usually three months before and after the month they turn 65 — or when their job-based insurance ends. If they miss this chance, they have to wait until the months of January through March to enroll and then coverage only begins July 1. Most won’t be allowed to buy any other health insurance policy during that time.

If people delay signing up for 12 or more months after becoming eligible, many will be hit with a permanent penalty added to their Part B monthly premium. In 2014, about 750,000 beneficiaries paid

Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6776 Southwest Freeway Suite # 178 Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com late penalties, raising their Part B premiums an average of 29 percent, according to the Congressional Research Service.

“The rules have not changed, but our lives have,” said Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center, an advocacy group that is leading the effort to update the enrollment process. When Medicare began, the government wanted seniors, especially younger and healthier people, to sign up quickly and so the deadlines and late penalties were incentives to get them in the program.

To help seniors avoid such mistakes, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate that would allow people who miss their initial Part B enrollment deadline to sign up in the fall, when millions of seniors already in Medicare are choosing private drug or medical policies. Part B coverage would begin the month after they enroll, said Stacy Sanders, federal policy director at the Medicare Rights Center. It would also allow most people who enroll late to apply for retroactive coverage to their initial eligibility date and request a waiver of the late penalties if they can prove they were misled by an employer, health plan, insurance broker or state official (currently, an exemption may be based only on misinformation from a federal government representative).

“Because I didn’t ask Social Security and they didn’t give me the wrong information, there was nothing they could do,” Hunter said. “They said if they had given me the wrong information, they might be able to do something.”

Seniors “shouldn’t face penalties or gaps in their Part B coverage simply due to bureaucratic snafu,” said Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., who co-sponsored the House bill.

“I’ve had seniors contact my office and say they simply had no idea of existing deadlines — or that they faced penalties down the road for missing them.”

To choose right Medicare Plan contact Sudhir Mathuria @ 713-771-2900.

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Section 2

What to know before buying a drone this Christmas: ICAO M ONTREAL, Canada | AFP | - UN aviation officials cautioned anyone Friday who might want to leave a gift of a drone under the Christmas tree this season, to learn how to safely operate it first.

“Drones can pose a serious threat to manned flights and people and property on the ground,” the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said in a statement.

In reaction to their growing popularity, the UN agency put out basic information on its website explaining what pilots of the unmanned aerial vehicles need to know before chasing Santa’s sled.

In a list of tips and facts for recreational users titled “Ten things to know before buying a

drone this Christmas,” it said a drone weighing more than 25 kilograms (55 pounds) requires a permit to operate it.

The ICAO also urges reading the user manual, keeping the drone within eyesight and 50 meters (55 yards) away from people, property or vehicles.

As well, it warned pilots against flying it more than 150 meters off the ground and to keep it at least eight kilometers (five miles) away from an airport.

And, it said, drones used for commercial purposes may require the remote pilot to be licensed.

Finally, “Always remember that you are now a remote pilot and are responsible for flying safely and avoiding collisions.”

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

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Bill Gates urges Trump to inspire Americans like JFK did

N

EW YORK | AFP | 12/13/2016 Bill Gates on Tuesday called on Donald Trump to inspire Americans to embrace innovation as John F. Kennedy once did by urging them to fly to the moon.

“In the same way President Kennedy talked about the space mission and got the country behind that,” the Microsoft founderturned-philanthropist told MSNBC, “I think whether it’s education or stopping epidemics... there can be a very upbeat message that (Trump’s) administration (is) going to organize things, get rid of regulatory barriers, and have American leadership through innovation.”

The billionaire tech pioneer -- the world’s richest person, according to Forbes magazine -- launched a new fund on Monday to invest in clean

Gates told reporters afterward. “We had a good conversation about innovation, how it can help in health, education, the impact of foreign aid and energy, and a wide-ranging conversation about power of innovation.”

Trump is scheduled to meet leaders of several major technology groups on Wednesday, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Apple’s Tim Cook, Satya Nadella of Alphabet (Google) and Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, The New York Times reported.

The real estate mogul is expected to push them to create jobs after saying last week that he would like Apple -- whose coveted iPhones are made in China -- to open a large factory in the United States.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates speaks to the media after meetings with US President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York December 13, 2016 (AFP Photo/TIMOTHY A. CLARY) technology together with other wealthy donors.

they had “a lot of common friends.”

He said he recently spoke to Trump by phone for the first time, saying

Gates met his fellow billionaire face-to-face on Tuesday in Trump Tower,

where the president-elect has been working to fill out his future administration.

“It was a good time,”

But he will be stepping into hostile territory. The tech sector overwhelmingly supported the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during this year’s election campaign and has expressed fear about the effect Trump’s policies on the industry.

How to solve a problem like Trump’s business empire

by Catherine Triomphe

N

EW YORK (AFP) Donald Trump’s pledge to entrust his business empire to his sons does little to allay concerns about conflicts of interest between the incoming Republican president and the company he has run as an autocrat.

“Even though I am not mandated by law to do so, I will be leaving my busineses (sic) before January 20th so that I can focus full time on the Presi-

dency,” the president-elect announced on Twitter late Monday.

“Two of my children, Don and Eric, plus executives, will manage them.

No new deals will be done during my term(s) in office,” he added.

The brief statement came after Trump postponed until sometime next month a press conference originally scheduled for Thursday at which he intended to unveil arrangements for his business after he takes office.

US hits cheap China washing machines with punitive duties W ASHINGTON, | AFP | Chinese manufacturers are dumping washing machines into the US market at artificially low prices, making them subject to punitive duties of up to 52 percent, the Commerce Department announced Friday.

In a case brought by US appliance manufacturer Whirlpool a year ago, in a market that saw $1.1 billion imports in 2015, one Chinese firm was found to be dumping the large clothes washers at up to 52.5 percent below the fair price.

