VOICE OF ASIA 1
VOICE OF ASIA
FRIDAY, November In Section 216, 2018
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IACCGH’s hosts its last ‘Women Mean Business’ series of the year
Chinese Community Center’s gala honors four community partners
Two successful Houston entrepreneurs featured
IACCGH Board with the Keynote speakers Nyamusi Igambi and Dr. Vanitha Pothuri (center). Photo Credit: Bijay Dixit by Sowmya Murali
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he Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston held its final Women Mean Business series for the year on October 30th, ending a successful 2018 with yet another successful event. The Keynote Speakers for the event were Vanitha Pothuri & and Nyamusi Igambi; President Swapan Dhairyawan, welcomed the gathering
by encouraging the audience to stay connected with the Chamber, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. He also shared a few details about the upcoming Trade Mission to India led by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Greater Houston Partnership. Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia, thanked SHELL, the sponsor for the event, for their generous support to both the Women Mean Business
and the Distinguished Lecture Series. Past President and Program Chair Joya Shukla introduced the Keynote Speakers and encouraged the audience to share their ideas on the different kinds of successful women leaders they would like to hear and learn from. Vanitha Pothuri spoke about how her work ethic and interContinued on Page 11
Kenneth Li, Chinese Community Center Board of Director; Texas State Representative Gene Wu; Jean Lin, Chinese Community Center Executive Committee member; Miya Shay, KTRK-TV Channel 13, were some of the many attendees at the Chinese Community Center’s Ready, Set, Go! Building Stronger Communities Gala.
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OUSTON - The Chinese Community Center, a United Way agency, held its Ready, Set, Go! Building Stronger Communities Gala on Nov. 10 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston. The event was co-chaired by Board Members Linda Wu and Jack Li. This year marks the Chinese Community Center’s 39th year of providing educational, cultural, and social service
programs to Greater Houston. The Center celebrated the forthcoming completion of the New Horizons expansion project, which includes a 21,000-square-foot facility that holds a state-licensure-compliant Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) center, auditorium, commercial kitchen, banquet hall, and other community spaces; the renovation of a 3,600-square-foot storage building into a recreational
center; and other site improvements to enhance pedestrian safety and added parking capacity. The project will enable the Center to service an estimated 5,000 more people a year. “This project is the most ambitious expansion project in the Center’s history,” said Chi-mei Lin, Chief Executive Officer. “We are in the final months Continued on Page 3
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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
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by Kathleen Hicks and Louis Lauter
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Editor Online: Shobana Muratee Marketing Director: Susan Pothanikat Web Designer: Joey Belleza All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com. It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. Although paid advertisements may appear in Voice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, the Voice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. — The Publisher Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $50 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074.
he 2018 midterm elections amply demonstrated the deepening divisions facing our country. Common ground may be hard to see, but there is reason to hope that members can cross party lines to tackle an increasingly unstable global environment. Our recent study shows that the worldviews of members are shaped less by partisan identity than by one of three archetypal worldviews that transcend party. Order-driven members prioritize U.S. leadership of the international order. The largest cohort, they value alliances, support security assistance, and have greater confidence in the potential value of employing American military force abroad than other members. Values-driven members prioritize humanitarian, democratic, and religious values in their approach to foreign policy. These members often support U.S. efforts to work through international institutions and prioritize using foreign aid, especially for economic development, health security, and humanitarian purposes. Finally, limits-driven members are motivated by a desire to limit the costs and risks associated with U.S. international engagement. These members often oppose extended U.S. military operations, criticize allies for freeriding on U.S. security guarantees, and question the value of foreign aid programs. Evidence over the past decade suggests congressional influence in foreign policy can be significant when issues appeal to members across these archetypes. Foreign aid programs are often strongly bipartisan as members with divergent worldviews can support aid based on a variety of rationales, from countering Chinese geopolitical influence in Africa (an order-driven member concern) to improving economic development prospects (a values-driven member concern). Bipartisan work to withdraw U.S. support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen presents another example of a cross-archetype coalition with members grounding their opposition in the humanitarian (a values-driven member concern) and fiscal costs (a limitsdriven member concern) associated with military operations. Similar bridges have been built across parties and foreign policy worldviews on the threats posed by nation state competitors, as evidenced by bipartisan
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Congress can unite on global affairs can only strengthen our institutions and our security. Kathleen Hicks is the Henry Kissinger chair and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Louis Lauter is vice president for congressional and government affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Both are former senior officials with the United States Department of Defense.
support in this congress to reform rules addressing national security vulnerabilities arising from foreign investment, proposed new sanctions legislation to deter Russian interference in U.S. elections, and major reforms to U.S. development finance policy. These examples should be heartening, but they should not drive complacency. There is abundant evidence of Congressional failure in executing its constitutional responsibilities for foreign policy. This includes its inability to pass an updated authorization for the use of military force for global counterterrorism operations since 2002, its inability since 2002 to comprehensively authorize State Department programs, and the demise of its treaty ratification action, such as for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. When Congress fails to act on foreign policy matters, pressing or routine, it damages U.S. foreign policy goals, from their planning to their budgeting and execution. More profoundly, as the branch of government with the closest ties to the American public, a weakened congressional role in international affairs risks the development of a foreign policy detached from the views of the American public. The incoming Congress provides new hope for bipartisan action triumphing over stasis in foreign policy. The World War II generation has departed the Congress and the Vietnam generation is rapidly shrinking, but a number of new members have deep foreign policy experience
and are likely to populate the lower rungs of the national security committees. They have served in the military, worked as civilians in the national security establishment or spent time in international business. These younger members will not only enrich the Congress with their knowledge but also carry forward a spirit of pragmatism developed during their previous occupations. In the upcoming freshman class alone, over 25 incoming members have significant foreign policy backgrounds, promising to inject new energy into the institution. Although politics may not “stop at the water’s edge,” there is an opportunity for members of the next Congress with different worldviews and from different parties to unify around key foreign policy issues important to the American people. Understanding what can appeal to members across all three archetypes — those with order-driven, values-driven, and limits-driven motivations — is an important first step. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s election day call for bipartisanship and efforts to “seek common ground” offered a hopeful way forward, but it will be up to the leadership of individual members to drive compromise in pursuit of an active foreign policy action agenda. The significant foreign and security policy experiences in the new Congress should aid that endeavor. A Congress thus energized to execute its constitutional responsibilities as a coequal branch of government
Letter To The Editor Diwali Stamp To the Editor - Voice of Asia: Re: Your “Cornyn releases letter to Texans in celebration of Diwali” (Friday November 9, 2018) and the issuance of a Diwali stamp After reading Senator Cornyn’s letter published in Voice of Asia, I decided to write. It should be clarified that while Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced Senate Resolution 113 calling for a Diwali Stamp in 2015, the effort for the release of the Diwali stamp started years before. It was a 15-year grassroots effort started by Indian-Americans. Credit must be given to Dr. Shailendra Kumar, an Indian-American physician and stamp collector, from Maryland whose idea it was to start petitioning to the USPS for a Diwali stamp in 2000! After much effort, on many people and organization’s part, the USPS issued the Festival of Lights stamp on October 5, 2016. Other noteable dates: in 2007, the US Congress recognized the significance of Diwali; in 2009, President Obama lit a symbolic Diwali diya (lamp) in the White House and in 2014 there was a White House Diwali dinner and President Obama attended. Thank you for the opportunity to give feedback. - Mrs. Tonie Maheshwari, Houston
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Community Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Indian American Nurses Association of Greater Houston celebrates Nurse Practitioner Week Nov 11-17
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TAFFORD - This special week offers numerous opportunities to bring recognition to the Nurse Practitioner role and increase awareness of the exceptional care that NPs provide.
Happy NP Week to more than 248,000 nurse practitioners who provide patient-centered, accessible, high-quality health care to millions of patients nationwide. Did you know that two out of three patients support legislation for greater access to NP services? Learn more about NPs and the care they provide at http://aanp.org.
Tel: 713-774-5140
Chinese Community Center’s Gala honors four community partners
Linda Wu and Jack Li, gala co-chairs, welcome honorees and guests to the Chinese Community Center’s Ready, Set, Go! Building Stronger Communities Gala at the Royal Sonesta in Houston.
IANAGH Nurses & NPs celebrating Nurse's Day in Houston
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse with highly specialized education ,training and license to practice. NPs can assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose illness and disease, prescribe medication ,formulate treatment plan and refer to specialists as needed.Please empower NPs to deliver high-quality, patient-centered health care nationwide.
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Continued from Page 1 of the project’s construction, and am looking forward to the opening of our new facility.”
