Voice of Asia E Paper January 29 2016

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VOICE OF ASIA 28 years of dedicated service to the community

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

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ocial Security offers Tools to help Seniors and Baby Boomers have a better retirement Read on Page 16 or Call 832-806-1000

Vol. 29 No. 5 Friday, January 29, 2016 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

TiE Houston hosts its first

Indian Americans celebrate India’s Republic Day with Consul General Charter Member Dinner of 2016 67th Flag hoisting ceremony at Hon. Parvathaneni’s residence Announces President Elect and 2016 initiatives

TiE Houston Board of Directors with President Aruna Vishwanath and John Reale, President Elect (takes over May 2016) at the Charter Member dinner meeting on Jan 22, 2016. Photo credit VOA.

Consul General Mr. P Harish receiving a Certificate of Commendation from Mr. William Miller, Southeast Texas Deputy Regional Director, Senator Ted Cruz on the occasion.

by Shobana Muratee OUSTON - TiE Houston held its Charter Member meeting at the elegant McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks in the UpTown Park Blvd. on Friday, January 23, 2016 which had 71 attendees.

Aruna Viswanathan, President since Jan 2013 presented an overview of TiE Houston activities and accomplishments

OUSTON - To celebrate India’s 67th Republic Day, Flag Hoisting and Open House for Indian nationals, members of the Indian American community, and friends of India was held on 26 January 2016 at Consul General of India, Mr. P Harish and Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni’s residence.

The function was attended by over 200 persons, with

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in 2015.

In 2015, TiE Houston held over 25 events with 225 Entrepreneurs or team members participating. Nine companies had assisted in the annual investment forum and raised $5M, she reported. As TiE most significant achievement of the year 2015, Viswanathan said, it was the successful launch of Energy Special Interest Group across CA, Colorado.

Earlier Shri Iyer, Past President welcomed the members and guests and shared his thoughts on Viswanathan who he said had taken TiE to the next level. He also made a brief introduction of John Reale ‘JJ’ the President Elect who would take charge in May 2016. Iyer livened the mood a Continued on Page 3

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a large, diverse and broad based representation of the Indian-American community in Greater Houston and neighboring cities in Texas and friends of India, despite the inclement weather. The program comprised unfurling of the Tricolor; singing of National Anthem, reading of President of India’s address and cultural programs by Ms. Kruthi and Ms. Keerthana

Bhat, Students of Krishna Gaana Sudha Music Academy of Houston honoring Music legend Late Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi on her 100 Birth Anniversary this year; and serving of refreshments/ high tea.

Publications on India including India Perspectives, Make in India brochures and Continued on Page 8

India Culture Center Houston hosts IFair 2016 celebrating India’s 67th Republic Day

by Shobana Muratee

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TAFFORD, TX, January 24, 2016 – Indian Americans in Houston joined India Culture Center Houston (ICC) at their signature event IFair 2016 to celebrate 67th Republic Day of India at Stafford Center on Sunday, Jan 24th. The mid-day program started at 1.15pm with ICC Essay Competition where 20 participants in the age groups 10-15years. presented their creative writing on the topic “What I like most growing up as an Indian American in Greater Houston?”

& Sugar Land

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee presenting a proclamation to Charlie Patel, ICC president while Event Chair Ajit Patel and ICC Trustee Swapan Dhairyawan look on. Photo credit VOA.

Participants at the IFair 2016.

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The celebrations were centered on the theme ‘Vibrant India’ and showcased India’s classical dances: Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi and for the first time featured a Continued on Page 8

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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I

n an environment where economic growth is modest, India today stands as a bright spot among the global economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its report has projected India’s growth for 2015 at 7.3%, and rising to 7.5%in 2016. In its report dated 12th November 2015, the IMF said that while emerging economy growth remains fragile and could be derailed in an environment of declining commodity prices, reduced capital flows, and higher financial market volatility, India’s growth will benefit from recent policy reforms, a consequent pickup in investment, and lower commodity prices. Moody’s ratings revised India’s sovereign rating outlook to “positive” from “stable”.

Foreign direct investment flows during the 2014-2015 reached US$ 44 billion. FDI has also for the first time in seven years exceeded the current account deficit. The government’s continued push towards FDI liberalization will continue to aid FDI flows. The Financial Times of London in its ranking of the top destinations for greenfield investment (measured by estimated capital expenditure) in the first half of 2015 shows India at number one, having attracted roughly $31 billion, $3 billion more than China and $4 billion more than the US. Administrative reforms, simplification of approval processes, including online project approval and easier environmental clearance procedures, are expected to improve business sentiment and the ease of doing business in India. The Project Monitoring Group (PMG) set up under the Cabinet is reviewing a total of 704 projects worth US$ 451 billion, which have not received approvals because of hurdles like lack of fuel, green clearances and land acquisition with investments. To date the PMG has cleared a total of 411 projects entailing investments of US$ 253 billion. The government has set an ambitious deadline of 2016 for implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST). A clear cut road map for lowering corporate tax from 30% to 25% over the next 4 years has been laid down.

BOOKS

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UGAR LAND, TX - Dr. NIK NIKAM, a well-known cardiologist from Houston, who has touched thousands of hearts and lives, has just released his latest book, “NIK’S COMEDY CLIPS,” which takes a humorous look at his life journey over three decades. It is filled with funny stories, jokes, and insightful observations of his patients, people, and the community.

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

India: Charting a New Reform Path Other forward looking initiatives by the government include nod for IPOs/FPOs by banks to raise funds, as long as government equity remains 52% or over. Nod for real estate and infrastructure investment trusts, with tax benefits. Cabinet nod for 100 Smart Cities Project. US$130 billion proposed spending on railways over five years on schemes including high-speed trains. Successful conclusion of two rounds of coal block auctions, more lined up. Impasse in mining sector ended with the passage of new bill for regulation and development.

Successful conclusion of auctions for telecom spectrum for mobile telephony and broadband. Single-window scheme for various clearances to steel, coal and power projects. Clarity in tax treatment on income of foreign fund whose fund managers are located in India, as also on transfer pricing for resident and non-resident tax payers and waiving of retrospective imposition of a minimum alternative tax (MAT) affecting foreign funds.

In November 2015 the Cabinet approved a bailout plan for state government-owned electricity distribution companies (Discoms) in a move that could fundamentally change India’s power sector and also reduce the stress on books of banks that have loaned money to these financially unsound utilities. The rescue plan, called Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojna (UDAY), which is optional and to be operationalised through signing of a tripartite MoU (between Ministry of Power, the concerned State Government and the Discom) seeks to provide a solution to State Discoms and empower them to break-even in next 2-3 years.

November 2015 also saw the government awarding contracts to set up two locomotive plants. The contracts are two of the first and the largest to be awarded to foreign firms since India last year allowed 100% FDI in the railway sector.

General Electric Co. (GE) will build a diesel locomotive factory and Alstom SA will set up an electric locomotive in the state of Bihar. The plants will be set up at an estimated cost of around Rs. 2,052 crore and Rs. 1,294 crore respectively.

The two projects involve manufacturing 1,000 diesel

locomotives and 800 electric locomotives over the next 10 years and are together worth about Rs. 40,000 crore. While the Railways will have 26% equity and provide land, the foreign companies will have a stake of the remaining 74% in each of the plants. The plants will be up and running within 3 years and 80% of all parts used in the manufacture of the locomotives will be sourced locally.

Medium-term growth prospects have also improved following recent policy initiatives towards unlocking coal and other mining activity, liberalization of FDI limits (100% in railways, 49% in insurance, and 49% in defence with the caveat that FDI in defence could go up to 100% with the control vested in the hands of the Indian JV partner and approval be secured from the government) and a renewed thrust on public investment in infrastructure, which would help to improve the investment climate. To boost the investment environment in the country, the government on November 10, 2015 further eased FDI norms across 15 sectors. Some of the new FDI norms include: composite FDI cap in the Banking sector has been raised to 74%, minimum investment commitment and floor area stipulation for FDI in construction has been done away with, FDI limit in news and current affairs TV channels and FM radio has been raised to 49% from 26%, FDI limit in Teleports, Direct-toHome (DTH), digital cable networks, Mobile TV has been raised from 74% to 100%; FDI of up to 49% under automatic route is now allowed in Regional Air Transport Services; FDI of up to 49% is allowed in the defence sector under the automatic route and if in excess of 49% will be considered

by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The cap for approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has been increased to Rs 5,000 crore from Rs 3,000 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) will only decide on FDI proposals not under the automatic route and beyond Rs 5,000 crore.

As a result of the above measures, India has moved up 16 positions to rank 55th on a global index of the world’s

most competitive economies compiled by the World Economic Forum. The jump in India’s position underlines the country’s recent economic recovery, improvement in the competitiveness of the country’s institutions and its macroeconomic environment.

According to the Baseline Profitability Index of the Foreign Policy Journal, India has recently been ranked No. 1 among 110 countries making it the world’s topmost investment destination. The US International Trade Commission in its report Trade and Investment Policies in India (201415) mentioned that the Indian government has made significant changes in addressing barriers to trade and investment. Areas identified in the report where significant policy changes have been made include: FDI; tariffs and customs procedures; local content and localization requirements, particularly concerning ICT goods; and standards and technical regulations.

The World Bank now ranks India at 130 out of 189 countries on the Ease of Doing Business. That is up 12 places from its original ranking last year and 4 places from its rank on a revised list (based on a new methodology). According to the WB report, it takes 29 days to start a business in India today, unlike the 127 days it used to take in 2004.

The biggest improvement was seen in the area of providing electricity connection to businesses, where India’s ranking improved from 99 in 2015 to 70 in 2016.

India is ranked 8th in terms of protecting minority investors, 42nd in getting credit, but scores poorly in dealing with construction permit with a rank of 183 out of 189 countries. Enforcing contract (rank 178), paying taxes (rank 157), resolving insolvency (rank 136) are other areas where India ranks poorly. Forward movement on the goods and services tax (GST), setting up of commercial courts, enacting the bankruptcy law, simplifying taxation and corporate law, and easing the entry-exit norms are expected to give a boost to India’s ranking in 2016-17.

“Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India.”

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You also can catch glimpses of his humorous stories from this latest book, on his YouTube channel NIK NIKAM.

Brian Mertz, M.S. CEO “Helping India Caregivers Help Others” “We are a caregiver information and advocacy website that all Indian Americans could use”

His book is available in both paperback ($12.99) and eBook ($3.99) formats on Amazon. com. Please do leave your comments on Amazon.

Dr. Nik Nikam came to the United States from India in 1973. He has been practicing cardiology in Houston and Sugar Land, Texas for more than three decades. He has two daughters and a son. He has made hundreds of presentations on Heart Healthy Lifestyle.

More than 100 articles written by him have been published in many Indian newspapers in Houston and across the United States.

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Dr. Nikam’s other publications include Stressless Mind and Priceless Body( 1995), Health Healthy Lifestyle (2010), Ramayan Screenplay

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VOICE OF ASIA 3

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

VOICE OF ASIA

Second Front Page

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

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TiE Houston hosts its first Charter Member Dinner ......

President Aruna Vishwanath making her presentation.

TiE Houston Board with Charter Members with TiE Global member Ashok Rao.

Continued from Page 1

bit by jesting on how JJ resembled a noted villainous character of the Indian cinema by the name ‘Shetty.’

Viswanathan will be handing over charge to an equally competent Incoming President. John Reale who moved from New York City to Texas.

He holds BS, Degree in Finance from Babson College. He is the Founder of Arête Ventures, an investment and advisory platform that helps launch and grow early stage technology companies. He is also the Co-founder of Station Houston, a co-working platform and venture fund to support the startup ecosystem in Houston Mentor at Surge, Owl Spark & Red Labs, active with Rice Alliance. A Former Operating Partner for Fraser McCombs Capital, a venture fund based out of Red McCombs family office and worked with four different startups in various roles. He served in the Financial services at Morgan Stanley & JP Morgan, Founding Member of Avalon Advisors, a wealth management company in Houston.

Four Charter Members Kemal Farid, Blake Burnette, Ram Shenoy and Philippe Flichy shared their experiences with TiE locally as well as in Silicon Valley regional conference TiECon and global retreat Dublin, Ireland. Each had very commendable and promising words for TiE’s lead-

Ram Shenoy and Mrs Shenoy

ership and goals.

TiE will continue to focus on its goals that are: To grow number of entrepreneurs reached from 225 to 350 To grow membership by 40% Women in tech focused mentorship TiE RBPC Angels - group investment in Rice Business Plan Competition teams Part of the presentation also focused on Why TiE Matter? Because it set high goals, for its diversity into Technology, Sales, Business, apart

TiE’s John Reale (with wife Kim) and Aruna Viswanathan with Karan Sreeram, IAPAC President and IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia and President Joya Shukla.

from their other strengths like being connected with Rice University Business Plan and resourceful investors.

Viswanathan recognized Executive Director, Sehar Javed for her contri-

bution and dedication to the organization. Arun Pasrija, board member made the Closing remarks.

About The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Global:

TiE is a global network of successful entrepreneurs with presence in 61 cities in 18 countries that focuses on startup success through mentoring, education, networking, incubation, and funding.

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The People’s Lawyer

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

2016 IACCGH Inaugural Networking Works Reception

www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Insurance should compensate you for all of your “loss” Q. My family was involved in a car accident. My brother was driving and my 80 year-old grandmother was also in the vehicle along with my mother. It was the other driver’s fault.

We are attempting to settle but the insurance company only wants to pay for medical bills and damage to our car, even though we went through a lot of stress and other financial loss.

What can I do to have them compensate us?

A. When someone causes an accident, they are responsible under an area of law known as tort law. The objective of tort law is to place you back in the position you were before the accident. This means compensating you for whatever loss you incurred as a result of the accident. Basically, there are two types of damages, economic and non-economic.

Economic damages include all of your financial loss, such as the value of the car and medical bills. It sounds like the insurance company is offering to compensate you for this loss. You say you have “other financial loss,” and you should let them know you expect to be compensated for that loss. For example, you may have had some other personal property in the car that was damaged or lost wages. Most insurance companies will compensate you for this type of loss once you give them proof of the amount.