The Commerce Department has ordered importers to begin paying the punitive duties immediately, but the final step will come January 23 when the International Trade Commission will rule on whether the dumping has harmed US companies, in which

case the penalties on the Chinese products will be enforced permanently.

Suzhou Samsung Electronics was found to be selling at the biggest gap below fair value, while other producers had margins of 44.3 percent, and Nanjing LG-Panda Appliances with the smallest gap, of 32 percent.

The latest antidumping case comes on the eve of China’s 15th anniversary of joining the World Trade Organization, which was supposed to mark the formal recognition of the country as a market economy.

China wants that status as it would make antidumping cases harder to file, but the United States has indicated it is not ready to change how it handles these cases, as has Japan.

The 70-year-old, who is the wealthiest man, ever to become US president, has been beset by accusations of conflict of interest ever since his shock electoral defeat of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton last month.

Those accusations have not been eased by the largely private nature of the Trump Organization, which is not listed on the stock market but whose network of hotels, golf clubs and luxury residential towers stretches across 20 countries, from Britain to Dubai, from the Philippines to India.

The company releases no public statistics and in the absence of tax returns, which the billionaire has still refused to publish, relatively little is known about the extent of its interests.

According to PrivCo, which seeks to provide financial and business information on private companies, the Trump Organization employs around

22,000 people and had a turnover of $9.5 billion in 2014.

Even Trump’s personal fortune is in dispute. After launching his presidential bid, he declared himself worth $10 billion. Forbes estimated his fortune at $3.7 billion in October and Bloomberg at $2.9 billion in 2015.

- ‘Autocratic style The company serves as an umbrella organization for numerous assets, which today mostly revolve around Trump’s marketing savvy.

Moving on from big investments of the 1980s -- such as Trump Tower, the company headquarters which opened in 1983 -the company today mostly licenses the Trump name to a plethora of projects that he does not actually own.

Take for example Trump Tower in Manilla, a luxury skyscraper currently under construction in the Philippines’ capital.

Although he is not the owner, Trump has already been paid as much as $5 million for allowing the tower to use his name, according to CBS. Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte even named Jose Antonio, the chief executive officer of the company that led the project, a “special envoy” to the United States, magnifying fears about a conflict of interest.

Over the years, Trump -- who once told CNN he “loves debt” -- has also taken out multiple loans from creditors who are often difficult to identify, leading to fears that they could also exert an influence over the new president.

But if his creditors are unclear, his style of management is very clear, says William Klepper, who teaches executive leadership at Columbia Business School.

“He is a command-andcontrol type leader. He is

more likely to tell people what to do than asking them what they think he could do,” he told AFP. “It is a more autocratic style,” Klepper said -- “not uncommon” in a family business -- but less suited to mature companies or democracies when “you would want more of a collaborative, incentive-style leader.”

- ‘Sell it’ His absence could also affect the Trump Organization, where his adult children, Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka are all vice presidents.

If his Twitter feed appears to rule out Ivanka, US media has suggested that his favorite child and her husband Jared Kushner will take on some kind of role in the administration and move to Washington.

As a result a Trump presidency could see other executives in the Trump Organization promoted by way of default.

Matthew Calamari, chief operating officer, joined in 1981 as a security guard after impressing Trump while working in security at the US Open, the annual tennis championship in Queens, New York.

Another loyalist is Allen Weisselberg, the discreet chief financial officer, who worked for Trump’s father before joining the Trump Organization.

But even if the sons remain in charge and there are no new deals, multiple conflicts of interest would still remain, says Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, a non-profit that promotes transparency in politics.

“There is only one way to solve the conflict of interest, which is to sell off the family business,” he said. “Alternatively, the business would go under the control of a trustee, whose first act would be to sell it.”

For now, at least, Trump seems unwilling to entertain either option.

Samsung to disable Note 7 phones in recall effort

W

ASHINGTON, | AFP Samsung announced Friday it would disable its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in the US market to force remaining owners to stop using the devices, which were recalled for safety reasons.

The South Korean electronics giant, the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, said 93 percent of Note 7 phones in the United States had been returned to the company after its recall earlier this

Proof

year, which came amid reports of devices exploding or catching fire.

ability to work as mobile devices,” Samsung said in a statement.

But to get any remaining devices off the market, Samsung said it would deliver an over-the-air update that prevents the phones from charging.

The company recalled some 2.5 million Note 7s in 10 markets following complaints that its lithium-ion battery exploded while charging, and then had to expand that as reports emerged of replacement phones also catching fire.

“To further increase participation (in the recall), a software update will be released starting on December 19 that will prevent US Galaxy Note 7 devices from charging and will eliminate their

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As many as 1.9 million of the phones were sold in the United States, where authorities banned the device from use in airplanes and even from

being placed in checked luggage.

Samsung said the latest move is “in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and in partnership with carriers and retailers.”

“Since the affected devices can overheat and pose a safety risk, we are asking consumers with a Galaxy Note 7 to power it down and contact the carrier or retail outlet where they purchased their device,” the statement said.

Consumers are able to exchange their phone for

another Samsung smartphone, or receive a refund.

US carrier Verizon said, however, that it would not participate in the update to disable the phones “because of the added risk this could pose to Galaxy Note 7 users that do not have another device to switch to.”

“We do not want to make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation,” Verizon said in a statement.

CULTURE

VOICE OF ASIA 20

A sad song of musical censorship in India, Pakistan

by Laksmi Subramanian

A

t the end of September 2016, the Indian motion picture producer’s association, India’s largest organization related to entertainment, announced a ban on all Pakistani artists.

through the experience of modernity, which inevitably fed new anxieties about inheritance, culture and heritage that had to be projected in a way that was appropriately modern, chaste and spiritual.