Advance Practice Nurse Conference in Houston with Dr.Jackie Michael, NAINA President, Dr.Lydia Albuquerque, APN chair NAINA, Accamma Kallel, IANAGH APN chair with team. National Association of Indian Nurses of America’s APN forum and IANAGH APN forum has been active in supporting, motivating, and mentoring Nurse Practitioners of Indian origin. It has provided opportunity for national and international medical
mission, NP recognition, educational events and a venue for net working. IANAGH has more than NPs in our membership and the number is growing.IANAGH is celebrating NP week on 11-15-18 with an Educational presentation by Dr. Simi Varghese On
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The gala festivities were led by KHOU’s Shern-Min Chow and honored four community leaders for their partnership with the Center, Vican Sun and family/Viet Hoa International Foods, the Birney family, Advanced Healthcare Professionals, Inc., and Southwest Management District. The gala also featured a presentation by keynote speaker Stephen L. Klineberg, Founding Director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. Dr. Klineberg spoke about
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the rise of Asian immigrant families over the past few decades and how this group continues to grow in the Greater Houston area. “We are grateful to all our community sponsors, partners and volunteers for the generous giving of their resources and time to the Chinese Community Center,” said Charlene Chuang, Board Chair. “It was a wonderful evening to celebrate with everyone for making our New Horizons project a dream come true.” The Chinese Community Center is a multi-disciplinary organization with a mission to bridge East and West by enriching families with educational, cultural, and social service programs.
FM 1092, Stafford, Texas 77477. Accamma Kallel MSN, ANP-C, APRN,CCRN IANAGH President
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FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
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Fort Bend View
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place
Section 1
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Fort Bend ISD voters approve $992.6 million bond referendum Bond program includes funding for projects including construction, safety and security enhancements
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ort Bend ISD voters approved a $992.6 million bond package Tuesday, amounting to the largest bond program in the growing District’s history. According to the unofficial results, 74 percent of Fort Bend ISD voters supported the bond proposal. Projects included in the bond referendum included funding for the construction of new schools and classroom additions, safety and security enhancements, renovations to address maintenance and adequacy throughout the District, and transportation and technology. The District currently serves more than 76,000 students, with enrollment expected to reach 85,700 by the year 2027. “The approved 2018 Bond Program marks a significant investment in the future of Fort Bend ISD, and will support achievement of our mission and vision. I am thankful for the community’s ongoing engagement and support on behalf of our students,” said FBISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Dupre. “While a large portion of the pro-
gram is allocated for the construction of new schools, our community has also shown a willingness to ensure that our current students at existing schools throughout the District have the same access to quality learning environments, safe spaces and technology resources. We are excited to move forward on this important work.” The FBISD Board of Trustees called for the November 6 bond election at its August 13 Board Meeting. The bond package included: $403.4 million for new construction, rebuilds and additions $396.5 million for life-cycle deficiencies and facility adequacy, including auditorium updates, orchestra hall additions, and turf and track updates at many schools $14.9 million for safety and security upgrades and investments $10.6 million for transportation $142.6 million for technology $19.7 million for future land purchases
$5 million for program contingency Notable projects included in the bond package include construction of three new elementary campuses, the design of one middle school, construction of one high school, the rebuild of Lakeview Elementary and Meadows Elementary, and additions at Madden Elementary and Neill Elementary. While the successful bond election will not necessitate any immediate change in the tax rate of $1.32, a potential three penny increase may be needed during the duration of the three-year program, with the earliest increase not anticipated until 2020. Following voter approval of the $992.6 bond program, Fort Bend ISD will now begin a concerted and expedited process to move forward on the projects included in the bond program. Construction is already underway on Elementary 51 in the Aliana community, and the District has engaged architects to begin designing a new Lakeview Elementary and Meadows Elementary, to be built at their current sites.
FBISD staff, parents and community members invited to furniture showcase Stakeholders invited to give feedback
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ORT BEND ISD (October 24, 2018) – Fort Bend ISD is inviting all parents, students and staff members to participate in a Future-Ready Furniture Showcase and provide feedback on various furniture samples. Fort Bend ISD’s newly-developed educational specifications will guide the design of all new and renovated
facilities in Fort Bend ISD, and include updating school furniture in order to create “Future Ready” spaces that support the Fort Bend ISD Profile of a Graduate. On November 27, 28 and 29, the community will have an opportunity to see various samples of furniture options and provide feedback. The District will then use the feedback as it
identifies vendors for future District furniture purchases. The furniture showcase will take place at Wheeler Field House (16403 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land 77479) on the following dates and times: Tues., Nov. 27 – 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 28 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 29 – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Tel: 713-774-5140
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital physician treats aFib with unique implantable device
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UGAR LAND— (November 5, 2018) — Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is the first in Fort Bend County to treat atrial fibrillation (aFib) not caused by a heart valve problem with a tiny, permanent implant called the Watchman™. The procedure was successfully implanted in a patient on Nov. 2 by electrophysiologist and cardiologist, Jie Cheng, M.D. The Watchman is an FDA-approved alternative to blood thinning drugs such as warfarin, which are typically prescribed to people who suffer from aFib to prevent strokes. “Because of their irregular heartbeat pattern, patients with aFib often experience blood pooling in a pocket of the heart called the left atrial appendage,” said Cheng. “Over time, that pooled blood can coagulate and cause clots to form. If a blood clot escapes the appendage and moves into an artery, it can eventually block the flow of blood to the brain and cause an ischemic stroke.” Research shows that 90 percent of the stroke-causing blood clots that come from the heart formed in the left atrial appendage. The Watchman works by plugging off the appendage and preventing blood from pooling and clotting. Cheng says the Watchman is designed for patients who can no longer take blood thinners due to complications, such as people with a history of major bleeding due to the drug’s side effects, or those who are at higher risk of bleeding from an injury due to active lifestyles or hazardous work. “The long-term use of a blood thinner creates a higher risk of major bleeding in patients, so the Watchman is a welcome alternative,” said Cheng. In fact, clinical studies show that 99 out of 100 people fitted with a Watchman can stop taking a blood thinner one year after the procedure.
Jie Cheng, MD (Photo: HMSLH) The Watchman is implanted through a narrow tube that is inserted through a small incision in the patient’s leg and guided to the left atrial appendage. It takes Cheng about an hour to implant the device, and most patients will go home the next day. “Eventually, heart tissue grows over the Watchman to form a natural barrier against blood clots,” said Cheng. Cheng plans to continue implanting the Watchman in aFib patients who need an alternative to blood thinners to reduce their risk of stroke. “The Watchman has been studied for more than 10 years, and more than 50,000 people have received the implant,” Cheng said. “It’s a safe alternative that can provide a very significant benefit for patients.” To schedule an appointment with Jie Cheng, M.D., call 281.205.4514. To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information. - Houston Methodist Sugar Land
COMMUNITY
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FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Sri Meenakshi Temple celebrates spectacular Diwali on November 3rd by Bhargavi Golla
and attend the Diwali Bazaar. Honorable Mayor Tom Reid, Pearland, UH Dean of Humanities, Dr. Antonio Tillis, President UH Clear Lake, Dr. Ira K. Blake, Ms. Kim Howard, Sr. Director of Development, UH System, Satya Gudipaty, Staff Assistant, UH Pearland campus, Texas State Representative Hon. Ed Thompson, Kim Sinistore, Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hon. Stacy Adams, Brazoria County Commissioner, Consul Amit Khanna, Consulate of India at Houston, and Lisa Weller of Chase Bank cut the ribbon and inaugurated the Diwali Bazaar 2018.
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iwali, the festival of lights was celebrated with exhilaration at Sri Meenakshi Temple on November 3rd, 2018. The festive look of the temple with colorful lights, huge tents and filled parking lots with thousands of people was all set for the celebration of grand spectacular Diwali. Diwali, or Deepavali, is a Sanskrit word meaning “rows of lighted lamps. The significance of the festival is the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. The day started with 23rd annual free community Health fair coordinated by Council Chairman Dr. Vaduganathan and was inaugurated by dignitaries Hon. Mayor Tom Reid, Pearland, Kyle Price, CEO, Memorial Hermann, Kelly Ochoa Chief, Nursing Officer, Memorial Hermann, Rebecca Lilly Memorial Hermann, Joanne Barrett, Chief clinical officer, Kindred hospital. Services provided were Blood Pressure, EKG, Blood tests, Complete Blood Count, Metabolic Profile, Thyroid test, Lipid Profile, Dental Check, Eye Exam, Prostate Exam, Women’s wellness check and general Medical advice. Dr. Vaduganathan thanked the Kindred Hospital for the generous support for the lab tests, Dr. Subhadra for diabetic screening, Dr. Saranathan and Dr. Mukesh for EKG, Dr. Bhavani Iyer and residents and students for the vision screening, Dr. Vijaya Kaila, Dr. Priti Palvadi, Dr. Hema Salvady, Dr. Ramarao Denduluri and Dr. Jay Patel for consulting services and Taylor for amazing organization. Honorary President of MTS Sam Kannappan requested many dignitaries to inaugurate
Council Chairman Dr. Vaduganathan seen with Hon. Mayor Tom Reid, Pearland, Kyle Price, CEO, Memorial Hermann, Kelly Ochoa Chief, Nursing Officer, Memorial Hermann, and other dignitaries during the inaugration of Health fair.