IACCGH President, Joya Shukla welcoming the guests at Houston City Hall Rotunda on January 20, 2016. Photo (s) credit: Bijay Dixit.

The law also allows you to recover non-economic loss, such as pain and suffering and mental anguish. In my opinion, however, recovering for your “stress” may be very difficult in Texas. You generally need an extreme situation. You cannot recover for “mere anxiety, worry, vexation, embarrassment, or anger.” For example, mental anguish is recoverable when you are receiving psychiatric care. To recover for mental anguish, you usually must show that the stress caused a “substantial disruption in your daily routine.” If the insurance company refuses to offer compensation for your stress and you feel you are entitled to it, you will need to speak with a personal injury attorney to assist you. Be sure to ask what it will cost before signing anything. You may end up with less money than you have been offered.

OUSTON: The 2016 Inaugural ‘IACCGH Networking Works’ Reception was held on January 20th at the Houston City Hall Rotunda. President Joya Shukla introduced her board and welcomed Chief Guest Consul General P. Harish, Councilmember Lee,

by Manu Shah

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a 30 member delegation to India led by Former Mayor Annise Parker to encourage Indian investment in Houston.

Consul General P. Harish has been an Advisor to the Chamber and lauded the Chamber for helping bring “our economies and people together.” He also spoke about the greater

Former Publisher of the Houston Business Journal, John Beddow, described by Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia as “an innovator in the publishing industry” was honored for his exceptional leadership of one of Houston’s leading business journals. Recently retired from “the Journal but not from life”

Q. My husband and I have been married for over thirty years. I am currently unemployed.

Our marriage is going down hill and I am afraid he will file for divorce. Is there a law requiring he pay me alimony.

A. At the time of your divorce, the court will divide the community property you have acquired during the marriage. Texas does not authorize alimony, but it does allow a court to order spousal support if you cannot support yourself on the property you have after the divorce. Because you have been married for more than ten years, you are eligible for spousal support. Generally, it is awarded for a period of three or fewer years. I suggest you promptly speak with a family law attorney as soon as you believe your husband may file.

Q. Can I be sued or put in jail for a payday loan I defaulted on in 2008? A debt collector is threatening to sue and put me in jail.

A. First, you cannot be put in jail for not paying your debts. We ended debtor’s prison a long time ago. You can be sued for defaulting on a payday loan, but the statute of limitations limited when suit must be filed is generally four years. This means that if the lender sued, you would have a defense to the lawsuit.

There also is a very strong federal debt collection statute that prohibits wrongful threats and misleading statements. Look at my website below for much more information about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Threatening to sue on an old debt or to put a consumer in jail violates this law. The law lets you recover any actual damages you have, plus a penalty of up to $1,000. My guess is that letting the collector know you know about this law will end the threats, and allow you to work out a payment plan you can live with, or stop all further collection efforts.

Former Publisher of the Houston Business Journal, John Beddow being honored on the occasion

by Consul General P. Harish and IACCGH President Joya Shukla and ED Jagdip Ahluwalia

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IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia, President Joya Shukla and Past President Sanjay Ramabhadran join Consul General P. Harish in honoring American Leadership Forum’s President Daniel Snare.

Jay Guerrero from Senator Cornyn’s office, Fred Whipple from Shell and IACCGH members and guests.

Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia welcomed the gathering and encouraged them to network and get to know each other – one of the tenets on which the Chamber was built. He also described the creation of the Chamber in 1999 as “being ahead of the curve” when India was not “as fashionable or economically viable” as it is today. The Chamber, he continued, has evolved over the years and has navigated the needs of the members during this time.

Past President Sanjay Ramabhadran welcomed the guests on behalf of immediate Past President Ashok Garg and summarized the activities of 2015. Apart from well attended Signature Events such as the Distinguished Lecture Series and the Women Mean Business Series, the year saw a historic first in having a sitting US Ambassador to India Richard R.Verma deliver a brilliant Keynote speech at its annual Gala held in September. Yet another first was

engagement between India and the US over the past two years in various areas and stated that going forward the Chamber’s role will be defined by its “day to day interactions of how to bring common business folks together from both sides.”

Shell’s VP Fred Whipple did the honors of introducing the 17th President and the 3rd woman President of the Chamber - Joya Shukla. Having worked with her over the past few years, he spoke admiringly about her “passion for volunteering, leadership qualities, compassion and a willingly to do the things that need to get done.”

The Chamber’s youngest President Joya Shukla addressed the gathering and stated that she was not just “ready to lead but ready to serve” to ensure that the Chamber continued its successful streak in promoting business and enterprise in the Greater Houston region. She appreciated the success that had been achieved

by Indo Americans not just in material terms but in making a difference to the community and believed that by working together “they could raise the bar again.”

John Beddow has started a consulting business in sales, marketing and media relations.

American Leadership Forum’s President Daniel Snare was also felicitated for his efforts in bringing together leaders in Houston to serve the common good.

Speaking on the occasion, he stated that ALF’s membership represented leaders from diverse sections of the community with the goal to co create new ideas and new solutions through dialogue to better serve the community.

According to him its “no coincidence that the city of Houston is recognized as one of the most successful and diverse cities in the world.”

The Chamber’s next event to be held on February 10th will feature Chancellor and President of the University of Houston and Board Member and Chairwoman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Dr. Renu Khator.

She will speak about the Bank and its role in guiding the economy using the tools of monetary policies.

To register, please visit www.iaccgh.com

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

FOCUS Launches Tom Ford Pop-Up Shop at Press Preview and Soft Opening in Montrose

Dr. Bimal Patel with family. Photo credit FOCUS. OUSTON, Texas – January 22, 2016 - More than 80 Houstonians packed the soft opening and press preview of FOCUS’ Tom Ford pop-up shop Wednesday evening in the trendy and upscale Montrose District. Fashion-forward folks got a sneak peek into Dr. Bimal Patel’s luxury optometry spa and the brands he will be carrying.

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FOCUS is unique in that it will eliminate the sterility of typical doctor’s visits and immerse the patient into a soothing, spa-like atmosphere with champagne, eye massages and a bespoke experience. Through a styling consult based on the patient’s unique fashion sense, he or she will pick the perfect pair of eyewear, followed by an in-depth consultation, in which Dr. Patel will be using state-of-

the-art technology to create an e-scription for each patient.

“No one eye is the same, and we will be the ONLY practice in Houston to check our patients’ vision by using the Zeiss VisuPhor and iProfiler,” said Patel. “It combines Germanengineered technology that will take into account every curvature and internal formation of the eye and transform that information into algorithms, which will provide the patient with lenses that give them the most precise vision possible.

These are not the typical lenses that you get online or at onehour optical stores. These are digitally mastered and unique to each individual.”

Dr. Patel specializes in primary care and the diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseas-

Guests in Tom Ford Eyewear. es. Through his experience at one of the country’s top refractive surgery centers, Dr. Patel has honed his skills in LASIK management and specialty contact lenses. He is also one of the few doctors in the Houston area certified to fit Orthokeratology contact lenses, which correct vision while the patient sleeps.

In addition, Focus will carry the best brands in eyewear fashion, including: Tom Ford, Balenciaga, Ferragamo, Zac Posen, Gucci, Dior, Ted Baker, Specs of Wood, Ray Ban and Burberry. For more information about the practice and the unique patient experience, please visit www.eyelovefocus.com.

One-on-one interviews and high-resolution images will be made available upon request.

Dr. Patel speaking at his event. Seen with Neal Hamil models in Tom Ford pop-up shop.

Hindu Students Association Free colorectal cancer awareness presents Gateway 2016 Retreat seminar and screening kit Colorectal cancer affects 1 out of 20 Americans

About the Hindu Students Association

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his February 5th- 7th, the Hindu Students Association will host its biennial retreat, Gateway, at the URJ Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas!

Ali Mahmood, M.D. and Nasrullah Manji, M.D.

SUGAR LAND — (February 1, 2016) According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. “Because of screening tests, colorectal cancer can be caught early, increasing the survival rate for those diagnosed with the disease,” says Dr. Ali Mahmood, boardcertified colorectal surgeon at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer of the colon or rectum.

While the exact cause is unknown, Mahmood cites the following as risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing the disease: • AGE. The odds of developing colorectal cancer increase after age 50. Over 90 percent of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are age 50 and older.

• FAMILY HISTORY. Having close relatives (parents, siblings or children) who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer increases your risk; therefore, earlier and more frequent screenings may be recommended by your physician.

• TORY

PERSONAL HISOF COLORECTAL

POLYPS OR COLORECTAL CANCER. A polyp is a growth that develops on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Some polyps may become cancerous.

If you’ve been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the past, the disease may reoccur.

• LIFESTYLE. Other risk factors include unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, smoking and bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease. “Although some risk factors like age and family history cannot be avoided, other factors are within your control,” says Dr. Nasrullah Manji, board-certified gastroenterologist on staff at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “Choosing to follow a healthy lifestyle may help lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer.”

Mahmood warns, “Colorectal cancer usually does not present symptoms in its earliest stages.” But, he adds, as the cancer progresses, the following symptoms may develop: • Irregular bowel habits, including constipation and diarrhea • A constant feeling that you need to have a bowel movement • Rectal bleeding or bloody stools

• Anemia (low blood count found on lab tests) • Frequent pains or cramps

stomach

If you or a loved one exhibits any of these symptoms, or is at risk for developing the disease, don’t hesitate to consult a physician about being screened for colorectal cancer. Early screenings can save lives.

HSA’s Gateway Retreat is the largest retreat organized by the Hindu Students Association.

With a strong focus on personal spiritual growth, the retreat includes religious discourses by knowledgeable Acharyas and Swamis, student-led discussions about hot-topic issues affecting young Hindus, Yoga sessions, cultural dances, and social gatherings which allow participants to bond with young Hindus from other branches.

We are excited to announce the guest speakers for Gateway! Returning from last years

Gateway, we welcome back Satguru Bodhinathswami from the Kauaii Adheenam who will discuss various topics of Hinduism, and its applications to daily college life. We are also thrilled to welcome Swami Sarvapriyananda from the Vedanta Society who will be speaking on a topic entitled, “Who am I?” about self discovery and how it relates to Hinduism.

We welcome all who are interested to participate in this spiritual event! Registration and further information can be found at our official Gateway website: http://hindustudents.wix.com/gateway2016 or the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1697482087141350/.

If you have any further questions regarding Gateway, please feel free to email us at hsagateway10@gmail.com

Hindu Students Association (HSA) was formed in 2009 by a group of Hindu students and young professionals who realized the need for an organization that catered to young Hindus in America and provided a platform for their religious and spiritual development. The mission of HSA is: 1) To empower young Hindu adults through education, service and devotion; 2) To cultivate and foster cross-cultural dialogue and interaction on issues pertaining to Hindus domestically and nationally; 3) To improve the level of representation at colleges/universities with organizational activities and participation in other organizations and media; and 4) To build a network amongst younger Hindus in America.

More information about HSA and how to get involved can be found at our website: http://hindustudentsassociation.org/ If you have any questions regarding the Hindu Students Association, please feel free to email us at info@hsamail.org

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mahmood, Dr. Manji or another physician on staff at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, call the physician referral line at 281.274.7500.

FREE COLORECTAL CANCER SEMINAR AND SCREENING KIT

Join Dr. Ali Mahmood and Dr. Nasrullah Manji on Thursday, March 31 at 6 p.m. at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center to learn more about colorectal cancer — the second leading cause of cancer deaths — and take home a free colorectal cancer screening kit. Registration required.

Register online at houstonmethodist.org/events or call 281.274.7500.

Dear Devotees, Hari Om..

After the sudden demise of Bramhasri Udayakumar Gullapalli, I, Pandit Sridharkumar Ramayanam, as his torch bearer take the responsibility of serving the Houston community for any kind of Vedic/Hindu poojas at your door step or in the temple. Kindly contact me for all kind of poojas naming few as follows, Gruhapravesham, Sathyanarayana vratham, Namakaram, Upanayanam, marriage, all kinds of homas, new business or shop openings, Shradha karmas, etc.... Feel free to contact me on:

• 713-933-8821/9359 • 832-833-5662 • 720-421-6031 Kindly support the temple and family by giving me the opportunity to serve you all. Hari Om!

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

Grand Brick Ceremony for Char Dham Hindu temple

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OODLANDS, TX - Saturday, Jan 23rd was very special. Devotees from Houston and surrounding areas as well as out of town came down to the Woodlands to participate in the special Prayer and Brick ceremony for the Char Dham Hindu temple.

The ceremony was held at the temple site, 8044 College Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX. Char Dham are the names of four pilgrimage sites in India that are widely revered by Hindus. It comprises of Badrinath in the North, Dwarka in the West, Puri (Jagannath) in the East and Rameswaram in the South. Char Dham Hindu Temple in the Woodlands is probably the only one of its kind in the world with all four temples at the same place, one for each Dham.

Devotees showed up early in the morning with each family taking their place at designated spots. All the Puja Samagree and four bricks, one for each Dham were already placed at each spot. The Puja was conducted by the head priest of Char Dham, Pandit Srikiran Narayanam with the

help of four other priests. After the Puja was over, the participating families carried the bricks to the designated construction site for each temple and placed one brick at each site. The bricks will be used in the construction of the four temples. This was followed by a specially catered lunch.

Dr. Surya Sahoo and Mrs. Kabita Sahoo of SKAI Foundation partake in the puja conducted by head priest of Char Dham, Pandit Srikiran Narayanam with the help of four other priests.

We are very fortunate that Dr. Surya Sahoo and Mrs. Kabita Sahoo of SKAI Foundation chose The Woodlands as the temple site giving devotees all over USA, a chance to visit all four Dhams in our lifetime. As noted by Shri. Partha Krishnaswamy, President of Hindus of Greater Houston, very few people are fortunate enough to have visited one of the Dhams, let alone all four Dhams. But when the Char Dham Temple construction is complete, devotees can visit the Char Dham just by visiting the temple site and taking blessings from Jagannath Dham, Rameswaram Dham, Dwarkanath Dham and Badrinath Dham. Please visit skaifoundation.org to see updates on temple construction and other events held by the Char Dham temple.