Music, practised by courtesans and

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Why India’s poor are devoted to ‘god-like’ leaders

by Abhaya SRIVASTAVA / with Claire COZENS in Chennai EW DELHI, India | AFP | “To me, she was a goddess,” said party worker Shankar as he joined a sea of mourners bidding farewell to Jayalalithaa Jayaram, highlighting the messianic devotion of India’s poor for often controversial champions.

N

Hundreds of thousands of people attended Tuesday’s funeral in Chennai for the veteran Tamil leader, an outpouring of emotion usually reserved for global figures such as Fidel Castro or Princess Diana.

AFP looks at other Indian political leaders who engendered similar devotion and why they and former movie star Jayalalithaa were so popular: - Championing the poor Post-colonial India’s first mass funeral saw around two million people mourn Mahatma Gandhi after his 1948 assassination while millions took to the streets when Mother Teresa of Calcutta died in 1997.

Umrao Jaan, was a famous singer-courtesan of the 18th century, immortalised

by Bollywood actress Rekha in 1981. (File Photo) In retaliation, Pakistan authorities imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on all its TV channels, including Bollywood movies.

This cultural war, triggered by the September Uri attacks in Kashmir, is far from new.

Indeed it is a sad reminder of last year, when the Indian ultra regionalist Maharashtrian-based party Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt a performance by celebrity singer Ghulam Ali in Mumbai, forcing the concert to be cancelled.

What are we to make of these episodes that occur now with depressing regularity, enjoy prime-time popularity on Indian television and then die down, only to be recalled when yet another event takes its place?

As with so many things, there is a historical explanation for the appropriation of music and performance practices as part of the nationalist project in both India and Pakistan.

As a historian, I have investigated the very complex and contested history that music in North India had with Partition - when India and Pakistan were divided in 1947. The artificial boundaries that nationalism constructed then are being reinforced to this day via these music disputes.

North Indian music mixes complex social worlds Until 1947, music, or more specifically classical music, in North India belonged to a complex social universe. It was written and performed in princely establishments, courts and bourgeois public spheres in cities. It was present in both Hindu Vaishnav temples and Sufi Islamic silsilas - social circles that formed around specific teachers and followers, where music was an integral channel for experiencing mystic ecstasy.

From these cultural and social milieu sprung qawwali, a form of spiritual devotional music popular to this day across South Asia.

North Indian music flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries, in virtually all of Mughal North India, which extended from Gujarat in the west to Jaunpur and Benaras in the east (the current state of Uttar Pradesh); from the Punjab to the Mughal Deccan. It was part of a composite, Indo-Islamic culture, identified then as as “ganga jumni tehzib“.

The style incorporated acoustic elements from diverse sources and rested on a multi-lingual repertoire, conveying the simplicity of both Hindu bhakti and Islamic sufi poetry.

This poetry was inspired by popular devotional movements associated with Hinduism and Islam in the 15th century, which emphasised personal devotion and the value of a teacher. It commanded diverse genres that moved reasonably effortlessly between court and kotha: a space most commonly understood as brothel, but which was also part of the popular entertainment scene.

North Indian music also adapted musical instruments from South and Central Asia to produce new instruments such as the sitar and the sarod, and improvise with new conceptions of melody and vocalisation.

This music was carefully nurtured by specialist families with access to a vast repertoire and a galaxy of brilliant teachers, finding support in small courts that persisted even after the Great Mutiny of 1857, when the Indian army revolted.

Following the mutiny, musical families were much reduced in power and stature, but found new enthusiasts among a growing middle-class gentry whose rise occurred in a new context of western education and colonial employment.

- Music and modernity The heightened middle-class appreciation of music was mediated

Muslim Ustads (teachers and masters), had to be reconciled with the new aspirations of a western-educated, middle-class Hindu society. They needed to repurpose this entertainment to suit a Hindu-accented concept of Indianness.

The resolution that unfolded was a series of experiments in the late 19th and early 20th century, including publishing primers on music and setting up music appreciation societies.

These were initiated by nationalists and publicists such as Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande and Vishnu Digamber Paluskar.

Music, practised by courtesans and Muslim Ustads (teachers and masters), had to be reconciled with the new aspirations of a western-educated, middle-class Hindu society. They needed to repurpose this entertainment to suit a Hindu-accented concept of Indianness.

The resolution that unfolded was a series of experiments in the late 19th and early 20th century, including publishing primers on music and setting up music appreciation societies.

These were initiated by nationalists and publicists such as Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande and Vishnu Digamber Paluskar.

The societies that we mention here were early expressions of a growing middle class interest in music and its reformers who ended up assuming responsibility for music’s teaching and transmission. They also brought existing practitioners such as Abdul Karim Khan into a new regime of aesthetic standardisation and institutional support.

Ustads were persuaded to turn over their repertoire to be standardised and printed, while courtesans were marginalised in subtle and sometimes violent ways. Women were forced to give up their profession or move into new spaces afforded by the cinema, refashioning themselves in an appropriate manner as Jaddan Bai, the mother of legendary and pioneer Bollywood artist Nargis, did.

- Forced to choose sides After Partition, these hereditary practitioners were asked for the first time to choose the country they would live in. It was only then that the music of the region began to bear the scars of a violent disruption and division.

What was to happen even to the naming of this practice - was it to be Hindustani classical music or ilm e mausiqi Pakistani? This was a question that cut right to the heart of the problem; a question that musicians on both sides of the divide agonised over even as they struggled to maintain claims to lineage and authenticity.

Artists moved across borders, confused by the way events transpired.

Some found it easy to settle down and make a niche for themselves, such as singer Noor Jehan, who settled in Pakistan. Others found it difficult to juggle offers in India with stays in Pakistan.