About 45 vendors had their beautiful items for sale, jewelry, saris, costumes, art works, paintings, handicrafts etc that filled up the entire youth center and lobby. Under the food tent we had seven local restaurants serving authentic Indian food from morning 10 AM till midnight. There was a steady stream of devotees with families through out the day to pray, shop and participate in many activities organized by MTS simultaneously for all age groups. This year MTS Chairman Dr. Padmini Nathan took great effort to design and setup the stalls in Raja Veedhi to mimic the stalls in front of Temples in India. Devotees experienced little India while buying Temple sarees, Pooja items and sweets and savories from these stalls. Among the many attractions organized by MTS are the children’s cultural program. Brightly clad children entertained the visitors by displaying their wonderful talents. Budding artists participated in art workshop and rangoli competitions. This
Diwali Bazaar. was the highlight of the diwali celebrations at the Sri Meenakshi Temple.
year Kumon, West University, sponsored the art workshop. VHS kids had a booth selling cookies, Tulasi plants, and origami workshop, VR activity, which made it a big hit for kids and adults as well. Carnival coordinated by Aakash Srikanth and Adhi Gopal kept the children engaged and entertained. The traditional Lakshmi puja was conducted in the Main Temple both morning and evening. Sri Lakshmi was then taken on a procession around the Temple in a silver chariot. Several devotees took part in pulling the chariot rope to the resounding drumbeat of chenda melam. Around 8:30 p.m. the grand professional fireworks show began with beautiful fireworks lit up the night sky in a blaze of glory. The crowd then joined in Garba and Dandia with live music in Kalyana Mandapam. This wonderful free event is a great voluntary effort. It takes a lot of work and even more planning to make it happen. MTS Chairman Dr. Padmini Nathan thanked this year coordinator Bhargavi Golla, the board, volunteers and employees of MTS for organizing such a flawless festival year after year. We thank TV Asia Correspondent Manisha Gandhi and Cameraman Gautam Jani for morning event coverage and the link for TVAsia telecast https://youtu.be/ SH0amD77B30 and evening Program highlights can be found at https://youtu.be/ FjLjgymYDPo We pray to Sri Meenakshi, Sri Sundareswara, Sri Padmavathi and Sri Venkateswara for a year of happiness and welfare to all.
American Heart Association celebrates 25th Heart Walk Houstonians walk to inspire healthier lifestyles in the community
A crowd of walkers gathers for the national anthem before heading to the start line of the American Heart Association’s 2018 Houston Heart Walk. Photo credit Michael McKenney.
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round 20,000 Houstonians laced up their sneakers on Saturday, November 3, 2018 for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in the Texas Medical Center. The non-competitive, family-oriented 5k walk raises funds to help save lives from heart disease and stroke. Many local companies sponsor the annual event, including Platform Sponsor, Texas Medical Center, and Signature Sponsor, TechnipFMC. 2018 is a special year in the life of the Heart Walk – it’s the event’s 25th anniversary. Throughout the past 25 years, the American Heart Association has accomplished many milestones and medical advancements, including reducing the cardiovascular disease and stroke mortality rate by 45 percent. The 2018 Houston Heart Walk has raised nearly $2 million to date to support the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke thanks to the support of local corporate sponsors, teams and individual walkers. Richard Alabaster, president of Surface Technology at TechnipFMC, chaired this year’s event and challenged executives across
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Walkers celebrate a successful 2018 AHA Houston Heart Walk. Photo credit Carew Rohde. Houston to step up and support the Heart Walk by rallying their employees to fundraise. The Heart Walk is also part of the American Heart Association's "Healthy for Good" movement, which inspires Houstonians to eat smart, add color - such as vegetables - to meals, move more with exercise and make "being well" a priority. In addition to the walk, participants enjoyed an interactive farmer’s market, healthy cooking demonstrations, a kid’s zone, spin classes, yoga classes, Hands-Only CPR training and
other activities encouraging them to eat healthy, exercise, reduce stress and improve their overall health. The American Heart Association remains committed to the mission of building a world of longer, healthier lives. As 80 percent of heart disease and stroke events are preventable with diet and exercise, the American Heart Association raises awareness and educates as many people as possible in order to reduce the number of cardiovascular diseases and stroke deaths
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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes ICU at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital with silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence
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UGAR LAND – (November 14, 2018) — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), recently recognized the Medical ICU Department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital with the silverlevel Beacon Award for Excellence, making both ICUs the only Beacon critical care units in Fort Bend County.
• Leadership Structures and Systems • Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement • Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, and Learning and Development • E v i d e n c e - B a s e d Practices and Processes • ment
The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, threelevel award with gold, silver or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet® Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award. AACN President Lisa Riggs, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN-CSC, applauds the commitment of the interprofessional team in the Medical ICU at Houston Methodist Sugar Land for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated health care professionals join other members of our excep-
Outcome
Measure-
“Having been awarded the silver-level Beacon Award of Nursing Excellence is a true testament to the level of dedication and focus the unit has in providing exceptional patient care. It is a very significant milestone for the unit, especially since the Medical ICU only opened Feb. 2016,” said Charlene Manzano, nurse manager of the Medical ICU. “It is a team achievement as the award is a validation of what the nurses, in collaboration of the other members of the ICU interprofessional team, do at the bedside and I am truly honored and proud to work with such a wonderful team.” Our Beacon Award-Winning ICU team Phot credit:HMSLH tional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care. “The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers
in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition
serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” she explains. The
silver-level
Beacon
Award for Excellence signifies an effective and systematic approach to achieve optimal patient care by meeting the following evidence-based criteria:
To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit our website at houstonmethodist.org/sugarland. Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.
Understanding different faiths creates unity, peace
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ertain troubling events this past year, such as the vandalizing of the Rothko Chapel in Montrose in May, offensive fliers left at the Congregation Shaar Hashalom in Clear Lake in July, and the recent shooting at the Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh affirm the need to encourage respect for differences in the most diverse metropolitan region in the country.
In response, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston has pledged to continue its efforts to unite people of different faiths in understanding and respect. One of those efforts is The Dialogue Project, which launched in August, offering opportunities to learn about Houston’s many faith communities to discover their common ground and to further understanding and connections among all people. Part of The Dialogue Project is a program called Faith in Our City. It offers the public tours of a variety of houses of worship as well as Lunch & Learn opportunities. Of the roughly 6 million people in the Greater Houston area, 80 percent identify themselves as “actively religious,” as reported by the Religious Landscape Study at the Pew Research Center. Yet, the ways people are unique can be shared through tours of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and more. In October, participants learned about the Jain tradition at a Lunch & Learn at the Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer and enjoyed a subsequent tour of the Jain Society of Houston. Parag Shah, a member of the local Jain community, answered questions alongside the Rev. Greg Han, IM’s director of Interfaith Relations. The Dialogue Project also includes a program called Dinner Dialogues, which offers people of diverse faith traditions or of no faith the chance to comfortably gather in a person’s private home, in a house of worship or at IM and learn about others’ beliefs in a meaningful and respectful setting. Typically, gatherings are limited to eight to 12 people and are open to the public. “These are opportunities to have meaningful experiences and to learn about
others’ faith traditions in an environment of respect and understanding,” said
Martin B. Cominsky, president and CEO of IM. “It is a chance to better understand
each other.” Information about The Di-
alogue Project can be found at the IM website, www. imgh.org, or by contacting
Bethany Boucher at 713533-4990 or bboucher@ imgh.org.
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FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Interfaith Ministries’ For All Humanity Luncheon Recognized Passionate Advocate for Refugees
OUSTON – Recalling her childhood in the deeply segregated town of Yazoo City, Miss., Suzanne Itani never forgot the moment when a brick flew through the window of her family home, nearly hitting the crib of her younger sister. Her family was a target for violence and isolation after her father, a Caucasian who firmly believed in equality, opened his home to civil rights workers and hired an African-American woman named Ruth to be a cashier at his grocery store. Undeterred by threats, however, he later joined the NAACP continuing his pledge to human rights. Itani inherited not only her father’s genes of determination, but the desire to help others struggling to persevere. The fact that Ruth’s daughter later grew up to become a federal judge has only fueled her fire.