Unto Padma Bhushan Swami Tejomayananda, Our Best

Devotees at the Char Dham Brick ceremony held in Woodlands on January 23rd, 2016.

EPA Recognizes Houston As Top User Of Green Power

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he City of Houston is in the top spot on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Top 30 Local Government list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. The City is using nearly one billion kilowatthours (kWh) of green power annually, which represents over 75% percent of its total power needs. In addition, the City of Houston, is generating green power from an on-site solar and wind energy systems. The City’s choice to use green power is helping to advance the green power market and support clean renewable energy alternatives.

Houston has signed an agreement with Reliant Energy, an NRG Energy company, to increase its purchase of Green-E certified renewable energy credits. The City will be using more than 950,000 MWh of green power per year, which, according to U.S. EPA, is equivalent to the amount of kilowatt-hours needed to supply more than 87,000 homes each year.

Green power is zero-emissions electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power helps build demand for the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps users reduce their carbon footprints.

“We are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our green power use,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “By making the choice to use clean, renewable energy, our organization becomes more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the United States that using green power is a sound business decision and an important tool in reducing one’s carbon footprint in the fight against climate change.”

In addition to the City of Houston’s spot on the Top 30 Local Government list, the City of Houston, TX also appears as No. 6 on the National Top 100 list. This green power commitment also qualifies City of Houston, TX for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction organizations earn by significantly exceeding EPA’s minimum green power use requirements.

“The EPA is pleased to recognize the City of Houston, TX

as a leading Green Power Partner and applauds its purchase of green power, leadership among local governments, and support of the voluntary renewable energy market,” said James Critchfield, program director of EPA’s Green Power Partnership.

Recent sustainability initiatives that the City has approved include: Adopting an anti-idling ordinance for motor vehicles with a gross vehicle rating of more

than 14,000 lbs; Establishing a commercial Property Assess Clean Energy (PACE) program to enable Houston owners of commercial, industrial and residential properties with five or more units to obtain low-cost, longterm loans for water conservation, energy-efficiency and renewable retrofits; and Moving forward with a 30 MW solar power purchase agreement for municipal operations.

HCC Nursing program examines pass rates

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OUSTON [January 22, 2016] – Houston Community College (HCC) is proud of its nursing programs and the important guidance it receives from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) in helping address the needs of healthcare in Texas and in particular the world renowned Texas Medical Center. The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program is one of many healthcare programs at HCC that are well recognized.

Programs such as the ADN require exams as a condition of a nurse being licensed to work. At the most recent administration of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) HCC ADN graduates passed at over 89%, well above the BON requirement of 80%.

This week, the BON moved the HCC ADN program to a “conditional” status as a result of the three-year cumulative pass rate below 80%. This action was a result of pass rates for 2013, 2014, and 2015 of 66.05%, 70.86%, and 78.43%, respectively.

“It is important for current students to know that this action by the BON will not affect their eligibility to take licensing exams,” said Dr. Jolly Joseph, HCC’s ADN program director.

“Our outtanding faculty and

staff in the nursing program are dedicated to the success of every student,” said HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado. “Since my arrival in May 2014, we have been committed to correcting the deficiencies in the program and returning it to full standing with the BON. With the Trustees’ support we have changed administrators, expanded resources, and taken additional measures to improve program results. Our changes are working, as evidenced by the increase to a 78.43% pass rate for 2015 and the notable 89.47% at the last exam.”

The measures include improving admission criteria, improving student support, and hiring more experienced leadership and oversight. As regulations currently stand, the HCC ADN Program will not be able to admit new students until the pass rate percentage makes the 80% benchmark. The end of each examination year is September 30.

After the pass rate is at 80%, the program’s approval status will be upgraded and will have the ability to admit new students again.

“In addition to the improvements in place we will be accepting the BON’s recommendations to add capacity for coordination of our students’ clinical training,” said Dr. Phil-

lip Nicotera, President of Coleman College. A response to the BON’s recommendation is due on April 1, 2016. The current examination year ends on September 30, 2016. Dr. Nicotera added, “I have every confidence this positive trend will continue and we will be returned to Full status after that period.”

In support of HCC’s expansion in the Texas Medical Center, HCC is collaborating with four year universities to add the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with the University of Texas and Sam Houston State University and is in conversations with UHD and Texas Women’s University.

Dr. Robert C. Robbins, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center is anticipating a greater partnership with Houston Community College in the years ahead.

“The HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences plays a critical role in the Texas Medical Center, bringing health science education to community college students, an important segment of academia,” said Dr. Robbins.

The HCC ADN Program has been in operation since 1979.

HCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda

by Padmashree Rao

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ith a brilliance of Knowledge most endearing to all, with the depth of Devotion the evokes faith in the maximum, and with an untiring spirit of selfless Work that inspires the Chinmaya Mission worldwide, Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda is himself an award beyond compare.

So, the joyful news that Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, the global head of Chinmaya Mission has been conferred the Padma Bhushan in the field of Spiritualism is a happy confirmation of a longrecgnized truth. The Padma Bhushan is one of the most prestigious civilian national awards in India, which recognizes the recipient’s distinguished service to the nation.

The timing of this award for dear Guruji is indeed very special – 2016 being the Birth Centenary year of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, it is an opportune time for both a brilliant disciple and a great mission to be celebrated and honored. Truly, the coinage, “Unto Him Our Best” to mark the Chinmaya Centenary has been recognized. Chinmaya Mission worldwide has been energized since 1993, both in head and heart, by Swami Tejomayananda, to live up to its motto “To give maximum happiness to maximum people for maximum time.”

And, Pujya Guruji has empowered the glorious vision of Vedanta in the fields of education, rural development, healthcare, youth empowerment, and promotion of cultural and spiritual values to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Mere statistics or a biographical profile cannot define a great Guru like Swami Tejomayananda who touches every seeker worldwide with

his effortless simplicity of manner, incredible depth of knowledge, and the irresistible charm of his devotional singing. Often, an award highlights worldly achievements of an individual; however, when Padma Bhushan adorns Puyja Guruji, an entire spiritual mission is elevated.

It is no secret that dear Guruji functions not just as a head of an expansive organization, but with a heart dedicated to the Lotus Feet of his ageless Master Swami Chinmayananda. On the occasion, accepting the great honor bestowed, Swami Tejomayananda’s message below reaffirms his humility which is his great hallmark. He writes: Dear All,Hari Om! I thank the Government of India for bestowing on me the honour of Padma Bhushan.

In all humility I dedicate this Padma Bhushan award to my beloved mother, respected father, revered Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, and the most worshipful God with whose grace and blessings alone this prestigious national recognition has been conferred on me.

I thank all my well-wishers who have been sending messages of congratulations to me with great love and regard.

With Prem & Om, Swami Tejomayananda It is an honor and blessing to be led with such dedication. The Acaryas and family members of Chinmaya Mission Houston offer our deepest love and regards along with our prayers for the highest Grace to bless Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda.

Hari Om! For more information about Chinmaya Mission Houston, please visit www.chinmayahouston.org or contact Jay Deshmukh 832-541-0059.

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 7

New Yorkers file $11m lawsuit over plane eviction

by Jennie MATTHEW

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EW YORK - Three New York Muslims and a Sikh have filed an $11 million federal lawsuit demanding a jury trial for being kicked off a flight home from Canada because of their appearance.

The US citizens of South Asian and Arab descent are suing American Airlines and its regional partner Republic Airlines, claiming they suffered discrimination, financial injury, humiliation, mental pain and suffering.

The student and three professionals of Bengali, Syrian and Punjabi descent, all in their 20s, say they were ordered to disembark American Airlines flight 44718 from Toronto to New York on December 8 simply because of their looks.

The 18-page lawsuit accuses the defendants of “malicious,” “wanton” and “callous” behavior that “showed reckless disregard” for the men’s civil rights when the four friends were returning from birthday celebrations in Canada.

Faimul Alam, 25, manages his father’s construction business, Shan Anand, 25, works as a personal banker and creates software applications and W.H, 23, is a pharmacy student who owns his own clothing line.

The fourth petitioner, who was identified as M.K, 29, also manages his father’s construction company.

The agent stared in response and stated that their appearance ‘did not help’,” the lawsuit said.

The friends were getting the same flight home, on which W.H and M.K each paid $70 to upgrade to business class.

The men were permitted to board the next flight to New York, but were not permitted to sit in business class.

But after boarding, a stewardess demanded in a hostile manner that all four men exit the plane without questioning why, the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit seeks $1 million compensation each from American Airlines, Republic Airlines, Envoy Air and American Eagle, and $5 million in punitive damages -- totalling $11 million, a member of staff at the Aboushi Law Firm told AFP.

“W.H. was dramatically woken up by a stewardess who hurriedly demanded he exit the aircraft. Having been asleep, W.H. thought there was an emergency and that all passengers were exiting,” the court document said. ‘anti-Muslim bigotry’ --” Passengers surrounding Alam and Anand made bigoted and racist comments and held their children and belongings close to their person as if something was going to happen,” it added.

An airline official informed them the captain and crew “felt uneasy and uncomfortable with their presence on the flight” and refused to take off unless they were ejected from the plane.

“Plaintiffs inquired whether it was due to their physical appearance being that they are dark skinned and had beards.

American Airlines declined to comment.

The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil liberties group in the United States, says the country has seen an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim hate crime in recent months.

“Reports of these kind of incidents seem to have increased in the same period we have seen a rise in anti-Muslim bigotry in our society and a rise in antiMuslim hate crimes,” spokesman Ibrahim Hooper told AFP. “That generally began with the Paris terror attacks and sustained during the San Bernardino shootings and Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric,” he added.

Over a dozen Indian-Americans make it to final of Intel Science Talent Search

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ASHINGTON, PTI | 21 Jan, 2016 - Over a dozen Indian-American students have made it to the finals of the prestigious 2016 Intel Science Talent Search that brings US’s top 40 brightest high school seniors to the competition that has a prize money of USD 150,000.

Of the 14 Indian-Americans who would be coming to Washington in March for the prestigious science competition, five are from California: Sanath Devalapurkar, Anjini Karthik, Anin Sayana, Pranav Srinivas and Maya Varma.

Two of the Indian-Americans are from Massachusetts: Yashaswini Makaram and Amol Punjabi.

Other Indian-American high schoolers are Vikul Gupta from Orlando, Maana Jagadeesan from New Hampshire, Milind Jagota from Pennsylvania, Shreya Menon from Michigan, Kavya Ravichandran from Ohio, Kunal Shroff from Virginia and Sreya Vemuri from Indiana.

“Finalists of the Intel Science Talent Search are the innovators of the future,” said Maya Ajmera, the president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public, publisher of Science News and alumna of the Science Talent Search.

The 40 finalists were selected from 300 semifinalists and 1,750 entrants based on the originality and creativity of their scientific research as well as their achievement and leadership both inside and outside the classroom.

“Their research projects range from highly theoretical basic research to innovative practical applications aimed at solving the most vexing problems,” she said.

Finalist projects are distributed among 18 categories, including animal sciences, behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, bioengineering, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, computational biology and bioinformatics, earth and planetary science, engineering, environmental science, genomics, materials science, mathematics, medicine and health, physics, plant science, and space science.

Finalists’ research projects include an advanced encryption system with applications in cybersecurity, a low-cost smartphone-based tool to diagnose respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a “green” cement produced with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“But it’s not just their research that makes them stand out - finalists are also selected based on their leadership capacity and initiative. We congratulate these talented students and look forward to llearning more about their research and aspirations as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Science Talent Search this March,” Ajmera said.

Intel STS 2016 finalists are from 38 schools in 18 states.

Fifty-two per cent of this year’s finalists are male, while 48 per cent are female.

Padma Shri Award for Akshaya Patra Founder and Chairman, Madhu Pandit Dasa

Houston Indian Americans host fundraiser for Raja Krishnamoorthi

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ELLAIRE, TX - On Wednesday, evening, January 13th a group of Indian Americans held a reception in honor of Raja Krishnamoorthi here at the home of Rajiv and Hina Pandya that also served as a fundraiser. The host were joined by Jay Aiyer, Rahul Desai, Rick Pal, Rajiv Pandya, Sandeep Seth, Dhiren Shethia in putting together the event.

Attorney and entrepreneur Raja Krishnamoorthi is seeking to represent Illinois’s 8th Congressional district, where he faces a March 15th primary contest before the general election.

The son of Indian immigrants, Krishnamoorthi, 41, brings a long track record of both public and private sector experience to the race. His previous government work includes serving as Illinois’ Deputy Treasurer, and running the state’s technology venture capital fund. In 2006, the State Attorney General appointed him Special Assistant Attorney General in her anti-corruption Public Integrity Unit. He was also a member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority and ViceChairman of the Illinois Innovation Council. Prior to that, he worked as issues director for Barack Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign.

In the private sector, Krishnamoorthi currently serves as

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TONEHAM, MA – The Government of India has awarded Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder and Chairman of Akshaya Patra, the Padma Shri Award for distinguished service rendered by Akshaya Patra for children in government schools in India. The Padma Shri Award is India’s fourth highest civilian award and recognizes those individuals who have made a distinguished contribution in

arts, education, industry, literature, science, sports, medicine, social service, and public affairs. Madhu Pandit Dasa received the Padma Shri award on January 26th; the Award is traditionally given on India’s Republic Day. Of receiving the Award, Madhu Pandit Dasa said, “This award is recognition of our humble service of leading this cause of nutrition

for education amongst the government school children through the Akshaya Patra program. It is an inspiration for me and the entire team at Akshaya Patra to reach out the work of our foundation to many more hungry children of this country. Quality food for these children is a need for quality education that will in turn create citizens of great character. Our children are the real asset of our nation”.