Following Partition, Bade Ghulam Ali (1902-1968), the legendary singer from the Punjab and a doyen of the Patiala musical style, came back to India and was helped to acquire Indian citizenship by Morarji Desai, the chief Minister of Bombay in 1957.

There was no doubt that the violence of displacement and the zeal of the new states to prove their fidelity to national identities represented a loss for performers. Listeners too were ultimately losers, even if the politics of representation and consumption numbed them to the fractures that music and performance practice had sustained.

The debate is not framed in the same way today, but it was certainly a pressing one when Pakistan opted for a different set of musical forms and cultural symbols to define its distinct heritage.

To this day, artists from Pakistan who sing classical music find recep-

Up to 15 million people reportedly attended the funeral of C.N. Annadurai, one of Jayalalithaa’s predecessors as Tamil Nadu chief minister in 1969, while Mumbai ground to a halt when local Hindu nationalist leader Bal Thackeray died four years ago.

Like Jayalalithaa, they drew their support from the legions of poor rather than from within Delhi’s corridors of power.

“People who are powerless feel compelled to look up to someone who seems to offer some kind of hope,” said veteran commentator Parsa Venkateshwar Rao. “It’s a kind of psychological dependency.”

Teresa, declared a saint in September for her work with the poor, was widely derided in her lifetime as a fraud while Thackeray was criticised for divisive rhetoric.

Jayalalithaa was twice jailed over corruption allegations and famed for a vast sari collection.

But she won the loyalty of many with a series of populist schemes, including lunches that cost just three rupees (five cents) and election-time giveaways

Jayalalithaa Jayaram, was so maternal and indulgent during the conferences that one almost wondered why everyone feared her so much (Photo: AFP) ranging from laptops to goats.

“Economists criticised her populist schemes but the impact on the people’s psyche was immense,” said columnist Shubha Singh.

“She struck a chord with the masses, there was a direct chord between the leader and the people.”

- ‘Messiah status’ While the idea of deifying a living person is idolatrous for South Asia’s Muslims, India’s Hindus often elevate heroes to God-like status.

The now-retired cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was often greeted with banners proclaiming “Sachin is God” while fans of Narendra Modi wanted to open a temple in his honour last year before the Indian premier nixed the idea.

“The kind of blind adulation that we see for political leaders is not unique to India but what is perhaps unique in one respect is the fact that these leaders are perceived as superhuman beings,” said Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, editor of the Economic and Political Weekly.

“They become larger than life, they acquire a messianic status. Here is a person who is a benefactor, saviour of all, he almost becomes God.” While neighbouring China would never allow a personality cult to develop around a politician from outside the ruling Communist party, India is free to choose its heroes.

“Ours is a mass democracy,” said Rao. “We give vent to our emotions.

We are not restrained, stiff-upper lipped British types.”

- One of the family While never marrying or having children, 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was known among Tamils as Amma, meaning mother -- a powerful image in a country where the notion of “Mother India” runs deep.

The cheap meals were served in “Amma canteens” while state-subsidised products such as “Amma water” and “Amma cement” left people in no doubt over whom they should be grateful to.

Annadurai was known as Anna, which translates as elder brother, and Jayalalithaa was often compared to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerji, another unmarried woman known as “Didi”, Bengali for elder sister.

Christina Paun, a professor who was among the mourners in Chennai, said Jayalalithaa inspired such adoration partly “because she didn’t have a family of her own”.

“She was always a very loving woman, and her love went to her people,” she said.

Singh, the columnist, attributed Jayalalithaa’s popularity to her image as “a mother figure”.

“She was a consummate politician and her followers built a kind of aura around her,” he said. “The emotional connect they felt with Amma made them blind to her flaws.”

Right-wing group vandalize Jaipur Art Summit Hemlata Sharma, president of an outfit called Lal Sena, was seen in a video trying to incite vandalism at the event.

by Praveen Shekhar

S

ome miscreants barged into the venue of the ongoing Jaipur Art Summit on December 8, vandalized paintings and thrashed one of the painters. They also took away with them a painting displayed at the high-profile art fair. This act was to protest against the display of a seminude painting at the summit.

The culprits have been identified. A police investigation is on.

Hemlata Sharma, president of an outfit called Lal Sena, can be seen in a video gesturing, shouting and trying to justify her vandalism with the chant “does freedom of expression allow you to call this art”?

The other group responsible for vandalism at this art festival was Rashtriya Hindu Ekta Manch, a Hindu right-wing outfit, that had earlier taken offence to Raju Hirani’s movie PK. Many such incidents have been reported in the past. Various paintings and art galleries have been attacked by right-wing groups and related fringe elements.

On May 1, 1998, Bajrang Dal activists forced their way into acclaimed artist MF Husain’s south Mumbai home and created mayhem. They were apparently provoked by one of his works exhibited in New Delhi. They interpreted that the painting depicted Sita perched on the tail of a flying Hanuman, both in the nude. Husain had never given a caption to this painting, and the Hindutvavadis gave a free rein to their imagination.

On October 11, 1996, a group of Bajrang Dal activists forced their way into the Herwitz Gallery in Ahmedabad’s Husain-Doshi gufa, a well-known art complex. Armed with tridents and wearing saffron scarves, they intimi-

tive listeners in India and share the general feeling that politics has very little understanding of a deeper and shared aesthetic experience. Nasiruddin Sami, a Pakistani musician, has very close links to Delhi musical traditions and is very popular in the city.

This is certainly not to argue that both India and Pakistan did not nurture new creative artists or experiment fruitfully with genres such as the ghazal in Pakistan’s case, a poetic form that consists of rhyming couplets and that has enjoyed an immense resurgence.

A screenshot of video taken during the vandalizing. (YouTube) dated the only guard on duty there and destroyed about 23 tapestry items and 28 paintings, which were on display there. The work destroyed included Husain’s series on Hanuman, a depiction of the Last Supper and the famous Madhuri Dixit series.