Betsey Goldstein (IM volunteer), Mayasah AlJanabi, Chloe Krane (Women’s empowerment Liaison for IM’s Refugee Services), Danielle Reed.
With her heart set on the plight of refugees, Itani has transformed a host of lives in the Greater Houston community and was honored on Nov. 13 by Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IM) at its annual For All Humanity luncheon, which supports its Refugee Services department. “With the passage of time, I’ve come to appreciate just how much my father’s passion for equal rights and inclusion has shaped my own conscience and molded my own ideas on impartial service to the vulnerable members of our community,” Itani said. The For All Humanity event raises much-needed funds for refugees from around the world who are fleeing violence or persecution. In partnership with the U.S. State Department and Episcopal Migration Ministries, IM welcomes these neighbors and equips them with the tools they need to succeed. More than 90 percent of these refugees are self-sufficient within six months of arrival. Itani has been highly supportive of IM’s Refugee Services department through her own nonprofit agency, Taiba, which serves Muslim women in Houston by creating a dynamic support network, emphasizing mutual respect and community, and fostering
Arvia Few (host committee member), Suzanne Itani, Suzi Dore’ (host committee member) the confidence and sense of connectivity necessary to advance inclusion in society. Some of her efforts include faithbased programs in conjunction with the Islamic community, such as establishing learning programs and ESL for refugees.
Itani believes that every person has value, and she is invested in making sure that refugees receive the tools they need to succeed. Her story served as an inspiration to several hundred attendees at the luncheon, which was co-chaired by IM’s Refugee Services supporters Tehmina Masud and Nancy Qawasmeh.
Consecration of newly-built St Mary's Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, Houston
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and M.J. Khan of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston. Photos provided by IM.
Hindu Temple of the Woodlands celebrates Diwali Mela
Food, booths and other booths selling costume jewelry, ethnic Indian outfits were among the attractions during the celebrations. by Beth Kulkarni
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Newly built St Mary’s Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church
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he newly built church building of St Mary’s Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church (Jacobite) in Houston is to be consecrated with Holy Mooron on 14th and 15th (Friday, Saturday) of December 2018. This Church in the name of Mother Mary, established in 1977 in Houston, is getting ready for its Historical moment. The members are predominantly Malayalee Indian immigrants and their successors. It was a long cherished dream of the devotees to build a new church building. The Consecration of the Church building with Holy Mooron will be fulfilled under the patronage of His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho,The Archbishop & Patriarchal Vicar of Malankara Arch Diocese of The Syriac Orthodox Church in North America (Under The Holy See
Of Antioch). The Church was constructed similar to the traditional Jacobite Churches in Kerala, India renowned for their artistic marvel. The altar and interior of the Church is designed by the well known and eminent Sculptor & Art Director Thiruvalla Baby. The interior of the Church is adorned by the twelve miracles of Jesus Christ painted on to the window panels. About 700 sq ft on the back wall of the Church is adorned by the re-creation of the AD 1532 painting, The Dormition of St. Mary and Holy Soonoro(Girdle) by Palma Vecchio. The elegantly sculpted 18 feet stone cross, the golden flagpole, both imported from Kerala, India, and the cross tower (Shrine)in front of the Church are considered first
among the Churches in the United States of America. The Parish members are gearing up with prayers to make this very rare occasion a historical milestone. In the name of Almighty God we request the presence and prayers of all devotees to this blessed occasion. Church Address: 4637 West Orem Dr,Houston 77045 Web:www.stmaryschurchofhouston.org President: Rev. Fr. Pradosh Mathew (405-638-5865) Secretary: Mr. Chandy Thomas (832-692-3592) Treasurer: Sony Abraham (832-633-5790) Program Convener: George Varughese (832-483-2586).
HE WOODLANDS - As many as 5000 persons from as far away as Colorado, as well as from Clear Lake and Sugarland, came to the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands on Saturday, November 5 for the community Diwali celebration. This was a significant number of attendees, many of them local Americans who had never visited a Hindu temple or seen the celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights. But even more impressive than the number of visitors, was the hundreds of volunteers, some of who have been meeting weekly for several months to look after every detail of the Mela. As Diwali means the festival of lights, after dark a magnificent wall of diyas, earthenware lamps, were lit by several hundred devotees. With the wall depicting temple scenes, it was a sight to behold! One visitor from the Sugarland area stated that this “Diya Wall” was the finest that he had ever seen. Guests enjoyed food from various parts of India including, including dosas (thin crispy rice-lentil pancakes
with potato masala and two kinds of chutney and sambar; samosas and various other snack food including specialties as prepared in various parts of India; “Modi Chai with Ginger”; and mango milkshakes. Some experienced dosas makers did “taste tests” before determining that the dosas were even better than they made at home! In addition, there were booths selling costume jewelry, ethnic Indian outfits, saris, Indian handicrafts and art created by two IndianAmerican ladies. Several businesses and nonprofit organizations also had booths in which they shared their products with interested attendees. One somewhat unique one was a provider of solar electric panels which have been installed in several Woodlands homes, dramatically reducing electricity cost to the home-owners. The temple’s newly published cookbook was also available for its initial sale. “Traditional Indian Foods and New Favorites” is a hardcover book of over 450 pages, with a variety of recipes from local cooks and their friends. It is completely
vegetarian, with many recipes that are either vegan or easily adapted to be vegan. It will be available for sale at the temple. Those attending the Mela, or festival, appreciated different aspects of the event. Sanjay Joshi, co-chair of the event this year as well as in previous years, stated “It is beyond our expectations that in these few years we would have such a grand Diwali celebration attracting hundreds of our neighbors and friends who are enjoying celebrating with us.” Others were amazed at the musical and dance talent demonstrated on the stage. Young children through senior citizens showed their talents from 11 am through 10 pm. A middle-school girl, Lakshmi, along with many of her friends, was not willing to leave the temple at 10 pm as she was having such a good time. In fact, late evening was the most popular time for many, especially volunteers who were busy with the food stalls earlier in the day and finally available to enjoy the singing and dancing which took place on the other side of the temple.
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 11
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
8 out of 13 Asian American Two immigrants become first Democratic Candidates won the Asian-Americans elected to election in Houston, New York state senate propelled by the Texas Blue Wave! Taiwanese-American John Liu and Indian American Kevin Thomas will serve in the state senate. by Kimberly Yam
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he New York State Senate finally has some Asian-American representation. Democrat John Liu, who was born in Taiwan, won the District 11 state Senate seat on Tuesday, defeating three other challengers. Indian-American attorney Kevin Thomas, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old, beat out Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon for the state’s District 6 Senate seat. The wins are historic, as the pair are the very first AsianAmericans elected to New York’s state senate. Thomas told HuffPost that he is “deeply honored, humbled and proud to be the first Indian-American in the the New York State Senate in U.S. History.”
Indian-American attorney Kevin Thomas Image:Twitter
Asian American Democratic Candidates won the election in Houston. by Helen Shih, PhD, Content Provided by Rep Gene Wu, Texas State Representative, District 137
Liu added that it’s about time. “It’s nice to be among the first, but we should have had Asian-Americans in the state senate long ago,” he told HuffPost.
I
n the 2018 Midterm Election that ended last Tuesday, Nov 6th, Houston has seen a surge of Asian American candidates running for offices and winning the election.
Asian-Americans make up roughly 9 percent of the state’s population. New York City alone is home to the largest number of Asian-Americans compared to all other U.S. cities. Two Asian-Americans — Yuh-Line Niou (D) and Ron Kim (D) — serve in the New York State Assembly, but no politicians of Asian descent have served in the state senate prior. Liu, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 5 years old and grew up in Flushing, Queens, is no stranger to making history. Back in 2010, the Taiwanese-American was sworn in as New York City’s comptroller, making him the first Asian-American to occupy that role. Previously, he served as a city councilman, making him the first AsianAmerican to be elected to a citywide office. “John Liu is a model for new immigrants,” John Park, president of the Korean American Community Empowerment Council said of Liu’s victory as comptroller at the time. “This is a new era.” While Liu had made a bid for the mayoral seat, his campaign became the subject of scandal in 2013 when a federal investigation was launched into his fundraising. Liu was never charged, but his campaign treasurer Jenny Hou and a fundraiser Oliver Pan were convicted on formal wire fraud charges related to illegal donations.
A record-breaking 15 of them were on the ballot in the Greater Houston Area, among them 13 were also Democrats. On the Election Night, 8 out of these 13 democratic candidates declared victory, 4 are also women. It in turn, set a new record of both the number of Asian Americans winning offices in one single election, and the level of positions they will hold together in Texas.