Raja Krishnamoorthi with Dr. and Mrs. Mittal. a unique understanding of the challenges facing the U.S. economy and their implications for families and future workers across the state. “In a time of scarce resources, government, non-profits and businesses have to work together to get anything done. As a small businessman and a former public servant, I am the only candi-

nearly $1 million in contributions so far, dwarfing the fundraising figures of all his primary opponents. He has also won a host of prominent endorsements: former senior Obama aide David Axelrod has endorsed Krishnamoorthi, as have five members of the Illinois’ Congressional delegation.

Last week, House Minority

Krishnamoorthi with friends and supporters at the reception.

Krishnamoorthi in conversation with the guests.

President of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that develop and sell products in the national security and renewable energy arenas. He is a co-founder of InSPIRE, a non-profit organization dedicated to training Illinois students and veterans in solar technology.

In Krishnamoorthi’s view, his exhaustive experience in both government and the private sector has afforded him

Madhu Pandit Dasa, Founder and Chairman of Akshaya Patra seen serving the children.

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

Madhu Pandit Dasa has been a visionary leader for Akshaya Patra and designed the first centralized kitchen to provide school meals to underprivileged children in the Government schools of Bangalore Rural District during July 2000. Akshaya Patra works with the Government of India and state governments and is one of the most admired public-private partnerships in the sphere of education and child welfare.

Studies conducted by leading research organizations, A. C Nielson and Sigma clearly establish the positive impact of Akshaya Patra’s school meal program. The studies demonstrated an increase in student enrollment, especially among female students, a decrease in drop-out rates, and improved health and academic performance of the students.

Madhu Pandit Dasa set up

date with the experience to get the public and private sectors talking to each other and building on our collective strengths to help working families,” the candidate explains.

Signs are emerging that Krishnamoorthi’s campaign has gained the momentum necessary to get him past the finish line. Krishnamoorthi’s fundraising numbers and endorsements reflect the strength of his campaign. He has amassed

a robust governance model which has made Akshaya Patra a hallmark of transparency and accountability. This is highlighted by the fact that Akshaya Patra is the only NGO in the country to win the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Gold Shield Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting five times in a row and has been placed in its prestigious Hall of Fame.

Under Madhu Pandit Dasa’s inspirational leadership, Akshaya Patra has grown from providing 1500 children with school meals to 1.5 million children in 15 years, becoming the world’s largest NGO-run school lunch program. Akshaya Patra is poised to serve its 2 billionth meal later this month.

Madhu Pandit Dasa completed his Bachelor in Technology in Civil Engineering from IIT-Mumbai in the year 1980. While he was do-

Leader Nancy Pelosi added her voice to the chorus of former and current members of Congress endorsing Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy.

The independent, nonpartisan Cook Report has rated the 8th Congressional district as “Solid Democratic.” If Krishnamoorthi can win the primary, chances are high that he will prevail in the general election.

Source: FORBES

ing his Masters in Technology course in IIT-Mumbai in 1981, he dedicated himself to the service of humanity by becoming a full-time member of ISKCON. Upon founding Akshaya Patra, Madhu Pandit Dasa had the foresight to set it up as a fully separate and secular 80G not for profit organization. As a true service leader Madhu Pandit Dasa and the other ISKCON members dedicated to the organization fully give of themselves with no remuneration. Their greatest reward is to see the smiles of the children receiving the food and know the impact of this noble work.

For more information about Akshaya Patra and APUSA, Akshaya Patra’s affiliate 501 (c) (3) organization which mobilizes for Akshaya Patra in the US, and to learn about how to get involved, please go to www.foodforeducation.org.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

India Culture Center, Houston Hosts IFair 2016 ......

ICC President Chandrakant ‘Charlie’ Patel welcoming the gathering at the Stafford Civic Center, Stafford TX. Continued from Page 1

project,” Patel said.

spectacular Manipuri dance by Soma Dasgupta. Folk dances of Gujarat (Garba), Rajasthan and Bengal’s Durga Aarti along with Bollywood medley dances were also presented. Houston’s young and talented performers at the IFair 2016 ranged from ages five to 85 years. The Ismaili Golden Jubilee Matki Band comprising of senior members had 39 participants who were bright yellow T-shirts and rocked the stage with their performance of the folk song.

Equally pulsating were the children TYAGI Group that presented the festival Sankaranthi in different regions of India.

Incoming President Rajiv Bhavsar said in his address, “ICC has focused on bringing inclusiveness and participation.

This entire decade has seen ICC collaboration and coordination for serving the community.

ICC today is a platform where I see people joining in and giving back to the community.”

After the traditional lighting of the lamp Mrs. Nandita Harish accompanied by Mrs. Charlie Patel, formal Republic Day messages were delivered by ICC’s outgoing President Charlie Patel, Incoming President Rajiv Bhavsar, Chief Guest India’s Consul General in Houston, Parvathaneni Harish and other dignitaries.

Wishing the Indian American a Happy Republic Day, Consul General of India, Houston, Hon. P Harish mentioned that it was their (wife Nandita and his) 4th Republic Day function organized by ICC, “These events are so reminiscent of what we see in India. What you have just seen are performances by children and performances by seniors that brought both ends of stages of life,” he said. “We also see the rich cultural diversity of India, and more than this, these events showcase the links and bonds of the two countries India and US.” Speaking of ICC’s mission, Patel said that the organization aimed to” promote art, culture and building bridges amongst the diversified communities”.

ICC’s major accomplishment was the unveiling of the Mahatma Gandhi Monument in MG District (Little India- Hillcroft) in August, 2015. “I am very fortunate to have witnessed this, after considerable years of legwork done by my predecessors. This is a legacy project of the Indian Community and we appreciate the efforts of the Southwest Management District; the sponsors and the entire team connected with this

Consul General of India, Houston, Hon. P Harish delivering his message at the I-Fair 2016 on Jan. 24, 2016.

ICC’s Incoming President Rajiv Bhavsar giving his address

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee gave a vibrant speech applauding ICC Houston and recognized the seniors present. Among the other dignitaries present were Houston City Councilman Amanda, Stafford City Councilman Ken Mathew, Sugar Land City Councilmen Harish Jajoo and Himesh Gandhi Chris Brow running for City Controller in Houston.

The event had the leadership of its Event Chair Ajit Patel and Chief Trustee Swapan Dhairyawan and a host of Directors that made it a grand success.

About 32 booths conducted their business at the event. A 32 page Souvenir “Tarang” was released. The enormous, colorful digital screen had advertisement, greetings from wellwishers and sponsors running throughout.

ICC Essay Competition was coordinated by Sangeeta Pasrija and Parul Fernandes. Out of the 20 participants five were declared winners were presented with given gift cards. All other participants were given certificates.

‘Mom & Me’ Talent contest was coordinated by Nisha Mirani and Sangita Dua in which mother and child present their talent, dance, song, and musical instrument. This segment was sponsored by Dish Network and the Top 3 Cash prize Winners were: Pavana & Neha Gadde; Ambica & NavyaNavika Aggarwal; and Radhika & Arunima Para In the cultural segment involved 15 dance schools including ICC’s partnering organizations and had 235 participants who performed. Regional Musical, Patriotic Musical & Bollywood Duets were coordinated by the ICC Director Keka Kar. The Cultural Dance segment was coordinated by ICC Trustee Swapan Dhairyawan.

The Ismaili Golden Jubilee Matki Band performing.

JVB Preksha Center, Indian Senior Citizens Association, TYAGI Group, Ismaili Golden Jubilee Matki Band group, Freedom Dance Group, Shri Nataraj School of Dance, Sunanda Performing Arts Center, Kathak Nritya Kala Kendra, Payal School of Dance, Taal (Katy Kalaakar) Group, Shivangini Academy of Performing Arts, Anjali Center, Kala Bhawan (Durga Bari) were the presenters on the ICC stage. Serene and Paarth Maniar sand the Two National anthems of India and the USA. Pooja Patel and Aditi Derashri served as Emcees and kept the mood elevated. An Interactive ICC Quiz contest was organized at ICC booth by ICC Director Sanjay Sohoni. With over 500 trivia questions it kept the kids and youth busy. The daylong event was attendance by over 2000 people.

‘Mom & Me’ Talent contest with Sangita Dua, Charlie Patel and Nisha Mirani.

ICC extended its thanks to its sponsors, partnering organizations, media sponsors, vendors, participants and Darshak and Mona Thakkar for Sound & PA System, Raghu Thakkar of Image & Motion for photography services. The vibrant program concluded at 8:15 pm that day.

For more information visit www.icchouston.org

Indian Americans celebrate India’s 67th Republic Day with Consul ......

Continued from Page 1

Unfurling of National Flag by Consul General and Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni at their residence.

tourism material were distributed.

During the function, Consul General recognized the presence of Representatives of Elected Officials - Mr. Jay Guerrero, Office of Senator John Cornyn; Mr. William Miller, Office of Senator Ted Cruz and Mr. Sam Merchant, Office of Congressman Al Green.

Among those present were Representatives from Asia Society Texas Center, Houston; Mr. Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, India; Chambers of Commerce representatives; business and industry professionals; think-tanks; local cultural organizations, and members of the Indian American community. Mr. William Miller, Southeast Texas Deputy Regional Director, Senator Ted Cruz presented a Certificate of Commendation to Consul General on India’s 67th Republic Day. Certificates of appreciation were distributed to the participants in the cultural programs and their Gurus were felicitated.

Easy competition participants with organizers Sangeeta Pasrija and Parul Fernandes.

A view of the attendees at the Flag Hoisting function held at Consul General’s residence are seen.

On the far left are students of KGSMA who sang patriotic song on the ocassion.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 9

by Haripriya Sundar

W

hat an auspicious day January 24th was! More than 700 devotees came together at the Sri Meenakshi Temple to celebrate Thai Poosam. What was especially auspicious about this date is that the celebration was held on the same day as the actual holy day. But first, a quick synopsis about what Thai Poosam is:

Thai Poosam is a Hindu festival in honor of the Hindu God Karthikeya, also known as Lord Muruga. This festival commemorates the occasion of Goddess Parvathi, giving her son Lord Muruga, the “Sakthi Vel” (spear) to vanquish the demon army of Asura, Soorapadman. Thus it signifies victory of good over evil and is celebrated at all Murugan temples around the world.

Thai Poosam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), on the day of the star “Poosam” and around the full moon. Typically devotees fast in the morning and participate in different pooja activities in the temple. Women and children are dressed up in colorful clothing, and men wear authentic south Indian attire. Pooja activities include getting flowers, which are usually in yellow or orange, cutting vegetables, and other

Thaipoosam celebration at Sri Meenakshi Temple

Kaavadis in vibrant colors are laid out before they are carried on the shoulders by the devotees.

nate cloth) and “Kaavadis” (a semi-circular decorated canopy made out of bamboo or wood with a wooden rod that holds together 2 small pots of brown sugar on either ends).

The milk in the “Pal Kudams” and the brown sugar tied onto the “Kaavadis” are then used in the Abhishekam for Lord Muruga. Many devotees, especially young children, sang devotional songs and chanted

different slokas and bhajans.

It was quite a sight to see the love and devotion of devotees for Lord Muruga, and the younger generations getting involved in our festivities.

After the pooja at the Ganesh Temple, devotees gathered the Pal Kudams on their heads and Kaavadis on their shoulders. Devotees chanted different praises and names of Lord Muruga, as they made

their way around the temple to the Kalyana Mandapam. The typical “Kaavadi” dance performed by priest Kalyanasundaram and other devotees at the entrance, and the youth group members’ performance on the traditional “Chendamelam” inside the hall brought the sights and sounds of the festival in Tamil Nadu to Houston. Dr. Vivek Natarjan’s discourse on the significance of the day was

Eric Bartsch- The Attributes of an Authentic Leader

by Preethi Srinivasan Group 3,Student ID- 24 On January 16, 2015, the students of YLDP had the privilege of hearing from Erik Bartsch at India House. Mr. Bartsch is a geologist and the Vice President for Exploration North America. In sharing his experiences on leadership, Mr. Bartsch successfully conveyed the importance of his career, and the attributes essential to becoming a respectable leader.

As a Shell employee, he aids in finding oil throughout the nation, and manages over 80 employees directly. This proves

very informative. The priests performed the grand “Abhishekham” followed by the exquisite “Alankaram” (decorations) for the deities. The devotees continued singing songs and bhajans about Lord Muruga throughout the “Alankaram”. All devotees joined in singing the Kandha Shasti Kavasam. The grand finale was the Aarti by the priests that touched and moved the devotees profoundly. All in all the ceremony had a strong divine ambience. Volunteers distributed the milk from the “Abhishekam” and “Prasadam” bags with coconuts, oranges, and apples. Meanwhile, the “Utsava Murthi” along with his consorts Deivayanai and Valli were taken out on a procession on the silver chariot or “Ratham” to the main temple for the final Aarthi. Prasadam and “Aannadhanam” (lunch) was provided by the temple to all the devotees.

This grand celebration was made successful due to the efforts of Chairman Narayanan, event coordinators Mrs. Meena Subramaniam, Dr. T.A. Dorairajan, and Malar Narayanan, the RAC team members, the incomparable MTS priests, MTS staff, and numerous dedicated volunteers.

Devotees place the Pal Kudams on their heads and Kaavadis on their shoulders getting ready for the procession.

Devotees offer prayers at the Ganesh Temple at the MTS.

preparatory procedures. It is prominently celebrated by devotees from Tamil Nadu because Lord Muruga is also the God of the language Tamil.

The festivities at the Sri Meenakshi Temple began at the Ganesh Temple with a “Sankalpam” and pooja for all the “Pal Kudams” (a pot of milk with a coconut on top and covered with a yellow or-

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

evident that he is an extremely capable leader in his field.

In his presentation on the importance of his job, Mr. Erik Barstch stated that in the upcoming years the population of the world will increase dramatically, and thus the necessity of oil and other energy sources will escalate. For this very reason, Mr. Barstch’s job has become even more critical. Science and technology are fields that continue to grow exponentially with the industrialization of humanity. To be a well-endowed leader in this fast-paced environment, there

are many skills one must have.