It was on January 30, 2004 that the activists of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) ransacked the Garden Gallery of Arts and Textiles inside the premises of the Garden Silk Mills (GSM) in Gujarat’s Surat.

In 2006, Husain was accused of painting a ‘Naked Bharat Mata’ (nude Mother India). The painting was put up for auction by Apparao Galleries of Chennai. The title Bharat Mata was given by the auctioneer without referring to Husain. Husain again apologised and withdrew the painting from the charity auction.

On December 27, 2007, Shiv Sena activists attacked an exhibition of paintings by M F Husain in New Delhi, damaging two of his works on

But we need to understand the shared nature of the subcontinent’s traditions, music perhaps being the most deeply felt. As Bade Ghulam Ali is supposed to have said: “If in every home one child was taught Hindustani classical music, this country would have never been partitioned.”

Today, we live in a world that is saturated with sights and sounds that leak across borders, despite prohibitions and state posturings. In the digital age, bans make even less sense than older versions of censorship.

display. The activists managed to enter the art gallery at the famous India International Centre, despite a heavy police presence at the venue and prior information of Shiv Sainiks planning to attack the exhibition. The pamphlet released by Mangat Ram Munde, Delhi unit president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Sena, Shiv Sena’s students wing, alleged that Husain had made many obscene paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses.

In Delhi on August 24, 2008, Sri Ram Sene members barged into an art exhibition organised by NGO SAHMAT and destroyed several MF Husain paintings, leaving behind some pamphlets denouncing Husain’s attempts to hurt Hindu pride.

On August 16, 2013, an art gallery exhibiting works by Pakistani artists at Amdavad-ni-Gufa in Ahmedabad was vandalised by alleged VHP activists, who tore all the paintings and ransacked furniture. Amdavad-ni-Gufa is an art gallery established jointly by the late MF Husain and noted architect BV Doshi. (IndiaToday.com)

It appears mindless when governments speak of patriotism as some extreme form of clan loyalty, before which all sensibilities have to wither away.

Equally disquieting is that we, as consumers of infotainment, almost never seriously interrogate the banal but sinister intentions of government propaganda. (HuffingtonPost.com) Laksmi Subramanian is Professor of History, Center for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata.

SPORTS

VOICE OF ASIA 21

Cricket:

Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan aim for Australia history

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RISBANE, Australia | AFP | 12/14/2016 - The Pakistan team, six years in the making and armed with insider knowledge from coach Mickey Arthur, are poised to make history in Australia, veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said on Wednesday.

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Cricket:

King Kohli jumps to 2nd in batting chart

national coach up to his sacking ahead of the 2013 Ashes series in England.

“He knows the ins and outs of most of the players, he knows their strengths and weaknesses,” the captain said.

“That’s always helpful when you have that sort of inside information

Veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (Photo: Cricking.com) Misbah, who exerts a calming influence on the mercurial Pakistanis, believes the side has developed into one that can finally deliver a series win after 11 fruitless tours to Australia.

Pakistan have won only four of their 32 Tests Down Under and have lost their last nine Tests since their last victory in Sydney in 1995.

No team from the sub-continent has won a Test series in Australia, further underlining the massive undertaking.

But Misbah, who scored just 76 runs in four innings in his only tour to Australia in 2009-10, is confident the tourists can turn things around against Steve Smith’s men, who are themselves emerging from a recent losing five-Test run.

“We took almost six years to develop this team and that team showed a lot to the world when we played in England and in ‘home’ conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he told reporters ahead of Thursday’s day-night Test at Brisbane’s Gabba.

“So we have a lot of faith and confidence behind that. These players are experienced enough and they have the belief that they can do it.

“We’ve had some unbelievable successes in the past. I think those victories and those performances always give you confidence, even in Australia,” Misbah said.

“No doubt the conditions are tough but once you have confidence and belief I think you can change the history.”

Much of Pakistan’s confidence flows from the insights coach Arthur has on the Australians after his time as their

about the opposition.

- Gabba fortress “We feel we have that sort of advantage and he’s giving his input to the players how we need to go about the business. That can really help us in making our strategies.”

No one has beaten Australia at their Gabba fortress since the West Indies in 1988, but the unique challenge of the first pink-ball Test under lights at the ground makes Pakistan’s chances difficult to assess.

“It is not only the Gabba conditions but also the pink ball, day-night Test match,” said Misbah, who at 42 is the oldest current Test player.

“The players are not that much familiar with the pink ball and these conditions. That could be a challenge, especially under lights.

“It’s always a challenge when you come to play in Australia because these conditions are totally different from the rest of the world, a bit more bounce and pace here.

“You need some time to get used to these conditions, especially if you are playing under lights and using the pink ball. That could be a little bit tricky, especially for the batsmen.”

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah is looking to make an impact with the extra bounce from the Gabba pitch.

“He’s a wonderful bowler, he proved himself not only in the UAE but also in England,” Misbah said. ““We believe he (Yasir) is the kind of bowler who can make his impact especially in Australia where bounce can play a big role during the series.”

Football:

Afghan bag shirt boy meets idol Messi

India’s Virat Kohli climbed to a career-best second position in the ICC batting chart after his double-century in Mumbai helped the hosts clinch the five-match Test series against England ©Punit Paranjpe (AFP/File)

N

EW DELHI, India | AFP | 12/13/2016 -Indian batsman Virat Kohli climbed to a career-best second place in the Test rankings Tuesday after his third double century of the year helped the hosts seal their series victory over England.

Kohli, who is in the form of his life after striking his third double ton of the year, jumped a place in the Test table and is in line to top the rankings in all three forms of the game.