Democrat John Liu aiming to highlight the struggles that disproportionately impact Asian-Americans. “I ran to represent everyone in my district and that is what I intend to do. But ... I will certainly be bringing the issues of the Asian-American community to the state legislature,” Thomas said. Asian-Americans have been stereotyped as apolitical; however the group has been up against several challenges that impede their civic engagement. Language barriers constitute a large part of the problem. Roughly one-third have limited English proficiency, and many Asian immigrants lean on their children to translate the voting process for them.
Moreover, both Democrats and Republicans have failed to truly reach out to Asian-Americans. Ahead of the 2016 presidential election, the majority of community members saying that neither party reached out. With increased awareness and outreach, Liu feels that the tides could turn in the AsianAmerican community. “As with all people, the more Asian-Americans understand the impact people have on government and the impact government has on people such as in matters of education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, the more Asian-Americans will engage in this democracy that America is about,” he said. -HuffPost
Among the 8 lucky winners, Texas State Representative Gene Wu (District 137), and Hubert Vo (District 149), both retained their seats in the Texas House, with a super majority of 88% votes in their districts. The other newly elected Asian American officials are, Frances Bourliot, Justice, 14th Court of Appeals (State of Texas) Rabeea
Collier,
District
Judge, 113th Judicial District (Harris County) Jason Luong, District Judge, 185th Judicial District (Harris County) Christine Weems, District Judge, 281st Judicial District (Harris County) KP George, Fort Bend County Judge Juli Matthew, Fort Bend County Court at Law, Position #3 This is the first time that Democratic Asian Americans will hold these many offices in Houston area together. At the time of their winning, many candidates thanked the support of the Asian American communities. There was both a surge in voter turnout as well as volunteer enthusiasm among Asian Americans in Houston area. This was the result of the relentless advocacy of each candidate, collaboration among the candidates and support by the Democratic Party on the regional and state levels, and the astonishing grassroot effort led by candidates like Beto O’Rourke (for Texas Senator), Sri Kulkarni (for Congress in District 22), and many others. Together, they have churned
the “Blue Waves” in Texas, which propelled these candidates to move forward and move higher. Other candidates, though did not win this time, also pushed the boundary beyond possible, gaining the winning odd by 10-15 percentage points across the board, such as in Congressional District 22 which is now turned to a “purple” district by Sri Kulkarni’s campaign. This will set a solid foundation for more candidates to win in the 2020 Presidential Election. The changes in Houston are also well aligned with what is happening in the state and in the nation. Across the country, women, minorities, younger generations, are the strong force and beneficiaries of the Democratic Movement. Rep. Gene Wu commended the hard work and the monumental accomplishment of all the candidates, “I am so proud of the Democratic Asian American candidates. They worked hard and engaged the community. This is a new day for the Asian American community.” Indeed, this is a historical moment worth celebration for all the Asian Americans, who see their future will only become bigger, brighter, and bluer, like the sky in Texas.
Indian-American Naomi Rao to replace US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh?
IACCGH’s hosts its last ‘Women Mean Business’ series of the year
Though Liu had lost the state senate seat to incumbent Tony Avella (D) back in 2014, he prevailed against the same challenger this time around. Thomas is best known for his work as an attorney. He was appointed to the New York State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights back in 2016. Previously, Thomas had run for a congressional seat in New York’s 2nd District, but withdrew prior to the June primary. “I left the Congressional race because I can protect more New Yorkers in the state Senate and the Democratic Party has endorsed me as their nominee,” he told U.S.-based Indian newspaper India-West. The state senator-elect told HuffPost explained that he felt compelled to run for state senate because of his experience defending student loan borrowers. “When I saw what the Trump administration did to consumer protection, I knew I had to do something,” he said. “I ran for office as my form of resistance. To do what I have always done, stand up for the little guy, to do what is right. As an Asian-American, that is just who we are and those are the values my parents raised me with.” And because his district on Long Island has the fastest growing South Asian community in the state, he said he’s
Trump administration regulatory czar Neomi Rao (center) reacts after President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate her to fill Brett Kavanaugh's former seat on the D.C. Circuit Federal Court of Appeals during the Diwali ceremonial lighting of the diya at the White House on Nov. 13. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Keynote Speakers: Vanitha Pothuri & and Nyamusi Igambi during the Q & A session. Continued from Page 1
doctor and a food entrepreneur.
est to run a business came from her parents. Those traits, she said, helped her to begin an entrepreneurial venture, starting in retail and venturing into “the gelato and cookie business”. She also shared the various challenges she faced and lessons she had to learn on the way to establishing her franchise.
Nyamusi Igambi shared that she has come to a full circle moment being back in Houston; the city where she started working with the U.S Commercial Service 18 years ago and currently serving as its Director. Her multicultural family background fostered the curiosity to seek multicultural and diverse spaces, both personally and professionally.
“The path to success is to keep aside your ego and to always be ready to learn the core principles and concepts”. These ideals, she said, helped her to equally juggle being a
She also shared the exposure and knowledge she gained through her travels to countries like Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria, India and within the
USA. She closed her speech by encouraging women to “Keep showing up, keep asking questions, to mentor and raise the next generation of leader”. Following an engaging Q&A session, Shell representative and IACCGH Board member Alyssa Holmes Henderson, presented the gifts and certificates to our speakers. Sound and AV was by Dharshak Thacker and Bijay Dixit was the photographer for the evnt. For more details about upcoming events visit www. iaccgh.com
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ASHINGTON: (Nov. 14, 2018) AP - President Donald Trump has nominated IndianAmerican Neomi Rao to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump said that he was nominating Rao for the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Rao currently serves as the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which is part of the Office of Management and Budget. Rao previously worked as a professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason
University. She also served in President George W. Bush’s administration and worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee. Trump made the announcement at a White House event marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Rao thanked Trump “for the confidence you’ve shown in me.” At the event, Trump also took a shot at Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. Said Trump: “I just didn’t like one decision he made, but that’s all right. Not even a little bit. But he’s independent.”
US/ ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 12
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
US could lose in war with China or Russia, panel warns
Delhi homeless to be given masks as smog worsens: official
ashington | AFP | 11/14/2018 - The United States is facing a national security and military crisis and could lose in a war against Russia or China, a bipartisan congressional panel warned in a report Wednesday.
EW DELHI, India | AFP | New Delhi's homeless will be given cotton masks to help them survive in the world's most polluted major city, officials said Monday, although experts said the basic coverings would be useless against deadly smog particles.
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Congress had tasked the National Defense Strategy Commission to look at President Donald Trump's sweeping National Defense Strategy (NDS), which highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Moscow and Beijing. The panel, run by a dozen former top Democratic and Republican officials, found that just as the US military faced budget cuts and diminishing military advantages, authoritarian nations like China and Russia are pursuing buildups aimed "at neutralizing US strengths." "America's military superiority -- the hard-power backbone of its global influence and national security -- has eroded to a dangerous degree," the commission said. In their report, the panel found America's focus on counter-insurgency operations this century resulted in it slipping in other warfighting areas such as missile defense, cyber and space operations, and antisurface and anti-submarine warfare. "Many of the skills necessary to plan for and conduct military operations against capable adversaries -- especially China and Russia -- have atrophied," the report states.
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Each winter the capital of 20 million chokes through haze so extreme that levels of airborne pollutants eclipse safe limits by more than 30 times. In this November 9, 2017, President Donald Trump is seen shaking hands with China's President Xi Jinping at the end of a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AFP File Photo / Fred Dufour). It lambasts "political dysfunction and decisions made by both major political parties," especially budget control measures implemented in 2011.
have raised the risk of conflict.
"The convergence of these trends has created a crisis of national security for the United States," the report notes.
"It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia. The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously."
While the NDS points the Pentagon in the right direction, it "too often rests on questionable assumptions and weak analysis." "It leaves unanswered critical questions regarding how the United States will meet the challenges of a more dangerous world," the report found. The commission also said that across Asia and Europe, American influence is being steadily eroded and military balances have shifted in "decidedly adverse" ways that
"The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict," the commission found.
Though the Pentagon this year has a budget of more than $700 billion, far more than Russia and China combined, the commission said the sum is still "clearly insufficient" to meet the goals laid out in the NDS. Commissioners made a series of recommendations including a 3-5 percent annual increase in the defense budget.