Mr. Bartsch describes them as authenticity, growth, collaboration, performance, and trust. A good leader must have a vision that he or she can put into action, and to do this, they must build strong relationships with others. Also, the head of a company cannot be without personal integrity and a sense of trust. For others to have faith in a leader, they must be reliable and approachable, not self-interested.

By the end of his speech, Mr. Bartsch impressed the students of YLDP. But, what I enjoyed the most was learning about

his personal experiences like traveling abroad to work with people all across the globe. It is fascinating how Mr. Bartsch has received the opportunities to experience other cultures and work with people with completely different views and ideas. This, to me, just emphasizes the importance of his five key leadership attributes, since Mr. Bartsch is a first-hand example of their credibility. In essence, Mr. Bartsch is not only an incredible geologist, but also he is a very successful and humble leader, and the students in YLDP really appreciated his presentation.

MTS priests performing the pooja

Read and share your community stories. All articles printed in this Newsweekly will be posted Online: www. voiceofasiaonline.com

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

Air India bomber released from Canadian prison

Cricket: Pakistani Kohli fan facing jail for waving India flag

This June 6, 2001 artist’s rendering shows Air India bombing suspect Inderjit Singh Reyat in a Vancouver courtroom (AFP Photo/)

Pakistani solice said Umar Daraz, 22, went “against the ideology of Pakistan” when he waved the flag at his house in Okara town in Punjab province (AFP Photo/Greg Wood)

by Michel COMTE

O

TTAWA, Canada, AFP 1/27/2016 - The only person ever convicted over the 1985 Air India bombings that killed 331 people was released from a Canadian prison on Wednesday after serving two decades behind bars.

Inderjit Singh Reyat, a Sikh immigrant from India, served two-thirds of a nine-year sentence for perjury in one of the deadliest airline attacks in history, said a spokesman for the Parole Board of Canada, confirming his release.

Reyat -- convicted of lying in court to cover for his coaccused -- previously served more than 15 years in prison for making the bombs that were stuffed into two suitcases and planted on planes leaving Vancouver.

One bomb tore apart Air India Flight 182 as it neared the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people aboard, including entire families. The second exploded at Japan’s Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers as they transferred cargo to another Air India plane.

The near-simultaneous bombings on opposite sides of the world took place during an Indian crackdown on Sikhs fighting for an independent homeland, and those behind it were allegedly seeking revenge for the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by Indian troops.

Reyat was working as a mechanic in westernmost Canada and had purchased the dynamite, batteries and detonators used to construct the bombs.

The person who later checked the baggage containing the explosive devices at the Vancouver airport never boarded the jetliners.

Bal Gupta, who lost his wife in the attacks, said he would never be able to forgive those responsible.

“We have learned to live our lives slowly, but a thing like this, the wounds are deep,” he told public broadcaster CBC. “It’s not only me,” he said, recounting the lives lost of 86 children under the age of 12 and the 29 families that were “completely wiped out.”

“If I had to face him (Reyat), I would tell him that if you have any shred of humanity in you, come forward and tell the name of the conspirators that worked with you... and be honest so that the criminals can face their time and justice will be done,” he said.

- ‘Unmitigated liar’ -In 2010, Reyat was convicted of lying while testifying in the mass murder trial of alleged coconspirators Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, who were later acquitted for a lack of evidence.

He had avoided being tried alongside the pair by pleading guilty to lesser manslaughter charges, and was called to testify about the plot.

Prosecutors say the verdict in the trial of Malik and Bagri would have been different if Reyat had told the truth on the stand instead of protecting his alleged co-conspirators, while Judge Ian Josephson called him “an unmitigated liar.”

His nine-year perjury sentence was the longest ever handed down by a Canadian court.

K

ARACHI, Pakistan, AFP, 1/27/2016 - A Pakistani cricket fan is facing up to a decade in jail after he was charged Wednesday for jubilantly waving the flag of longtime foe India when his idol Virat Kohli made a match-winning knock.

arrest came Tuesday, as Pakistan’s arch-rival India marked its national Republic Day.

the ideology of Pakistan.”

Nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India have a long history of animosity dating back to independence from Britain in 1947, and have fought three wars.

“He is a diehard fan of Kohli and there were big posters pasted on the walls of his house,” the officer said.

Police said Umar Daraz, 22, went “against the ideology of Pakistan” when he waved the flag at his house in Okara town in Punjab province Tuesday during the match against Australia in Adelaide.

Regional Police officer Faisal Rana said Daraz was charged under Pakistan’s penal code with acting against Pakistan’s sovereignty. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine.

Daraz was celebrating Kohli’s amazing knock of 90 not out, which set up India’s 37-run win in the first of three Twenty20 internationals against Australia.

His conviviality and subsequent Reyat has been ordered to live at a halfway house until August 2018, when his perjury sentence will expire, and abide by several strict conditions set by the parole board, including having no contact with victims’ families or alleged co-conspirators, and no political activities.

He must also have counseling to address violent tendencies, a lack of empathy and “cognitive distortions” -- or what one of-

Rana said Daraz’s home was also full of Kohli pictures.

India stalled cricket matches against Pakistan in the wake of a 2008 militant attack in the commercial hub Mumbai that left 166 people dead and was blamed on extremists based across the border.

“Daraz initially told us that he is a true Pakistani but likes Kohli and never knew that was a crime,” Rana told media.

Last month, India refused to play a planned series with Pakistan after agreeing to stage the matches in the neutral venues of Sri Lanka.

“His act is against our country’s sovereignty and is against

The foes last played a full bilateral series in 2007.

ficial described as his exaggerated beliefs.

the ties were “inactive” during his incarceration, according to the parole board.

A 2013 psychologist’s report found that Reyat lacks “true empathy and remorse” for the bombing victims, and he has only recently accepted a small measure of responsibility for his crimes.

“If at any time his parole officer feels there’s a risk to the community he can return Mr. Reyat to prison,” parole board spokesman Patrick Storey told AFP.

He also maintains his affiliation to a group of Sikh nationalists based in Canada, although

Canadian federal police continue to investigate the bombings, 30 years on.

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VOICE OF ASIA 11

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Big is best as Paris fashion goes XL after the shock departure of artistic director Alber Elbaz in October.

by Fiachra GIBBONS ig flappy greatcoats, baggy trousers and voodoo charms... that is what fashionable men will be wearing next autumn and winter if the Paris catwalks are anything to go by.

B

Rather than make a flashy splash, Ossendrijver -- who had been at the label for a decade -- went for detail under the watchful eye of the brand’s Taiwanese owner Shaw-Law Wang.

As men’s fashion week wound up Sunday in the French capital, some clear trends were emerging for the months ahead, not least that black is back with a vengeance.

Elbaz sportingly posted a supportive Instagram message saying, “Good luck with your show today Lucas.”

- ‘Soft and sensual’ -And Ossendrijver did succeed in making the show in a huge hangar on the outskirts of Paris strangely intimate, bringing buyers and press right up close to his creations on the narrow catwalk.

From Dior to Givenchy and Yamamoto and Rynshu, it was everywhere in velvet, leather and wool, often combined with red check, the style touch of the season.

“I wanted people almost to touch the clothes and then be touched by them,” he told AFP.

But the trend that dwarves all others is for big and baggy. Small families could settle down for the night inside many of the overcoats that have come flapping down the runways this week.

“There is a softness and a sensuality about the collection,” he said of his loose cut suits and highly-worked coats and shirts that flirted with grunge.

Raf Simons went hyper-supersized with enormous puffa jackets, OffWhite’s coats were so long they were almost adult sleep suits and Rick Owens went and created an actual sleeping bag coat, all riffing on the idea that the modern male needed comforting and somewhere to hide.

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

Tel: 713-774-5140

Chanel swaps bling for eco-inspired haute couture

by Joshua MELVIN

P

ARIS - Languid models strutting along a grass-covered catwalk in Paris on Tuesday showed off Chanel’s ecologicallyinspired haute couture collection that avoided most of the red carpet flash.

Chanel -- the fashion house that is perhaps the most synonymous with Paris’s reputation for glamour -- sent subtle, classic clothes across a runway outfitted with pools of water and wooden steps.

Dominating the stage was a vast wooden structure which would not reveal its secrets until show’s end.

British designer Paul Smith was having none of the new giganticism, however, sticking by his tried and trusted tailored line.

The clothing -- think “Mad Men” meets “The Great Gatsby” -- seemed to reach back to a less flashy time in fashion when simple shapes, high-end fabric and understated colours ruled.

Watch out too for overlong sleeves that reach almost to the fingernails and rich, silky purples that appeared most memorably in Dries Van Noten’s gorgeous macks and peacock and serpent pattern coats.

His Sunday show revisited some his classic designs with strong echoes of the 1960s with Crombie coats, single vertical Mod-inspired stripes and Saturday night suits with subtle flower details.

“It’s not really bling-bling red carpet,” said designer Karl Lagerfeld as he greeted fans and well-wishers in the oasis of grass, water and wood inside a glass-roofed exhibition hall just off the Champs-Elysees.

Pink -- which in the 19th century was seen as the most masculine of colours before it was lost to bubblegum girliness -- has made a tentative comeback too.

His show began to the chimes of Big Ben and the reggae track “My England Story” before embarking on a musical history of Britain over the last 50 years that ended with the late David Bowie’s “Oh You Pretty Things”.

It adorned the collars of Givenchy’s coolest jackets, Julien David used it for his most cuddly coats, and it was everywhere in Pigalle’s panorama of pastels.

Models present creations by Raf Simons during the men’s Fashion Week for the 2016-2017 Fall/Winter collection in Paris on January 20, 2016. AFP PHOTO/Francois Guillot.

Hermes tried to take a little of the taboo away by making theirs almost raspberry, while Officine Generale hid their pinks behind blacks and greys.

But for sheer aplomb, it was hard to beat the dramatic return of braid and breeches.

Another longtime style no-no, the lumberjack jacket, may also be about to be brought in from the cold, meekly making an entrance in Valentino and getting a glamorous makeover by Dior.

- Dashing breeches -

Balmain’s tyro Olivier Rousteing galloped back in time to round up some of the most swashbuckling looks of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Don’t be surprised if you soon see pop stars -- of whom the young designer has an adoring fan club -- dressing up like hussars that could have stepped from the pages of “War and Peace” or

“The Red and the Black”, the colours that dominated his collection.

Agnes B went for less of a testosteroned look, dressing three of her models like 18th-century bourgeois gentlemen in blue and purple velvet, complete with tricorn hats.

But extra large and extra baggy dominated. Even the oldest of the Paris houses still showing, Lanvin, wrapped itself in flappy greatcoats Sunday in the first collection under the sole control of Lucas Ossendrijver

The clothes, however, drew their inspirations largely from the 1960s and 1970s, with combinations of rich clarets, greens, purples and mothball blues.

“I love the playfulness of this collection,” he told AFP. “We are on a bit of a high at the moment.”

Paris’s haute couture week started late Sunday with Versace although the shows only begin in earnest Monday with Christian Dior and Schiaparelli.

Haute couture exists only in Paris and is sustained by a small number of the world’s richest women.

New Year glow for China’s ‘lantern capital’

T

UNTOU, China | AFP - Carefully steadying the gleaming red lantern between her knees, a worker applied the Chinese character for “wealth” in golden glitter -- one of the millions that will illuminate the forthcoming Lunar New Year.

“That is a kind of, how could I say, high-fashion ecology. It means that all can be used on a level where nobody expects it,” said the German designer who lives in Paris.

The show was not without star power, with British actress and model Cara Delevingne taking a front row seat on the wooden benches.

The Suicide Squad cast member, wearing earrings bearing Chanel’s iconic interlocked “C” logo, posed for pictures with Lagerfeld and actress Diane Kruger after the show.

- Mystery box -Clad in ankle-length skirts, many models wore variants of the cropped coat Chanel has made a fashion standard.

“Outside of the peak holiday season, we also receive special requests: giant models, for example, or orders to decorate the Forbidden City in Beijing,” explained Bai. “Tens of millions of lanterns are produced each year and all or almost all of them are sold. A portion is exported to Southeast Asia, the US or Japan. It’s become an economic pillar for the village.”

Bai Liwei, the village’s Communist Party leader, told AFP proudly: “80 to 90 percent of the lanterns used in China come from here.”

For the past two months, the town has been churning out the pumpkinshaped lamps in preparation for the biggest holiday of the year in the world’s most populous country.

Tuntou village has specialised in artisanal lantern-making for nearly 40 years. It is not the site of enormous factories, instead the industry is driv-

“We’re in fashion and at the moment ecology is part of the expression of our time, what fashion is supposed to be,” Lagerfeld said.

towns and countryside, trotted out at most important occasions: marriages, business openings, and most of all the Lunar New Year, which generally falls in late January or early to mid February.

A high wooden arch at the entrance to the snowy village of Tuntou, in Hebei province southwest of Beijing, proclaims it the “lantern capital” of the People’s Republic.

Known as the “Spring Festival” in China, the holiday, which falls on February 8 on this occasion, compares in importance to Christmas in the West, and marks a time when for far-flung family members return home for merriment and meals -- according to tradition, they must be back by midnight on the eve of the new year.

Just six weeks after Paris hosted a historic UN climate conference where 195 nations inked a deal to tackle global warming, ecological themes were at the fore, with wood beads, wild cotton and paper featuring in this spring-summer collection.

Traditionally, positive Chinese characters such as “happiness”, “peace”, and “family” are painted on their sides.

But in recent years their inscriptions have become increasingly political.

A worker hangs red lanterns in a factory in the village of Tuntou, in Hebei province southwest of Beijing, ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations on February 8 (AFP Photo/Fred Dufour) en by a number of private workshops in which families concentrate on the production of a single lantern element -- their spindly metal frames, the exterior “skin” of fabric or silk, the deco-

rative inscriptions.

At the back of one assembly unit, high piles of nearly completed lanterns awaited processing, while workers wielded wooden canes to lift others

high off the ground to dangle delicately from the ceiling.