Kohli, who is currently ranked sec-

O

SAKA, Japan | AFP | 12/13/2016 - Japan’s Kashima Antlers will look to spring a major upset by reaching the Club World Cup final -- their aim to put Asian football on the map.

Antlers coach Masatada Ishii has called on the J-League title holders to ambush South American champions Atletico Nacional in the tournament’s first semi-final on Wednesday.

Barring a seismic upset, a potential dream final against Spanish giants Real Madrid in Yokohama awaits the winners.

“We are on a great run of form,” he said Tuesday. “The players are a little fatigued but the target is to maintain our momentum and finish the season with two more victories.

But they will be facing sentimen-

D

Murtaza Ahmadi met the Barcelona forward in Doha, where the Spanish league champions are due to play a friendly match against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli later.

Murtaza became a worldwide online hit earlier this year after he was pictured wearing his hero’s shirt, made out of a plastic bag, with the name Messi and the famous number 10 written on it in marker pen.

The shirt was made by his teenage brother Homayoun after his neighbour threw away grocery bags.

Six-year-old Murtaza, from the rural Ghazni province southwest of Kabul, walked out onto the pitch as a mascot hand-in-hand with the Argentinian at the start of the match at Doha’s AlGharrafa stadium.

“I love Messi, he plays really well, and I love the shirt my brother made for me,” he told AFP at the time.

“The image the world wanted to see,” tweeted Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisers, who brought the pair together.

Pictures of Murtaza playing football in his improvised kit were first posted on Facebook.

“The six year old boy who dreamed of meeting his hero, #Messi, finally comes true.”

A delighted Murtaza said: “I’m very happy to have met my hero. It is a dream for me,” according to a statement released by Qatar’s Supreme

His family could not afford to buy him a replica kit.

After the pictures went viral, Murtaza received a real shirt from his hero.

His father, Mohammad Arif Ahmadi, said at the time: “I want my son to become the Messi of Afghanistan.”

Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all started the friendly game .

Meanwhile Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has claimed 27 wickets in the four matches so far, comfortably held on to his top Test spot in the bowlers’ chart.

by Manuel Cabello Dujo

Kashima, who captured their eighth Japanese championship 10 days ago, squeezed past part-timers Auckland City 2-1 before beating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 to reach the semi-finals.

Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the committee overseeing organisation of the 2022 tournament.

While India consolidated their ranking as the top Test side, the Alastair Cook-led England are in danger of

Third-placed Australia and fourthranked Pakistan will be looking to displace England during their three Test series starting with the day-night Test in Brisbane on December 15.

Japan’s Antlers carry the fight for Asia

“If we fail, people will continue to say Japan is still way behind Europe and South America. We’re fighting for Japanese football, which makes these two matches extremely important.”

OHA, Qatar | AFP - An Afghan boy who became an internet sensation after pictures of him wearing an improvised Lionel Messi football shirt went viral finally got to meet his superstar idol on Tuesday.

Dubbed King Kohli by the media, the Indian skipper hit a career-best 235 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium over the weekend as his team romped to victory over England in the fourth match of the five-Test series.

losing their second place if they lose to their hosts in the fifth and final Test in Chennai starting Friday.

Football:

“If we get the results we want people will say that Asia is closing the gap,” added Ishii, whose team are bidding to become Asia’s first Club World Cup finalists.

Murtaza Ahmadi became an Internet sensation when he was photographed wearing an Argentina football shirt made out of a plastic bag. (Photo: AFP )

ond in ODIs and tops the Twenty20 chart, is just 11 points behind Australia captain Steve Smith in the International Cricket Council Test ratings.

Kashima Antlers midfielder Daigo Nishi speaks during his team’s official press conference for the Club World Cup in Osaka on Tuesday. (Photo: AFP-JIJI) tal favourites in Nacional, who were thrust into the public eye after their incidental part in the recent air tragedy which all but wiped out Brazilian rivals Chapecoense.

Chape were en route to play the Colombians in the Copa Sudamericana final when their plane crashed into a hillside near Medellin.

“These past few weeks have no doubt been difficult,” said Nacional coach Reinaldo Rueda, who led his side to a second Libertadores Cup in July.

“For us Chapecoense are like broth-

ers,” he added. “We have to give it everything for their memory because we’re a team, we are human beings. Chape had their dreams cruelly snatched away so it is our duty to reach the final.”

The Medellin club, who were beaten

by AC Milan in the tournament’s forerunner, the Intercontinental Cup, in 1989, have already played more than 80 games this season but will start as favourites on Wednesday.

“Kashima play attractive football and work well as a team,” said Rueda. “They’re a dangerous team so we need to be careful.”

Bobsled / Skeleton

Sochi stripped of world championships

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AUSANNE, Switzerland | AFP - Sochi was stripped Tuesday as the host of next year’s bobsleigh and skeleton world championships amid accusations of state-sponsored doping against Russia, bringing a furious reponse from Moscow at what it dubbed a baseless “political decision”.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) had come under pressure to move the event from the 2014 Winter Olympics host city after last week’s damning report

by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren which implicated more than 1,000 Russian athletes in at least 30 sports in a state-sponsored doping programme.

“The IBSF executive committee felt that during this difficult time it is prudent not to organise such an event in Russia,” a statement by the sports governing body read, adding a new location would be decided in the com-

ing days.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov reacted immediately, saying Russia “enormously regretted” the decision.

“We’re convinced that this was a political decision. It’s based on statements without any evidence,” Peskov was quoted as saying by the R-Sport agency.

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov expressed his surprise.

“There is an agreement for the organisation of these world championships that no one has terminated,” Kolobkov told R-Sport.

“We must look very carefully at the agreement signed by our Federation with the International Federation. We will clarify these issues and make decisions in the future.”