India "best" trade negotiators: Trump at White House Diwali celebrations
The poor and homeless suffer the worst, through constant exposure to a toxic brew of car fumes, factory exhaust and construction dust. Measures to curb the smog -- from reducing heavy goods traffic and firecrackers to banning farmers from using fire to clear their fields -- have failed to clear the skies. Bipin Rai from Delhi's city government told AFP that 10,000 face masks would be given "to homeless families, women, patients and children as pollution levels are on the rise". But experts said these masks offered little to no protection against the most poisonous pollutants in the air -- particles known as PM2.5 so small they can penetrate the heart and cardiovascular system. "These masks are redundant, as fine particles harmful to the human body will not
The World Health Organization previously said exposure to air pollution killed 600,000 children around the globe every year. (AFP) be filtered out," Vivek Chattopadhyay from the Centre for Science and Environment told AFP. "It is ineffective, and the government should instead offer medically approved masks." Rai, from Delhi's Urban Shelter Improvement Board, defended the scheme. "Has any expert who is commenting on the masks and their durability tested them? How can they comment on something they've not tried," he said. Levels of PM2.5 measured by the US embassy in Delhi on Monday showed readings
hit 378 -- more than 15 times safe limits. The World Health Organization last year said exposure to air pollution killed 600,000 children around the globe every year. Tiny particles in the air can be absorbed into the bloodstream and have been linked to chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. The report found that children in poorer countries are far more at risk, with a full 98 percent of all children under five in low- and middle-income countries exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO air quality guidelines.
Indian court to review women entering flashpoint temple
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EW DELHI, India | AFP | India's top court Tuesday agreed to hear challenges to its decision to overturn a ban on women of menstruating age from entering a Hindu temple, after protests against the ruling. The Supreme Court said it would review the petitions on January 22 but until then women and girls aged 10 to 50 could still pray at Sabarimala in Kerala. "We make it clear that there is no stay of the judgement and order of this court dated 28 September 2018," the fivejudge bench said.
"I'm honored to host this beautiful ceremony at the White House," Donald Trump said. (Image: Twitter)
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ASHINGTON, PTI - (November 14, 2018 ) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described India as "very good negotiators" as he celebrated Diwali in the White House along with top Indian-Americans and said he is "grateful" for his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We're trying very hard to make better trade deals with India. But, they're very good traders. They're very good negotiators. You would say right. The best. So we're working. And it's moving along," Trump said referring to the India-US trade deal negotiations that have started between the two largest democracies of the world.
"The United States has deep ties to the nation of India and I am grateful for my friendship with Prime Minister Modi," Trump said before lighting the ceremonial Diya in the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House. It is the second consecutive year that Trump has celebrated the largest festival of India and Indian Americans in the White House.
Along with nearly two dozen top Indian American officials of his Administration, President Trump had invited the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, his wife Dr Avina Sarna, and his special assistant Pratik Mathur to be present during the White House Diwali celebrations. "I'm honored to host this beautiful ceremony at the
White House. Very, very special people. We're gathered today to celebrate a very special holiday observed by Buddhist, Sikhs and Jains throughout the United States and around the world. Hundreds of millions of people have gathered with family and friends to light the Diya and to mark the beginning of a New year: very special new year," Donald Trump said. The first White House Diwali celebrations was held in 2003 under the then US President George W Bush, who never attended the celebrations in person. A senior administration official represented him. It was mostly held in the India Treaty Room of Executive Office Building, which is part of the White House complex.
K. V. Doraiswamy Bhattar 281-489-0464 or 281-948-8368 kvdoraiswamybhattar@yahoo.com kvdoraiswamy60@gmail.com
Rituals Performed: Sreemantham, Punyahavachanam, Namakaranam, Annaprashanam, Vidyarambham, Choulam, Upanayanam, Wedding, Sathya narayana puja, and all kind of Homas (Havans) and more. I can drive to your place. More than 30 years of experience as Priest in major temples including Sri Meenakshi Temple Pearland, TX. Can speak 5 languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English)
The decision to revoke a ban on women of menstruating age from entering the hilltop shrine in southern India sparked a backlash among conservatives. Some temple devotees angrily resisted the order and prevented female worshippers from entering the shrine when it reopened in October for a few days. Another showdown looms with at least 300,000 worshippers -- including 560 women of menstruating age -- registered to visit Sabarimala when it reopens again in November. The temple's chief priest welcomed the court reviewing its decision but rejected the notion of women entering the Hindu shrine until then. "I am happy and don't think
Women devotees were not allowed to enter Sabarimala hilltop temple before the controversial Supreme Court ruling. (AFP) women will now be able to enter," Kandararu Rajeevaru told AFP from Kerala.
old but prevalent view in India linking menstruation to impurity.
Traditionalists say the court ignored their beliefs and devotion to Ayyappa, the temple's celibate deity.
Kerala police said this week thousands of extra officers will be deployed to Sabarimala and crowd control enforced at the temple to avoid a repeat of last month's violence.
Those defending Ayyappa clashed with police in October at Sabarimala, prompted the arrest of more than 2,000 people. Progressive Hindus and gender activists say the vocal opposition to certain women entering Sabarimala reflects an
Pramod Kumar, Kerala police spokesman, earlier this week told AFP that restrictions will be imposed on those wishing to visit the temple, which pilgrims can only reach on foot after a steep climb.
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Walmart-owned Flipkart CEO quits amid misconduct probe
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Walmart says Flipkart CEO has resigned after misconduct investigation
Amazon announces new HQ split between New York, Washington suburbs
The waterfront of Long Island City in the Queens borough of New York, was one of two sites selected by Amazon for its new headquarters. AFP/File / Don EMMERT
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ASHINGTON, | AFP | 11/13/2018 - Amazon announced Tuesday it would split its “second headquarters” between New York City and a Washington suburb in Northern Virginia, with the online giant to invest some $5 billion in the two locations after a heated contest by dozens of cities. “These two locations will allow us to attract world-class talent that will help us to continue inventing for customers for years to come,” Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said in a statement. The announcement comes after a yearlong search and a fierce competition between North American cities to net the estimated 50,000 jobs that will be created with the new headquarters, which had been dubbed “HQ2.” Amazon selected the Long Island City neighborhood in the New York borough of Queens, across the East River from Manhattan, and the Crystal City section of Arlington, across the Potomac from the US capital Washington, where Amazon plans to create a new
neighborhood called National Landing. These will be new headquarters with equivalent status to Amazon’s home in Seattle, Washington. According to an Amazon statement, the company will receive “performance-based direct incentives of $1.525 billion” over the next decade from New York based on creating 25,000 jobs in Long Island City. “This is a giant step on our path to building an economy in New York City that leaves no one behind. We are thrilled that Amazon has selected New York City for its new headquarters,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “New Yorkers will get tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs, and Amazon will get the best talent anywhere in the world.” Virginia will offer $550 million in incentives over 12 years based on a similar number of job creations, contingent on adding the forecasted number of “high-paying jobs,” and Amazon will get another $23 million from Arlington. “This is a big win for Vir-
ginia -- I’m proud Amazon recognizes the tremendous assets the Commonwealth has to offer and plans to deepen its roots here,” said Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not thrilled about Amazon coming
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ew York’s newly minted Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, took to Twitter to point out that tax breaks will funnel much-needed money away from the city’s crumbling infrastructure. She noted that the community’s response so far has been outrage. “Amazon is a billiondollar company,” she wrote. “The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.” - Fast Company
UMBAI, India | AFP | 11/13/2018 - The chief executive and co-founder of Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, majority owned by US group Walmart, quit on Tuesday following an investigation into “serious personal misconduct”. A joint statement from the two companies said that Binny Bansal denied the unspecified allegations and that the independent probe “did not find evidence to corroborate the complainant’s assertions”. “(But) it did reveal other
lapses in judgement, particularly a lack of transparency, related to how Binny responded to the situation,” the statement said. “Binny has been an important part of Flipkart since co-founding the company, but recent events risked becoming a distraction and Binny has made a decision to step down,” it said. A Flipkart spokesperson declined to comment on the nature of the personal misconduct. Flipkart, India’s biggest e-commerce platform by sales, was purchased by
Walmart for $16 billion in May in a bid to outpace its rival Amazon. Following the 77-percent stake purchase, Flipkart’s co-founder Sachin Bansal, not related to Binny, left the company after selling his stake. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has committed $5 billion to grabbing a big slice of India’s e-commerce pie after failing to make inroads in China.
Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs ‘cheated’ Malaysia: PM
Mahathir Mohamad said investment bank Goldman Sachs ‘cheated’ Malaysia (AFP Photo/Mohd RASFAN)
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INGAPORE, Singapore | AFP | Tuesday 11/13/2018 - Goldman Sachs “cheated” Malaysia, its leader Mahathir Mohamad said, after two former bankers from the Wall Street titan were charged over a scandal that allegedly saw billions looted from state coffers. The US Justice Department unveiled criminal charges this month against ex-Goldman bankers Tim Leissner and Ng Chong Hwa, accusing them of working with a Malaysian financier to launder huge sums allegedly stolen from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. They are accused of involvement in a sophisticated fraud linked to former leader Najib Razak, allegations that played a big factor in the shock defeat of his long-ruling government at polls in May. In an interview with broadcaster CNBC, Prime Minister Mahathir said that “obviously we’ve been cheated”, when asked about Goldman’s dealings in Malaysia. “There is evidence that Goldman Sachs has done things which are wrong,” said the 93-year-old, who is in his second stint as premier after com-
ing out of retirement to take on Najib, his former protege. Asked about Goldman’s compliance controls -- which are supposed to monitor and prevent risky behaviour at the bank -- Mahathir responded: “It does not work very well.” In later comments in Singapore, where he is due to attend a regional summit, Mahathir suggested Malaysia could take action against Goldman if it was found to have broken the law. “If the law says that somebody has committed a crime, then he should be accordingly punished through the process of law,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who -- it may be Goldman Sachs, it may be whoever.” Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The US Department of Justice, which has also launched civil suits seeking to claw back assets in the US allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB cash, estimates that $4.5 billion was looted from the fund. Mahathir said that it could take time, but US officials have promised to give back any
money they recover. Leissner and Ng have been charged with money-laundering and conspiring to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi to hire Goldman for lucrative consulting contracts. Goldman underwrote $6.5 billion of bonds issued by 1MDB but US authorities allege that more than $2.7 billion was siphoned off. Goldman earned $600 million in fees for the bond issue. Leissner pleaded guilty and has agreed to pay $43.7 million in restitution of ill-gotten gains. Ng has been arrested in Malaysia. Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho was also charged by the DoJ. Low, allegedly a central figure in looting 1MDB, remains at large. Goldman Sachs has not been charged over the scandal but its shares fell heavily this week after Malaysia’s finance minister said he wanted a full refund of fees paid to the bank. In a further blow to the bank’s image, it has emerged that former chief Lloyd Blankfein met with Low at a private reception in a New York hotel in 2009.
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Why is Thugs of Hindostan Bollywood’s biggest flop? Patchy history certainly doesn’t help A battle of charisma between Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan is also at play
Bahrain royal fights $33m Bollywood claim
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member of the Bahraini royal family is set to give evidence this week in a High Court case over claims he owes millions of dollars to an Egyptian businessman who arranged for him to meet some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, including Shah Rukh Khan. Sheikh Hamad Isa Ali al-Khalifa, a cousin of the King of Bahrain and a Bollywood fan, is alleged to have reneged on an agreement he had with the businessman to set up meetings with 26 Bollywood actors. It is claimed Sheikh Khalifa agreed to pay $1.5m for each meeting with a film star plus a $500,000 bonus payment for every third meeting. The businessman, Ahmed Adel Abdallah Ahmed, is now suing Sheikh Khalifa claiming he is owed more than $33.5m after the Bahraini royal allegedly backed out of the deal and paid only $3m.
Director Vijay Krishna Acharya, center, poses with Bollywood actors from left, Amitabh Bachchan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Katrina Kaif and Aamir Khan, during the trailer launch event. (Photo | AP) by Kumar Shyam
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UMBAI - Yash Raj Films’s Thugs of Hindostan (TOH) hit theatres during Diwali – the Indian festival of lights is synonymous with the bursting of firecrackers, but TOH has turned out to be nothing but a fizzling, wet bomb. Light is not shining brightly on the bigbudget movie, and even the fact that it is the first time superstars Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have come together for a film in three decades will not be able to save it. The initial hype about the unique pairing, and Khan’s reputation for focusing on quality over quantity, as well as the Diwali release, meant that there was a big-bang at the box office on Thursday, the opening day. But the next day’s collections brought everyone back to reality: according to Bollywood business analyst Taran Adarsh, collections dipped by 44.33 per cent on the Friday, meaning the takings were nearly half that of the first day. This is one of the biggest slumps in Bollywood’s history. “All that glitters is NOT gold ... holds true for #TOH,” Adarsh wrote on Twitter. This meagre revenue pales in comparison to the millions spent – roughly US$690 million (Dh2.51 billion) - with the film shot extensively in Malta and India, and lots of VFX effects to create the period film. The makers spared no effort, and the project grew bigger and bigger by the day. And therein lies the problem. A historical film - but through a foggy lens
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The seed of the project was 1839 novel Confessions of a Thug by Philip Meadows, which documented the Thuggee cult, a crime gang in India that thrived for around 600 years, and coincided with England’s aspirations to set up base in the subcontinent through the trade channel with East India Company. In the early 1800s, the country was a cluster of royalties - big and small rulers, each figuring out their own way of survival - and these Thuggees were bunches of thieves operating under one signature style. They overpowered their victims by catching them by surprise and strangulating them before taking off with the loot. The Thugs - who are thought to have killed hundreds of thousands of people in their time - were suppressed by the British rulers of India during the 1830s (and were effectively eradicated by the 1870s). Their crimes were gruesome and far-reaching, but this movie certainly paints a 2D, almost rosy picture of them. Among the most prominent leaders of the cult was Syed Aamir Ali, also known as Firangee. He was a master of deception. Enter Aamir Khan in the film adaptation. To make his character - and by extension Khan? - more likeable, the script writers have deviated so much from reality. To make it clear he is a thug with a conscience it is pointed out that he is actually a mercenary and does not believe in killing: this almost certainly would not have been true.
The only connection to the real history of the man can be seen in two scenes. In the first, he deceives a wealthy procession of people before signaling to his accomplices to strangle his victims. Then there is another moment at the end where he tricks prison staff with opium-filled sweets, a ploy that was often used by the Thuggees. Khan and Bachchan - a collision of charisma Khan has a penchant for taking centre stage in every film he’s involved in, so much so that people know that when he is named as the producer or director, he is likely to be everything rolled into one by proxy. But then the casting coup with getting Bachchan meant he had to share that limelight. The compromise by the filmmakers seemed to be to allow Khan exposure for his acting skills as a deceptive man, while Bachchan got crispy one-liners and brilliant, VFX-powered action scenes. TOH is more than three hours long, and there are a couple of well-choreographed dance numbers by Katrina Kaif, and sincere efforts by action director Lee Whittaker, music directors Ajay-Atul, production designer Sumit Basu and director of photography Manush Nandan. But even these valiant turns cannot mask the fact that there is a wafer-thin and flimsy plot behind the whole thing. Instead of an interesting historical epic, TOH turns out to be your standard revenge drama, with just a touch of history and a bucketload of ‘inspira-
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Barring a last-minute settlement, the high-profile case is due to start on Tuesday with the sheikh due to testify later in the week along with his bodyguard. No Bollywood stars are due to give evidence in the civil trial which is scheduled to last five days. Mr Ahmed alleges that Sheikh Khalifa, who is also the nephew of the deputy prime minister of Bahrain, gave him a list of 26 film stars he would like to meet, and the two men struck an agreement, according to a claim form filed at the High Court in London. The Sheikh then met Mr Khan and actor Salman Khan in Mumbai in early 2016. He also met two other stars, Aditya Roy Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, in Dubai in March 2016. However, Mr Ahmed claims that the sheikh then backed out of their agreement and instructed another agent to arrange meetings with 13 other Bollywood stars. The sheikh denies the claims and is defending the case saying he did not enter into any legally binding agreement with Mr Ahmed. - Financial Times
tions’ from Pirates of The Caribbean, Bahubali and Lagaan all rolled into one. Lines are blurred badly between Khan’s bunch of Thugs and Bachchan’s freedom fighters. Yash Raj Films released a series of short clips to explain the making of the film: one part focuses on the meticulous efforts to build two ships to minute detail. They then admit they forgot to check if the boats would be sailworthy: so there is then a big sigh of relief when the ships do manage to set sail in Malta’s sea. - The National
Spider-Man creator and Marvel’s comic book genius Stan Lee dies at 95
Stan Lee creator of comic-book franchises such as “Spider-Man,” “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men,” died on Monday. (AP).