The colour red symbolises luck and happiness in Chinese culture, and the lanterns are omnipresent throughout

“The majority of these lanterns are decorated with one of the twelve ‘socialist core values’ promoted by President Xi Jinping,” said Bai. In Chinese homes across the country, this new year will be ushered in by concepts including “democracy”, “freedom”, “equality”, “rule of law”, and “patriotism”.

HEALTH, SC & TECH

VOICE OF ASIA 12

Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee

by Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, Rice University, Houston TX.

R

aspberries belong to the rose (Rosaceae) family. Among U.S. consumers, raspberries are the third most popular berry and follow right after strawberries and blueberries. Known as nature’s candy, wild raspberries have been gathered for consumption by humans for thousands of years. With their rich color, sweet juicy taste and antioxidant power, it is no wonder raspberries remain one of the world’s most consumed berries. There are over 200 species of raspberries, all belonging to the scientific genus called Rubus. Fortunately, however, many of the raspberry species that are grown commercially can be placed into one of three basic groups: red, black, and purple raspberries. Each color berry has a unique composition of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one cup of raspberries (about 123 grams) contains 64 calories, 1.5 grams of protein, 0.8 grams of fat, and 15 grams of carbohydrate (including 8 grams of fiber and 5 grams of sugar).

Eating one cup of raw raspberries will provide 54% of your vitamin C needs, 12% of vitamin K, 6% of folate, 5% of vitamin E, iron, and potassium, and 41% of manganese needs for the day as well as lesser amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and copper.

Raspberries contain the antioxidants alpha and beta-carotene,

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

What’s New and Beneficial About Raspberries? Part I

Developing countries bear brunt of nitrogen pollution: study

lutein, zeaxanthin, and choline.

Raspberries are also a powerful source of polyphenols such as anthocyanin, flavonols and ellagitannins, which decrease oxidative damage from free radicals and have shown potential in animal and human studies for preventing or reducing risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Paris, France | AFP | Monday 1/25/2016 - The production of goods for consumers in rich nations leaves a deep footprint in the form of potentially-dangerous nitrogen pollution in developing countries, a study said Monday.

Reactive nitrogen, generated in large part by fuel combustion and agriculture -- mainly fertiliser use -- can contribute to air and water pollution, climate change and acid rain.

Health benefits of consuming raspberries Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like raspberries decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion, increased energy, and overall lower weight.

Brainpower Several animal studies have shown a positive correlation between intake of flavonoids in berries and memory improvement as well as decreasing the delay in cognitive ability related to aging.

Heart health A recent report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition associated the intake of flavonoid-rich foods like raspberries with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stated that even small amounts of flavonoidrich foods may be beneficial.

One flavonoid in particular, anthocyanins, have been shown to suppress inflammation that may lead to cardiovascular disease. The high polyphenol content in raspberries may also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing platelet buildup and reducing blood pressure via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Aedin Cassidy, a nutrition professor at Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, led an 18 year study with Harvard Public School of Health tracking 93,600 women aged 25 to 42. She states that their study was able to show “for the first time that a regular sus-

tained intake of anthocyanins from berries can reduce the risk of a heart attack by 32% in young and middle-aged women.” The potassium in raspberries supports heart health as well. In one study, participants who consumed 4,069 mg of potassium per day had a 49% lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared with those who consumed less potassium (about 1,000 mg per day).

Cancer prevention Given the rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrient mixture found in raspberries, it’s not surprising to see studies showing raspberry benefits in cancer prevention.

Chronic excessive oxidative stress and chronic excessive inflammation can combine to trigger the development of cancer cells in a variety of human tissue. By providing a rich supply of antioxidants, raspberries can help lower risk of oxidative stress, and providing a rich supply of anti-inflammatory nutrients, raspberries can help lower the risk of excessive inflammation. When combined, these results mean decreased risk of cancer formation. In animal studies to date, the cancer types most closely examined in relationship to raspberry intake are cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, esophagus, and prostate.

US urges screening adults for depression, including pregnant women

Anti-cancer benefits of raspberries have long been attributed to their antioxidant and antiinflammatory phytonutrients.

In animal studies involving breast, cervical, colon, esophageal, and prostate cancers, raspberry phytonutrients have been shown to play an important role in lowering oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and thereby altering the development or reproduction of cancer cells. But new research in this area has shown that the anti-cancer benefits of raspberries may extend beyond their basic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory aspects. Phytonutrients in raspberries may also be able to change the signals that are sent to potential or existing cancer cells. In the case of existing cancer cells, phytonutrients like ellagitannins in raspberries may be able to decrease cancer cell numbers by sending signals that encourage the cancer cells to being a cycle of programmed cell death (apoptosis). In the case of potentially but not yet cancerous cells, phytonutrients in raspberries may be able to trigger signals that encourage the non-cancerous cells to remain non-cancerous The role of the a protein complex called nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) is likely to be involved in this set of events.

Diabetes management Within this context of obesity and blood sugar regulation, another aspect of raspberry phytonutrients has captured the attention of researchers involving the ability of raspberry extracts to block activity of an enzyme called alpha-glucosidase. Alpha-glucosidase is a starch-digesting enzyme, and when it becomes active in the digestive tract, it increases the breakdown of starches into sugars. These sugars get absorbed up into the bloodstream and can cause excessively high levels of blood sugar following a meal. (This process is called postprandial hyperglycemia.)

By blocking activity of alphaglucosidase, raspberry extracts may make it possible for per-

A study in the journal Nature Geoscience said many developed nations had a sky-high nitrogen pollution “footprint” -- much of it left far away in the developing world.

A “footprint” is the amount of reactive nitrogen emitted during the production, consumption and transportation of goods and services used in a particular country, regardless of where production took place.

“High-income nations are responsible for more than 10 times the emissions of the poorest nations,” study coauthor Arunima Malik of the University of Sydney said in a statement.

Emissions per person ranged from over 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds) per year in nations like Hong Kong and Luxembourg, to less than seven kilogrammes in Papua New Guinea, Ivory Coast and Liberia.

“These differences reflect wealthy consumers’ preference for animal products and highly processed food,” wrote the research team.

“We conclude that substantial local nitrogen pollution is driven by demand from consumers in other countries,” they added.

sons with type 2 diabetes (or obese persons experiencing problems with blood sugar regulation) to better manage their blood sugar levels. In obese persons with type 2 diabates, adiponectin is not produced in sufficient amounts or, if adequately produced, remains too inactive. This inadequacy of adiponectin in obese persons with type 2 diabetes is a key problem for regulation of their blood sugar and blood fats. By activating adiponectin, the tiliroside in raspberries can help improve insulin balance, blood sugar balance, and blood fat balance in obese persons with type 2 diabetes. In studies to date, there is no indication that raspberry tiliroside will stop weight gain or prevent fat accumulation. But it may be able

The study claims to be the first to trace the flow of nitrogen emissions along international trade routes.

Nitrogen (N2) is a key building block of all life on Earth and is the most abundant element in the atmosphere -- crucial for plant growth.

Reactive nitrogen is a less stable form which binds with other chemicals to cause smog, for example, or nitrogen oxide -- a poisonous gas belted out by diesel cars.

Based on a global trade database of 188 countries, the study showed the bulk of nitrogen emissions in 2010 came from industry and agriculture, which accounted for 161 teragrams (trillion grammes), while 28 Tg was produced by consumers -mainly from sewage.

Consumption in the United States, China, India and Brazil, was responsible for nearly half the world’s nitrogen pollution, they added.

Commenting on the paper, James Galloway of the University of Virginia and Allison Leach of the University of New Hampshire, pointed out that developed countries such as Japan, Germany, Britain and the US had a reactive nitrogen footprint “twice as large as the amount... directly released in their own countries.”

There was much consumers could do to change the trend.

“For countries such as the United States, if consumers ate according to the national and international protein recommendations and reduced food waste by 50 percent, their total nitrogen footprint would decrease by over 35 percent,” the duo wrote.

to help prevent unwanted consequences of too much body fat and compromised regulation of blood sugar, blood insulin, and blood fats. Any plant food with skin has lots of fiber - and raspberries have lots of skin!

Eating high-fiber foods help keep blood sugar stable. Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels.

To be continued next week.

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by Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee,online www. voiceofasia.com

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US Preventive Services Task Force called for all adults to be screened for depression, including women during and after pregnancy (AFP Photo/Gent Shkullaku) Miami, United States | AFP | Tuesday 1/26/2016 - 16:56 GMT | 326 words An influential US panel on Tuesday called for all adults to be screened for depression, including women during and after pregnancy, marking the first time it has urged a focus on maternal mental health.

The non-binding call was issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, volunteer panel of experts that makes recommendations about the effectiveness of various health and counseling services.

“The USPSTF found convincing evidence that screening improves the accurate identification of adult patients with depression in primary care settings, including pregnant and postpartum women,” said the statement in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It also found evidence that

combining screening with “adequate support systems” may improve clinical outcomes by reducing or eliminating depression.

The guidelines update those issued in 2009 which did not specifically mention depression in women of childbearing age, but called for adult screening for depression when and where support systems allowed.

“Depression is among the leading causes of disability in persons 15 years and older,” said the latest report.

It is “also common in postpartum and pregnant women.”

The USPSTF “found convincing evidence” that treating adults with depression with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or both could improve patient outcomes.

It also pointed to “some harms” associated with antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

(SSRIs) because they may increase suicide risk and are associated with “potential serious fetal harms.”

Since many questions remain about when to screen and how to treat depression, some experts are calling for increased responsiveness within the medical system.

“Until there are better methods to match patients with specific forms of treatment, the best hope to improve on a B grade for patients with depression may be to adapt care systems to respond more flexibly and decisively to key events,” said an accompanying editorial by doctor Michael Thase of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

As many as one in seven women suffer from postpartum depression, according to the advocacy group Postpartum Support International.

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Kevin Samy (Miami ‘09) chased his passions and found success

by Carole Johnson, Miami University news and communications, Jan 14, 2016.

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iami University alumnus Kevin Samy, named a Top 30 under 30 by Forbes magazine, credits his professional success to writing his own playbook after life tackled him at the age of 20.

Named in Forbes’ Law & Policy category, Samy, now 28, whose career is writing speeches for others, has a message of his own for students.

“All good speeches tell a story,” Samy said, and his begins with the RedHawks.

Early in his second season playing defensive tackle for the RedHawks, he suffered a serious injury that put an abrupt end to his promising football career. After two surgeries and a year of grueling rehabilitation, it was clear to him that a comeback would be out of reach.

“As a kid, I dreamed of playing for the Cleveland Browns,” the Northeast Ohio native said. “Football was my life, my singular motivation.”

For years, he woke up early to train and stayed late after practice, ultimately earning a scholarship to play at Miami.

His parents, immigrants from India, didn’t fully understand the rules of the game. But they learned and became his biggest fans.

Following his own set of rules After his injury, a new set of rules came into play.

“It struck me, a kind of reckoning; I had to ask myself, now what? What am I going to do with my life?”

With support from his parents and

coaches, he said goodbye to the game he loved. He took a semester off his senior year to do some soul searching. Instead of binge watching Netflix, (OK, maybe a show or two), Samy took action.

He talked to people, a lot of people, to friends, family and anyone who’d offer their advice. He discovered a pleasantly surprising interest in politics and public service – and found himself swept up into the excitement of the 2008 elections.

“As an Obama administration speechwriter, Kevin Samy has helped shape the narrative on policy issues throughout the executive branch. He currently serves as speechwriter for Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter. Prior to serving at the Pentagon, Kevin was the chief speechwriter to Administrator, Gina McCarthy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and before that, he was a member of the White House Climate Team, where he leveraged his communications and climate policy experience to influence President Obama’s landmark Climate Action Plan. He also spent time advising the United Nations. In college, Kevin played defensive tackle for Miami University of Ohio Redskins.” Forbes magazine about Kevin Samy under “30 under

30” (Law and Policy).

“I felt a visceral connection. President Obama’s father belonged to a farming family in Africa, and my father, too, belonged to a farming family in India. It pulled me in; the story of possibility and hope, it was one that I benefited from myself,” he said. “Public service gave me new purpose; it became a new passion to pursue.”

Finding new passions Chasing his interest in public service, Samy jumped into the world of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working primarily on environmental policy. He finished his Miami degree in 2009, then got his master’s degree in climate change policy from Yale in 2012. He worked on Obama’s 2012 campaign, and soon he was working on climate policy. He eventually worked his way into writing speeches in various roles throughout the Obama administration.

According to Forbes magazine, “Kevin helped shape the narrative on policy issues throughout the executive branch.”

Most recently, he served as a speechwriter for Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. He also was chief speechwriter to Gina McCarthy, administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Before that, he was a member of the

Kevin Samy and his parents Selvi and Ram P Samy with President Barack Obama during a 2012 Presidential campaign event. During the campaign, Samy helped build and carry out campaign events. Credit Miami University.

White House climate team, “where he leveraged his communications and climate policy expertise to influence Obama’s Climate Action Plan,” writes Forbes.

“If chasing a passion doesn’t work out,” Samy said, “sometimes all you need to do is widen your view, and seek new passions, new pursuits and new fulfillment.”

His message to students: “Don’t be complacent or passive. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Grab opportunities. And if they’re not there, be creative and make them.”

Indian village boy, 11, seeks glory on world golf stage “It was a big struggle initially. Everything appeared beyond us.

“But our son was so passionate about this sport that we decided to give it our all,” he said.

Jaglan’s achievements -- his handicap is already down to zero, or “scratch” in golfing parlance -- now dominate conversation in the quiet village where elders spend the days sipping chai (tea) and smoking hookah on charpoys (traditional furniture) outside their homes.

- Masters dream -As Jaglan started competing in local junior tournaments, his talent began to dominate talk among Delhi’s golfing elite.

An intrigued Nonita Lal Qureshi, one of India’s best-known women golfers,

travelled to Israna village in Haryana state for a first-hand look at the young player.

ity run by former golfer Amit Luthra which helped find them cheap accommodation near the Delhi Golf Club.