The announcement comes four days after the final publication of the McLaren report in which the Canadian lawyer described how Russia “hi-

jacked” sport by involving more than 1,000 athletes in an “institutional conspiracy” to win by mass doping at the Sochi 2014 Winter and London 2012 Olympics and other global competitions.

McLaren, who detailed in a previous report how Russian security services were involved in the nefarious scheme, said in a second report for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that at least 30 sports were implicated and that salt and instant coffee were used to manipulate Russian samples.

“This decision was made for two primary reasons,” the IBSF said of its ruling on Tuesday.

“First: to allow athletes and coaches from all nations to participate in a competition that focuses on sport rather than accusations and discussions whether justified or not.

“Second: The Russian Bobsleigh Federation has put a great effort in the preparation of the World Championships, but the current climate would make it nearly impossible to appreciate the efforts of the organising committee to host a great event or the quality of the Sanki Sliding Center as one of the best tracks in the world.

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Your Horoscope for the Week of December 16, 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 By removing money from the equation, you allow yourself new avenues of exploration and expression. New friends can lead you to new avenues of social & professional exposure. Be yourself & you’ll be accepted & loved by all. Encourage others to pursue their talents. Community spirit might be upstaged by individuals who lacks rational. Listen to them, but don’t put too much stock into their sad story.

A high level of confidence will announce to others that you’re ready to get down to business. Communicate your intentions clearly from the very beginning. The secret to your success will lie in finding an opportunity to bounce off. If you continue to argue on every point, then you may need to look elsewhere. You need to know when you’re wrong and when to admit it. Accepting a defeat or a setback with grace will make a bad moment much shorter. You may never want this to happen again, but if it does, you’ll be better prepared to handle it.

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

Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov

Your energy level is high. You need to be cautious about who you trust with your personal & financial matters. Time is on your side, so don’t rush any big decisions. Remember that a relationship is as much about friendship as it is about obligation. If you and your partner aren’t having any gains, it’s time to ask why. If the two of you were too much alike, there’d be no spark. Use your imagination & you’ll come up the winner. You are a survivor. Try looking up in reference books or on the internet.

Exhibit the benefits of the new venture. Peers may try to question your motives, respond with positive financial data. Collect & study the facts, you may be tested to remember, later. Don’t be too ready to accuse someone without knowing the facts, but you probably shouldn’t trust everything you hear. If you are in marketing field, you are likely to close the deals and get top dollar. People are your life, as well as a source of your wonder.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Don’t jump to any conclusions right away, allow some time to soften your overall view of things. You’ll need the time to digest your thoughts & emotions. Patience will be required in order to understand others perspective. Another native figures prominently. Reconnect with what excites you and rejoin the life that’s going on outside your door. By week’s end, you should make time to enjoy some peace & quiet at home. You’ll feel more confident in who you are.

A chance meeting will be the start of a fresh new deal. Spend some quality time & realize how special you feel. Your entire outlook will be transformed. Gatherings may be heated, refuse to take sides in family disagreements. It’ll only cause you to make bad feelings. Don’t allow negative comments you hear to discourage your progress. Watch for opportunities that could soon become available to you. Take a moment to study the situation from all angles. Opportunities for travel, romance & communications.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Enjoy the learning and bring the light to those who share your ideas. Check security issues and viable solutions will come to you. Everything will seem to be going in the opposite direction from what you had anticipated. Instead of letting it get to you, look on the bright side and be dazzled by what you see. Quick thinking could save everything.

Strategy will take over once you can no longer accept the way things are. It’s possible to make changes without causing damage. You’ll be able to put things into a better perspective.

You will transform information and data into a valuable opportunity. Take the time you need to streamline procedures and improve techniques. Once you do, you’ll be able to reap rewards beyond your expectations. Gather together with others who share your passion and want to succeed. Your ability to encourage them will pay off in many ways.

Their gratitude will be overwhelming and surprising. Family members will try to bring you into their web. Schedules will create your ability to have discipline in your life.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Stress your independence, creativity and style. Your personality will be bubbling. Take on the leadership role & make sure you listen your own words. Relax and make yourself feel at home. Be aware of the limits to which a business relationship can be stretched. Be open to new experiences, and remember to say thank you. By week’s end you’ll have an extra burst of energy. You’re eager to ask questions and not afraid of the answers. You’ll be the life of the party. Your judgments could play a big role in others lives.

Set the standards, keep the flow positive & don’t try to preach your morals to others.

Keep your private life private and your social life social. Your impatience might put you in awkward condition of saying or doing something inappropriate. Others may not be in a mood to have their limitations challenged. The closer you get to someone, the less your differences matter. Allow room for variation. Mutual literary interest could bond a relationship. Take the lead & enjoy a fulfilling end to a great week.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Regrets have a way of softening the hard edges. An old wound may be slow to heal.

No one ever said it was going to be easy, but you know it’ll be worth it. Open your eyes to the reality that exists not what you perceive through your rose colored glasses. Look deeper and you will be able to make needed changes. Family affairs will work out if you look at the situation through others eyes. Investigate all promising secondhand information for yourself. Everyone will be fascinated with your conversations.

BD

If possible, try to get an extension on your work deadlines. Hasty actions could be worse for you than not acting at all. If you have more time, try to devote it to getting it right. Someone close to you will disappoint you. There’s no point in pretending to be objective, but at least you can be fair with your feelings. Partners in an intense friendship have many ways to communicate. Once you’re able to express your pent up feelings, you’ll be able to forgive then move on. Get out and find new projects that interest you. Seize every opportunity that comes your way.

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To advertise, call: Phone: 713-774-5140 ads@voiceofasiagroup.com

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VOICE OF ASIA 23

PET SAFETY

Holiday Hazards Abound for Pets

T

he holiday season may not always be the happiest time of year for our four-legged friends. Many dangers abound for dogs and cats -- from holiday greenery to rich chocolate treats to sparkly tinsel.

keep these away from pets, as well, just to be safe!