“I was really impressed by what I saw. But I wanted to test him further, so I invited him for a nine-hole game in Delhi,” she told AFP.

The prestigious club has given Jaglan free membership, while a reputed public school has waived his tuition fees.

“What I then witnessed just blew me away.

“I told the family they would have to move to Delhi if they wanted their son to become a golfing star.”

For the family of three used to rural village life, it was a huge decision to make.

But the move has been eased by the Golf Foundation, a local sports char-

And his trips to the US to compete at top junior level have also been funded by the same charity.

“Had there been proper facilities back in our village, I think I would have stayed there because that’s my native place, I could get to be with all my friends,” Jaglan said wistfully.

Jaglan, who idolises Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros, knows he faces huge challenges to compete on the world stage, but says he dreams of one day winning the US Masters.

Only three Indians have ever qualified for the major championship which takes place in April at Augusta: Anirban Lahiri, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit champion who is ranked in the world’s top 50, veteran Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal.

Eleven-year-old Shubham Jaglan, India’s No. 1 junior golfer and junior world golf championship winner, practices at the Delhi Golf Club (AFP Photo/Sajjad Hussain)

by Abhaya SRIVASTAVA

I

n 11-year-old Shubham Jaglan’s poor Indian village surrounded by sugar cane fields, few had ever heard of golf until recently let alone know someone playing the sport internationally.

But Jaglan has stunned his family and village since picking up a club at the age of just five, winning back-toback junior titles in the US in 2015 and finishing sixth in a junior international event there.

“In our village, boys were either into wrestling or boxing. Hardly anybody in my family had heard about golf,” said Jaglan, whose father earned 10,000 rupees ($150) a month from farming a small plot of land.

Jaglan’s passion for what remains a rich man’s sport in India started when a US-based golfing enthusiast opened a coaching clinic in his hamlet, not far from the capital New Delhi.

“He is an exceptional talent no doubt,” Qureshi said, throwing a glance at Jaglan as he practised, wearing a pale green jumper with his name embossed on the collar.

Although the clinic closed three months later because youngsters were more interested in other, traditional Indian sports, Jaglan was hooked and continued practising his drives in the fields.

For chipping and putting, his father set up an improvised three-hole green in the family garage, while sand piled on top of the roof served as a practice bunker.

“We knew the sport was expensive, the equipment and all,” said his father Jagpal Jaglan, who is now his caddie.

“Our job is to keep him grounded,” said Qureshi, who has taken up coaching Jaglan.

Shubham Jaglan, India’s No. 1 junior golfer and junior world golf championship winner, eats as he and his mother Anjana Jaglan watch television at their home in New Delhi (AFP Photo/Sajjad Hussain)

“God willing if everything goes well, who knows, we have a star in the making.”

VOICE OF ASIA 15

Section 2

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

B ollywood M asala Bollywood Masala

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Ex-porn star Sunny Leone ‘Padma Shri honor result of determined to take on Bollywood my hard work’ - Priyanka

Canadian-born Sunny Leone says making the transition to Indian cinema from porn has been difficult but she now feels at home in Bollywood (AFP Photo/Punit Paranjpe).

by Udita Jhunjhunwala

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UMBAI - Bollywood actress Sunny Leone has long faced the wrath of India’s social conservatives for her porn-star past, but she remains determined to carve a career in Hindi movies even as fresh controversy erupted this week.

Canadian-born Leone, whose adult films include “Descent into Bondage” and “Costumed Damsels in Distress”, said making the transition to Indian cinema had been difficult but she now felt at home in Bollywood.

“When I first got into the industry it was definitely not a good feeling when people are not so happy about your choices in life,” Leone told AFP during an interview in Mumbai.

“But as time has gone by, especially over the last six months, I’ve gotten to know and I’ve gotten to meet some amazing celebrities and it’s a journey,” she added.

The 34-year-old, the most searched celebrity on Google in the country for the last three years, has often drawn controversy in deeply conservative and religious India.

This week social media erupted in sympathy for Leone after she calmly faced down what many felt was a misogynistic grilling about her past by Bhupendra Chaubey on his top-rating TV show, during which he even suggested she was linked to the increase in India’s pornography viewing.

But in a testament to the increasing acceptance of her by the Bollywood establishment, big name stars such as Aamir Khan, Rishi Kapoor, and Anushka Sharma, took to Twitter to voice support for Leone.

- ‘Penthouse Pet’ to Bollywood -A subsequent video on Facebook of Leone expressing her gratitude for the support has been viewed more than a million times.

At a film studio in the north of Mumbai, home to Bollywood, Leone is clearly proud of the progress her career is making.

“When I came here there were a lot of people who didn’t want me here and there were a lot of people who had lots of crazy things to say about me,” she said.

“But I have so many more fans who care about me, that like me, that like the movies that I’ve put out, or songs or photo shoots. I’ve had more supporters than I’ve had haters.”

Leone admits one of her toughest moments was when a woman filed a police complaint against her in Mumbai last year for “promoting obscenity and destroying Indian culture and society”.

Police are obliged to register a case when such complaints are made and there have been reports of others.

“It’s definitely something that did affect me. It was not fun at all,” Leone said of the complaint.

“Hopefully situations like that don’t come up again because I’m not a part of that world anymore and I don’t think it’s fair to bring up things that have no merit at this point in time in

UMBAI, Jan 25 (PTI) Veteran Bollywood actress Rekha was today honoured with the third Yash Chopra Memorial Award here.

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Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao presented the award to the actress in recognition of her talent and contribution to the film industry.

“I take this award not just as a validation but something of a reminder to say that the curtains have not fallen yet.

She moved to India five years ago after a successful career as a porn actress, which included being named “Penthouse Pet of the Year” in 2003.

There is still the best to come in the near future. It is reminder to do better than the best, better than ever before.

Leone has now appeared in more than eight Indian movies and is set to star in a risqué new comedy called “Mastizaade” (meaning “born out of mischief” in Hindi) which will hit screens on January 29.

- ‘See me differently’ -Leone said she feels social attitudes are shifting, with the next generation craving more of the risqué films on offer in the West.

Apart from Leone’s “Mastizaade”, Bollywood is set to release two more with similar themes: “Kya Kool Hain Hum 3” (loosely translated as “How Cool Are We”) and “Great Grand Masti” (“Great Grand Mischief”).

Some commentators have complained that “Mastizaade” -- in which Leone plays the sexy bikini-clad Laila and the bespectacled geek Lily -- objectifies women.

She advises those who feel that way: “Just don’t watch the film”, adding that the “movie’s for adults only, it is adult humour.”

But Leone is wary about being typecast and says she has lined up a couple of more serious roles.

“I think that transition also takes time and with each movie it’s different,” she explained.

“Is there sex appeal? Is there glamour? Yes of course but in the next couple of movies we’ll find out if people like seeing me in a different way.”

Rekha conferred with Yash Chopra Memorial award

The actress, whose real name is Karenjit Kaur Vohra, was born in Ontario, Canada to Indian Sikh immigrants in 1981.

She got her first break in India in 2011 when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother-inspired local reality TV show “Bigg Boss” before making her Bollywood debut the following year.

my life.”

It’s not my last chapter, but best chapter,” Rekha said.

The 61-year-old actress, who worked with Chopra in 1981 romance Silsila, said the filmmaker taught her the meaning of love through his work.

“He taught me how to love. Not only through his film I understood ‘Oh this is love’, not only it’s beautiful while talking... it’s a feeling, which cannot

Priyanka Chopra. Credit PTI UMBAI, Jan 26 - From bagging her first award for her American TV show to being one of the Padma Award winners, actress Priyanka Chopra says she is living a dream and the national honour is a result of her hardwork.

more special,” Priyanka said.

“From ‘Dil Dhadakane Do’ to ‘Bajirao Mastani’ to getting People’s Choice award for ‘Quantico’ and now Padma Shri...I can’t explain in words what emotions I am going through. I think I am living my dream,” Priyanka, who is currently in Montreal, told PTI over phone.

“I am excited and happy to be in the illustrious list of people and getting the award,” she said.

“I think it’s all the benefit of working hard. I don’t take my job for granted,” she said.

“I think with award comes encouragement to do better and good work.

There is responsibility to perform better. I am happy (that) I am acknowledged for the work that I have done,” she said.

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Priyanka will be conferred with Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.

She became the first South Asian actor to win People’s Choice Awards (Favourite actress) for her American TV show “Quantico” earlier this month.

“I am happy... excited that this honour came my way. It has been a good year for me. The start has been great. I am grateful to people who have acknowledged my work. Being the daughter of an army officer, this honour makes it

be seen but every one feels. That Yash ji taught me. I became a poetess in his company,” said the actress, who cut a graceful picture in a golden saree.

The award has been instituted by the TSR Foundation of T Subbarami Reddy in the memory of the producerdirector, who died in 2012.

Rao said, “In mathematics you learn the concept of rekha as a line - which can extend in both directions. It has infinite potential to grow on either sides. The same way Rekha has infinite potential as an actress and human being.”

The Foundation annually honours a distinguished senior film personality for outstanding contribution to film industry with a Gold Medal and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

Veterans like Shatrughan Sinha, Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Simi Garewal, Boney Kapoor, Pam Chopra and young star Ranveer Singh, among others attended the event.

Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar and megastar Amitabh Bachchan had also been felicitated with the award.

Rehka at an awards show

The 33-year-old actress said she was elated to be among the illustrious personalities from films, arts and culture field who have receive the national honour.

The actress-singer said awards are acknowledgement of an artists’ work and with honours comes responsibility to do better work.

In her career spanning over a decade now, Priyanka has given some memorable performances in films like “Fashion”, “Kaminey”, “7 khoon Maaf”, “Barfi!”, “Mary Kom” and “Bajirao Mastani”.

She recently made her debut in the American TV space with thriller series “Quantico” where she plays the role of an FBI agent, Alex Parrish. (PTI).

VOICE OF ASIA 16

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HEALTHY LIVING VOICE OF ASIA

Section 2

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Can a “crowd” diagnose better than a physician? The jury is still out

by Julia Parsons OUSTON, TX - Jan 14, 2016 - Crowdsourcing a diagnosis may provide answers to some patients with unresolved health problems, but it is unknown how many patients ultimately receive a correct diagnosis using this method, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in a report that appears in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

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“Web-based crowdsourcing could be a novel and relatively accessible way to seek opinions about a medical diagnosis from others, but we do not yet know if these opinions result in a final correct diagnosis for the patient,” said Dr. Hardeep Singh, associate professor of medicine at Baylor and chief of the health policy, quality and informatics program at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST) based at the DeBakey VA. Researchers independently evaluated data from CrowdMed, a company whose crowdsourcing strategy involves seeking the opinions of an online community of people with a variety of educational

backgrounds to make a recommendation based on the patient’s self-reported symptoms as well as the laboratory and radiology studies they make available to the community.

Patients and case-solvers may even interact via the Web. CrowdMed aims to provide rank-orderedsuggestions that patients can discuss with their own physician rather than a single, definitive diagnosis.

There is a small fee required to use CrowdMed, and patients may additionally compensate some of the online “solvers” when their recommendations are particularly helpful.

“Unlike typical secondopinion programs in which a patient’s record is examined in a static fashion, CrowdMed can facilitate an interactive exchange of information and advice,” said Dr. Ashley Meyer, cognitive psychologist and instructor at Baylor and health services researcher at IQuEST. “For example, CrowdMed members can recommend that a patient discuss an additional test with their personal physician and if the physician agrees to obtain it, the members can incorporate additional information based on the test results into their diagnostic suggestions.”

In a study of 397 cases that were completed by CrowdMed over two years, Meyer and her colleagues found that 59.6 percent of patients said they had gained insights from CrowdMed that would lead them closer to a correct diagnosis and 56.5 percent said they thought they would see a decrease in medical expenses.

Before turning to CrowdMed, the patients studied had been looking for a diagnosis for 2.6 years, spent a median of 50 hours researching their problems online, visited five physicians and spent $10,000 in medical expenses. More than half (58.3 percent) of the crowd helping to solve these cases consisted of health care providers or medical students.

However, the researchers do not know which of the 397 patients received correct diagnostic suggestions in the end. For that reason, it is not currently possible to understand how useful the method is for obtaining elusive diagnoses, Meyer said.

Further research needs to evaluate whether or not patients are receiving correct diagnostic advice from this method.

Singh emphasized the need to study the value of diagnostic interventions, citing a recent Institute of Medicine report on missed and delayed diagnoses that concluded that everyone will likely get misdiagnosed in their lifetime.

Drs. Meyer and Singh are supported in part by the Houston VA Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (CIN 13-413). Dr. Singh is additionally supported by the VA Health Services Research and Development Service (CRE 12-033; Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers USA 14274), the VA National Center for Patient Safety, the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (R01HS022087 and R21HS023602). CrowdMed provided the details of the CrowdMed process and the raw data for our analysis, but otherwise did not have input on the analysis, conclusions reached, or manuscript preparation; and did not commission this report or provide funding for it.

Dr. Christopher A. Longhurst with Stanford School of Medicine also took part in this research.

SOURCE: BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE NEWS

Child obesity an ‘exploding nightmare’ in developing world: WHO snacks.

Conversely, in poorer countries the children of wealthier families are more likely to be obese, including in cultures where “an overweight child is often considered to be healthy.”

- Biology, solutions The report outlines biological pathways that can expose children to an elevated risk of obesity once they are born.

The first, called the “mismatch” pathway, results from even subtle malnutrition during pregnancy and early childhood, which can impact gene function and make a child far more likely to excessively gain weight.

The report notes that in wealthier countries, poorer children are more likely to be obese. AFP photo

by Ben Simon ENEVA, Switzerland | AFP | 1/25/2016 Childhood obesity has reached alarming rates globally and become an “exploding nightmare” in the developing world, including Africa where the number of obese and overweight children under five has nearly doubled since 1990, a WHO commission said Monday.

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The authors of the report from the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity stressed that the epidemic has historically not been treated as a grave public health issue and was regarded by some as a product of lifestyle choices by individuals and families.

But following two years of research in more than 100 countries, the authors underscored that governments and global health organisations were central to reversing the scourge.

“What’s the big message? It’s not the kid’s fault,” commission co-chair Peter Gluckman

told reporters.

Biological factors, inadequate access to healthy foods, a decline in physical activity in schools and the unregulated marketing of fattening foods are among the drivers of a worsening epidemic that requires a coordinated global response, the report said.

If not reversed, “the obesity epidemic has the potential to negate many of the health benefits that have contributed to the increased longevity observed in the world,” added the report, commissioned by the UN’s World Health Organization.

growing from 31 million to 41 million between 1990 and 2014.

“To date, progress in tackling childhood obesity has been slow and inconsistent,” the report said.

- Lower-income countries -

This “predisposes the child to increased fat deposits associated with metabolic disease and obesity,” the report said.

The report’s recommendation call for an integrated response among governments, global health institutions and individuals, with Gluckman stress-

Child obesity “is an exploding nightmare in the developing world,” Gluckman said.

Social Security offers Tools to help Seniors and Baby Boomers have a better retirement

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arlier this month the Retirement Security Project at the Brookings Institution hosted an event with the Social Security Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that focused on retirement planning. This event highlights what we too often forget – how important Social Security is in our lives and the helpful tools the agency has developed to help senior citizens have a more successful retirement.

Approximately 168 million workers invest toward Social Security coverage through taxes on their earnings. Almost 60 million people receive monthly Social Security benefits. Around two-thirds, or 40 million of these beneficiaries, are retired workers or their dependents. Many workers paying into Social Security, unfortunately, know little about how the system works, or what they need to do on their own to be ready for retirement.

“Because we’re living longer, healthier lives, we can expect to spend more time in retirement than our parents and grandparents did,’ said Carolyn W. Colving, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, at the event.

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ing that urging individuals to eat well and keep fit was not enough.

“Dieting and exercise alone is not the solution,” Gluckman said. “We have responsibilities on behalf of the world’s children to stop them from being overly obese.”

Asked about multi-national food corporations that mass produce fattening products, he said that some had breached international conventions on food marketing, but declined to name names.

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Rather than shaming such companies, Gluckman said it was crucial to make the private sector “part of the solution”, by using carrot-and-stick strategies to incentivise healthier products.

And, in what seemed to be reference to food corporations, WHO Director General Margaret Chan told the agency’s executive committee on Monday that “implementing the report’s recommendations will take political will and courage, as some go against the interests of powerful economic operators.”

The figures have surged in Africa, with the number of overweight or obese children under five nearly doubling from 1990 to 2014, from 5.4 million to 10.3 million.

Gluckman conceded that the commission’s policy recommendations -- which range from promoting healthy lifestyles to higher taxes on sugary drinks -- may seem like common sense.

The rate of increase in Asia was difficult to quantify, Gluckman said, but Asia currently accounts for nearly half (48 percent) of young children categorised as overweight or obese.

But, the commission noted, common sense strategies have not been adequately implemented anywhere in the world, with the number of obese and overweight children under five

The report notes that in wealthier countries, poorer children are more likely to be obese, partly due to the relative affordability and abundance of fatty fast foods and high-sugar

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VOICE OF ASIA 17

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Section 2

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Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Saudi Aramco CEO sees year-end oil price recovery

D

The rise came despite slowing economic growth in many markets and a strong exchange rate of the Gulf state’s dollarpegged dirham against the euro and other currencies, Dubai Tourism authority said.

“2015 was volatile for travel globally, as we have all witnessed a range of disruptive factors, ranging from slackening economic growth in Asian and European markets to cur-

The fall in crude prices has led oil-dependent Saudi Arabia to impose unprecedented cuts in its 2016 budget, to push economic diversification and to consider a share listing of Aramco (AFP Photo/ Fayez Nureldine).

R

“Our prediction is that we will see some adjustment but it will happen toward the end of this year,” Amin al-Nasser, president and chief executive officer of the state-owned company, told a business forum in the Saudi capital.

Global crude prices have plunged from above $100 a barrel in early 2014 to below $31 a barrel on Tuesday.

“I think with low oil prices, demand will hopefully also increase... and as such the gap between supply and demand will start closing,” Nasser told the Global Competitiveness Forum organised by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).

Nasser said prices will not return to the $100 level, but “it will definitely be better than what we are seeing today”.

The price drop led oil-dependent Saudi Arabia to impose unprecedented cuts in its 2016 budget and to push economic diversification.

Authorities are even considering a share listing of Aramco.

The company’s chairman, Khalid al-Falih, told the same forum on Monday that Aramco was maintaining investments in oil and gas despite cutting costs in other ways to cope with plummeting crude prices.

Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have refused to reduce crude output as they seek to drive less-competitive players, including US shale producers, out of the market.

A SAGIA official, Abdulmohsen al-Majnouni, told AFP that the kingdom had already been working towards economic diversification even before the dramatic oil price drop.

“But we could have maybe done a better job,” he said.

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who heads the main economic affairs council, “is really keen to make this happen”, Majnouni said in an interview.

The kingdom is currently focused on three main sectors: transportation, including the $22.5-billion Riyadh metro

system; healthcare; and industrial parts and equipment for the kingdom’s major corporations including Saudi Aramco, petrochemicals giant SABIC and the Saudi Arabian Mining company, Ma’aden.

Other sectors are also being looked at, such as paints and coatings to serve the kingdom’s demand for housing, electrical generation and desalination of water for the desert nation, Majnouni said.

He said SAGIA identified six major investment barriers including the length of time to start a business, and “a major challenge” with cross-border shipment of goods.

“We’re working together to overcome this,” he said.

An oil industry expert, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Monday that despite high-level talk of diversification, a lack of skills and training is hindering the process.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Dubai visitors up 7.5% to more than 14 million UBAI, United Arab Emirate - More than 14.2 million people visited Dubai in 2015, up 7.5 percent from the previous year, with Indians, Saudis and Britons topping the list.

IYADH, Saudi Arabia - Global crude prices should recover near the end of this year, the president of the world’s biggest oil exporter, Saudi Aramco, said on Tuesday.

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

rency fluctuations across the world,” said Dubai Tourism chief Saeed Almarri in a statement.

The Gulf city-state, one of seven sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, attracted more than 13 million visitors in 2014. It aims to attract 20 million visitors annually in five years.

Visitors from Gulf countries represented the largest regional group at 3.3 million, up 12.8 percent, with Saudis alone numbering 1.54 million.

Turmoil in most of the traditional tourism destinations across the Middle East appears to have helped Dubai capitalise

on its reputation as a safe haven for tourists and businesses.

The number of Indian visitors came at the top for the first time after surging by 26 percent to 1.6 million, while Britons rose 11 percent to 1.2 million.

“Western Europe remained the second highest regional contributor to visitor volumes, bringing in nearly three million tourists, reflecting a solid 6.1 percent growth in numbers,” Dubai Tourism said.

Growth in several markets “helped offset negative trends” from Russia and eastern Europe, which saw a 22.5 percent decline in travellers to Dubai.

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But Majnouni said the kingdom has set up more than 100 “colleges of excellence” to address specific technical training needs.

He said that over the next five years the skills of members of the workforce “will hopefully be improved”.

Poor outlooks from Apple, Boeing pull US stocks lower

A woman using an iPhone 6 by Apple in Munich, Germany.PHOTO: REUTERS

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EW YORK - US stocks fell early Wednesday after Apple and Boeing shares plummeted on disappointing earnings forecasts.

About 50 minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 16,012.63, down 154.60 points (0.96 percent).

The broad-market S&P 500 fell 12.78 (0.67 percent) to 1,890.85, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite dropped 57.51 (1.26 percent) to 4,510.16.

Apple shares sank 5.0 percent after the tech giant reported only minimal growth in iPhone sales, its main money-maker, in its fiscal first quarter and forecast the first decline ever in iPhone sales in the current second quarter.

Boeing meanwhile slumped

10.0 percent after offering a disappointing 2016 outlook, saying revenues and deliveries could fall, and offering an earnings per share forecast well below what analysts were expecting.

with its directive,” said Patrick O’Hare at Briefing.com.

The Wall Street action came as Federal Reserve policymakers meet for a second day, after raising interest rates in December for the first time in more than nine years.

Caterpillar, a bellwether on the global growth outlook, shed 1.6 percent.

While no change in policy is expected, all eyes will be on the Federal Open Market Committee’s statement at 1900 GMT, to see what the Fed says about weak inflation and slow global growth.

“Most moves today, however, can be considered subject to change -- up or down -- knowing that the FOMC is certain to stir the pot one way or another

Oil-related shares slid along with a renewed fall in crude oil prices. On the Dow, Chevron and ExxonMobil lost a respective 1.2 percent and 1.6 percent.

Dow member United Technologies gained 1.8 percent as earnings per share beat analyst forecasts even as fourth quarter sales of $14.3 billion missed expectations.

US-traded Fiat Chrysler Automobiles shares slid 0.7 percent after the Italian automaker reported 2015 net profit well below expectations and down 40 percent from a year ago due to a poor performance in Brazil, Argentina and China.

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HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

Your Horoscope for the Week of January 29, 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

You getting what you really want and moving toward achieving the things which are important to you may involve surrendering something or eliminating something from your life at this time. Perhaps an attitude, a situation, or an attachment that has been impeding you is now released. You feel free to concentrate on the things that are most important to you now.

Your Involvement in social organizations, or any other group is likely to be a focus at this time. You may be asked to take responsibility or even a leadership role or to contribute and participate more fully than you have in the past. You will enjoy being part of a team or group effort now. Being part of a community or circle of friends and building your social network is important to you at this time. This will defiantly turn out rewardable in coming months. You have to maintain balance at your home front too.

Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Your serious mind and you are able to concentrate on work that requires patience, attention to detail, and precision. Practical concerns dominate. It is a good time to learn practical skills, do your taxes, organize your files, and take care of business. You’ll want to avoid light social conversation that distract you from your work. Friendships and cooperative endeavors flourish now. You will achieve a harmonious balance of giving and receiving and of talking and listening, and any social or joint activity will benefit.

Your ability to concentrate and focus on your work is which very good now. This is a time to attend to details, take care of practical business, and to make your life more stable and secure. It would be beneficial to consult advisors on investments and longrange plans and to put your affairs in order. Eliminating waste and inefficiency is important to you now. There is much activity; you move rapidly from one thing to another and a hectic, somewhat stressful pace is likely.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Your mind will be very creative & you will be eager to discuss your thoughts and plans with others at this time and you may have a very fruitful brainstorming session, a spirited debate, or a very active meeting with others in which things really get accomplished. You are verbally assertive and can present your own plan or idea quite convincingly. Good time to make new friends, meet new people. Your creativity will flow along with communication with other people.

Your interactions with others and with the outside world in general which can be confusing, and discouraging. It seems that whatever you try to do goes nowhere or gets lost in a haze of misunderstanding. Taking time off, working quietly, or doing something primarily for the benefit of others without concern for personal gain is favored at this time.

At this time, you’re likely to feel that you cannot make your desires or influence felt, and that things go awry when you try to assert yourself, make an impact, or get things done in a forthright way.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Unusual ventures, unexpected events which create the need for considerable adjustment on your part are indicated now. Whatever agenda you had planned is apt to be spontaneously disregarded for what may well be a better alternative. However, you are prone to be more than a little reckless now, so be certain you are not jeopardizing those areas of your life which are your support structure and which in fact enable you to experiment and do some of the things you want to do.

Intellectual disagreements or differences of opinion and viewpoints may surface up.

You may have to speak your mind in a way that challenges or unnerves someone else.

However, your mind is very active and sharp, and your reasoning power is good, so this is a good time to do mental work. It is easy for you to talk about your feelings now and also to listen sensitively to not only what others are saying but also what they are feeling.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August You have to take care of yourself. Good health should be your first priority at this time or it may create hurdle in your progress. The flow of money will be normal & regular. The money due from others may get delayed. But only, proper budget planning will make smooth financial flow. Spouse & family members will be supportive & co-operative. You will have to give some time regarding children’s education issues, which you may not be able to delay.

You will be paying more than 100% at your work. You are foreseeing so many opportunities in your path ahead & you want to prepare yourself for that sweet fruit. You will be so much occupied in your work life that you may accidently ignore paying attention at home front but your spouse will totally be in your support. Co-operation from spouse will make you more stronger, you will be able to focus on your goals & targets.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Disappointments with friends or people in general are likely. You are hypersensitive and need much affection, tenderness, and love, but are not actively asking for it. Others’ callousness, clumsiness, or heartlessness affect you more than usual, and you are rather unrealistic in your hopes and expectations of them. You may also be overly adaptable and accommodating in your relationships at this time, enabling others to continue in their bad habits or to take advantage of your unconditional support.

QR

You may find it stressful to balance needs for freedom and independence with needs for love and intimate companionship. People or things which might offend your senses at other times now uplift your appreciation and interest. This will not be a boring time if you can help it! But it is apt to be a tense time if you are not communicating right with your spouse. Concentrate while driving & pay attention on your speed limits.

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CLASSIFIEDS

VOICE OF ASIA 19

Part-Time Web/ Digital Content Producer KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX is looking for a parttime digital content producer for our web department. The ideal candidate will have at least two years’ experience creating content in a fast-paced, ever-changing news environment and must be able to handle multiple projects smultaneously with a keen eye for detail. We’re looking for someone who can produce content for all digital platforms, including mobile and social media. KTRK is a 24/7 operation and candidate must be available to work early mornings, late nights, weekends and/ or holidays as scheduled. To be considered interested applicants apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please reference Job Requisition # 335035BR. Equal Opportunity Employer –Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability/ Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity. No Telephone Calls Please.

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FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

Insurance Agent Assistant position (CSR-Entry level) (SW Houston) We are seeking a self- motivated individual to fill our agent assistant position in our commercial property & casualty department. We offer an hourly wages plus unlimited commission income. We are looking for someone that is career minded, has the ability to multi task and work in a team environment.

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VOICE OF ASIA 20

FRIDAY, January 29, 2016

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