• Tinsel Time: It’s never time for tinsel when it comes to pets.

While cats may love batting around the sparkly stuff, swallowing it can lead to digestive

Houston Community College - Invitation for Bid (IFB) Asphaltic Parking Lot Reconstruction & Restoration Project No. 17-20 Sealed bids will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No.11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

A Pre-Bid Conference (NonMandatory) for IFB 17-20 will be held at HCCS Central Campus, San Jacinto Building, Room No. 112, Houston, Texas 77004, on Thursday, January 5, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. (local time).

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

Tips on Holiday Tipping • Sweet Surrender: Don’t let pets eat chocolate or any human treats sweetened with xylitol, as these can be deadly to dogs and toxic to cats. While you can give in to these temptations, keep them away from furry friends.

• Deck the Halls Carefully: Boughs of holly can cause all sorts of gastrointestinal distress to pets, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can also cause stomach troubles and even cardiovascular issues.

Even lilies can cause kidney failure in cats. So choose artificial seasonal decorations instead of plant-based ones. And

tract obstructions and other nasty gastrointestinal issues.

• Safely Light the Way: Holiday lights may be beautiful, but strings of lights can easily be chewed on or yanked, causing electrical shocks. And unattended lighted candles can be knocked over by curious paws.

So be mindful of where and when you place such holiday decorations.

With a bit of smart preparation you can keep you family’s pets well cared for during the holiday season and beyond.

SOURCE: (SPM Wire)

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

Who should you tip and how much should you tip during the holidays?

•

Be sure to check the giftgiving policy at a child’s school before giving teachers a present.

•

Be aware that the U.S. Postal Service restricts the gifts that mail carriers can accept. Presents worth up to $20 are fine, but carriers can’t accept cash.

•

Don’t give food unless you’re certain the recipient can eat it. With many people changing to more restrictive diets, your symbol of generosity might end up re-gifted or thrown out. Similarly, not every recipient would appreciate wine or spirits as a gift.

HOME SAFETY

Making Fireplace Safety a Priority in Your Household

G

etting cozy this winter? You’ll definitely want to make use of your fireplace. But remember, you’ll need to take extra precautions to keep everybody and everything safe.

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK

Voice of Asia is Hiring LOOKING FOR REPORTERS IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS Indian SuperMarket

Are you looking to join a winning team? Our employees enjoy doing their jobs with warm smiles and a real passion for helping customers. We are passionate about food and take pride in providing exceptional service. We are hiring at our Houston, Hillcroft store for the following part time & full time positions: • Cashiers (multiple openings) • Admin Assistants / Package Shipping Clerks Email Resume to jobs@subhlaxmigrocers.com

Voice of Asia is Hiring LOOKING FOR REPORTERS Voice of Asia Newsweekly is looking for people with a flair for writing to cover local events. This is a paid offer. You must have the following skills: 1. Write news reports in English by covering the event.

(300 - 500 words) required some evenings & weekends.

2. Take clear photographs of newsworthy people and places.

3. We are looking for reporters to cover events in different South Asian communities like Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil Hindi, and Malayalam.

Voice of Asia Newsweekly looking peoplesavvy. with a flair Owning a camera is a plus.is Must be for computer for writing to cover local events. This is a paid offer. You must have the following skills:

Voice of Asia Newsweekly has been in Houston since 1987 1. newsWe reports in Englishand by covering the event. forWrite 29 years. are expanding we are looking for (300 500 words) required some evenings & weekends. serious, dedicated people with a true flair for covering 2. Take clear photographs of newsworthy people and newsworthy places. events. If you are the person, or you know someone would the perfect fit, give us aincall today.

3. We are who looking for be reporters to cover events different South Asian communities like Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil Hindi, Calland us Malayalam. at 713-774-5140 to attend an interview.

Don’t Let One Bad Experience Stop You from Giving Feedback It can be tough to get up the nerve to give a colleague — or your boss — constructive feedback, even if they’ve requested it.

And if the person becomes defensive, it’s easy to shut down and tell yourself that offering your thoughts is a bad idea in general.

But overgeneralizing from one experience is never a good idea and your reactive thoughts in that moment — “I’m never good at having honest conversations” or “No one wants to hear about things they could do better” —work against you. Your brain is essentially prioritizing your short-term psychological safety over the long-term benefit of having discussions that allow you and your colleague to learn. Don’t give into this negative thinking.

Instead focus on the positive experiences you’ve had giving feedback. You might think, “Wow, that didn’t go well, but my general track record is still very good.”

Source: Adapted from “Don’t Let Your Brain’s Defense Mechanisms Thwart Effective Feedback,”

by James R. Detert and Ethan R. Burris WWW.HBR.ORG

Owning a camera is a plus. Must be computer savvy.

Voice of Asia Newsweekly has been in Houston since 1987 for 29 years. We are expanding and we are looking for serious, dedicated people with a true flair for covering newsworthy events. If you are the person, or you know someone who would be the perfect fit, give us a call today.

The use of a safety screen is a must -- in fact, they’re required on all fireplaces manufactured after January 1, 2015 -- so if your fireplace didn’t come with one or if it is not in good shape, get a retrofit safety screen. Even with a screen, it is also crucial that you give your fireplace clearance, keeping little ones, pets and flammables away.

Call us at 713-774-5140 to attend an interview.

To learn more or to request a retrofit screen for your fireplace, visit Heatilator.com.

When making memories with friends, family and your fireplace, make safety a priority.

(StatePoint)

VOICE OF ASIA

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VOICE OF ASIA 24

FRIDAY, December 16, 2016

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