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OS ANGELES: Stan Lee, the creative dynamo who revolutionized the comic book and helped make billions for Hollywood by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as SpiderMan, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk, died Monday. He was 95. Lee was declared dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee’s daughter, J.C. Lee. As the top writer at Marvel Comics and later as its publisher, Lee was widely considered the architect of the contemporary comic book. He revived the industry in the 1960s by offering the costumes and action craved by younger readers while insisting on sophisticated plots, college-level dialogue, satire, science fiction, even philosophy. Millions responded to the unlikely mix of realistic fantasy, and many of his characters, including Spider-Man, the Hulk and X-Men went on to become stars of blockbuster films. Recent projects he helped make possible range from the films “Black Panther” and “Doctor Strange” to such TV series as “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” “I think everybody loves things that are bigger than life. ... I think of them as fairy tales for grown-ups,” he told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. “We all grew up with giants and ogres and witches. Well, you get a little bit older and you’re too old to read fairy tales. But I don’t think you ever outgrow your love for those kind of things, things that are bigger than life and magical and very imaginative.” Lee considered the comicbook medium an art form and he was prolific: By some accounts, he came up with a new comic book every day for 10 years. “I wrote so many I don’t even know. I wrote either hundreds or thousands of them,” he told the AP in 2006. He hit his stride in the 1960s when he brought the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man and numerous others to life. “It was like there was something in the air. I couldn’t do
anything wrong,” he recalled. His heroes, meanwhile, were a far cry from virtuous dogooders such as rival DC Comics’ Superman. The Fantastic Four fought with each other. Spider-Man was goaded into superhero work by his alter ego, Peter Parker, who suffered from unrequited crushes, money problems and dandruff. The Silver Surfer, an alien doomed to wander Earth’s atmosphere, waxed about the woeful nature of man. The Hulk was marked by self-loathing. Daredevil was blind and Iron Man had a weak heart. “The beauty of Stan Lee’s characters is that they were characters first and superheroes next,” Jeff Kline, executive producer of the “Men in Black” animated television series, told The Blade of Toledo, Ohio, in 1998. Some of Lee’s creations became symbols of social change — the inner turmoil of SpiderMan represented ‘60s America, for example, while The Black Panther and The Savage SheHulk mirrored the travails of minorities and women. Lee scripted most of Marvel’s superhero comics himself during the ‘60s, including the Avengers and the X-Men, two of the most enduring. In 1972, he became Marvel’s publisher and editorial director; four years later, 72 million copies of Spider-Man were sold. “He’s become our Mickey Mouse,” he once said of the masked, web-crawling crusader. Lee also published several books, including “The Superhero Women” in 1977 and “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” the following year, when he was named publisher of the year by the Periodical and Book Association of America. CBS turned the Hulk into a successful TV series, with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno portraying the doomed scientist from 1978-82. A Spider-Man series ran briefly in 1978. Both characters were featured in animated TV series as well. Lee is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joan Clayton Boocock, and a daughter, Joanie. - AFP
VOICE OF ASIA 15
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
BOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD Section 2 www.voiceofasia.news Email: voiceasia@aol.com
U.K. police make arrest in hunt for thief who looks like David Schwimmer
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ONDON - The force tweeted: “Thank you for the support, especially @DavidSchwimmer!”
Power couple Deepika, Ranveer head to Italy for their wedding
British police say they have arrested a suspect in their hunt for a shoplifter who bears a striking resemblance to Ross Geller, the character played by David Schwimmer on the TV show Friends. Facebook users noticed the similarity when police posted surveillance-camera footage last month of a man carrying a carton of cans from a restaurant in Blackpool, northwest England. The actor responded with a Twitter video that showed him scuttling furtively through a convenience store clutching
David Schwimmer (Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images) a carton of beer. Schwimmer wrote: “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I was in New York.” Lancashire Police said Tuesday that a 36-year-old man had
been arrested in London on suspicion of theft. The force tweeted: “Thank you for the support, especially @DavidSchwimmer!” - Hollywood Reporter
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is heading to China... Will it be a hit?
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ONG KONG - ”Crazy Rich Asians” is finally getting a run in China’s lucrative movie market.
But Warner Bros. isn’t playing down the crazy rich aspect of its movie. The studio announced the movie’s Chinese release on social media with the promise of “yachts, parties, high-end lifestyle!” China’s movie regulator typically allows only 34 foreign films to be shown in theaters each year. Scoring one of those coveted slots can significantly boost a movie’s global box office returns. Several big budget Hollywood films like “Ready Player One” and “Black Panther” had bigger debuts in Chi-
B
ollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh were all smiles and were twinning in white as they left for Italy for their wedding in the picturesque Lake Como next week. The actors were seen leaving the Mumbai airport, wading through the paparazzi.
The romantic comedy is scheduled to hit theaters in mainland China on November 30, Warner Bros. said Tuesday. There had been some doubt about whether the movie, with a plot that features incredibly rich and privileged Asians, would get the go-ahead from China’s film regulator. The Chinese government has in recent years frowned on anything that could be interpreted as a celebration of ostentatious wealth. Experts have also questioned whether the film’s depiction of high-rolling members of the Chinese diaspora in Singapore would resonate with audiences in mainland China.
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone head to Lake Como for their wedding. (Instagram/televisions)
Deepika, unperturbed by the crowd, smiled her way to the entry gate at the airport and then
struck a smiling pose for the shutterbugs, and Ranveer shook hands with the crowd and folded his hands, expressing gratitude for the love. The bride-to-be was dressed in a white skirt and a turtle neck sweater and Ranveer was dressed formally in a bandhgala. His family members made their way into the airport with huge bags. The couple, whose on-screen chemistry in films like “Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela”
and “Bajirao Mastani” has been loved as much as their off-screen camaraderie, will tie the knot in a ceremony which will take place over two days on November 14-15. They have been dating each other since six years, but never confirmed their relationship until recently. They put rest to months of speculation about their nuptials with a social media announcement of their wedding dates. - Khaleej Times
Film Review: ‘Baazaar’ tries and fails to rip off Wall Street blockbusters na than in North America. August, the title was translated to “My Super Rich Boyfriend.” In the United States, the movie was lauded for featuring an all-Asian cast at a time when Hollywood has come under fire for its lack of diversity. In China, where the majority of films feature all-Asian casts, that’s much less remarkable. Warner Bros. didn’t respond to a request for comment on whether any changes had been made to the film at the request of the Chinese regulator. The makers of “Crazy Rich
Asians” had been hoping for a run in the world’s second largest movie market. “We’re all praying to the China gods right now,” producer John Penotti said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August. “From my colleagues in Beijing, it looks like we’re in strong consideration.” “Crazy Rich Asians” was a late summer hit in the United States and has since released in dozens of countries, from Australia to Venezuela. It has made $228 million worldwide so far. - CNN Asia
by Gautaman Bhaskaran
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HENNAI: It is widely accepted that Bollywood moviemakers often lift ideas and even storylines from foreign films. Gauravv K. Chawla’s “Baazaar” reminds me of the Will Smith film “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) and “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013), in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays the rogue broker. But if there is one redeeming feature in “Baazaar,” it is Saif Ali Khan. In his latest adventure on Dalal Street, India’s Wall Street in Mumbai, Khan essays the ruthlessly ambitious Shakun Kothari. Money and profit are all that matters to him as he juggles numbers, cunningly stamping out his opponents. As a top stockbroker, he allows nobody to inch anywhere near him, and he seems to have no competition even from his fellow actors in the film. Rohan Mehra (son of the late Bollywood actor, Vinod Mehra), who debuts as aspiring stockbroker Rizwan Ahmed does not quite match up to
Saif Ali Khan stars in ‘Baazaar.’ I(mage: Arab News) Khan. Ahmed travels from Allahabad to Mumbai with just one dream — to work with Kothari and maybe outshine and outsmart him. Renting out a hole in the wall in a Mumbai slum, he tells his landlord that he will soon own a swanky apartment in one of the city’s tall blocks. “Baazaar” takes us through the nefarious games of the stock market, where friends turn foes without compunction. “Baazaar” has nothing very original to offer and even in the performance arena, Chitrangada Singh as Kothari’s
wife, Mandira, does not delve deep into her character and instead is treated as a mere pretty face — her on-screen emotions do not vary, even when the scene calls for it. Meanwhile, Radhika Apte’s Priya — a Mata Hari of sorts — works for Kothari and manages to radiate some energy and pluck but is let down by a lifeless script. All in all, Khan is the overwhelming star of the film, outshining insipid attempts by the remaining cast members. - Arab News
VOICE OF ASIA 16
Young Life
Pancreatic cancer deep learning system:
A novel tool for improved image-guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) through Automated Pancreas Segmentation
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hy did you enter the Young Scientist Challenge?
I have been very interested in STEM areas and started learning, doing research and experimenting with applications of artificial intelligence in the medicine area. This lead me to my invention of my Pancreatic Cancer Deep Learning System (PCDLS) tool. One day I was watching youtube videos of finalists for the Young Scientist Challenge, which excited me a lot to share my own invention in the competition. I hope to win the competition, as it will allow me to share my ideas with the world, innovate the future and get mentorship to make my invention into a real product. What is your favorite invention of the last 100 years, and why? My favorite invention in the last 100 years is the internet. The internet provides access to ubiquitous communication, entertainment, and education.
2018 WINNER - Rishab Jain, right, from Portland, Oregon (7th grade | 13 years old). Rishab created a method that uses artificial intelligence to help accurately locate the pancreas during MRI radiotherapy and make cancer treatment more effective.
The internet is one of the key elements for the society to connect with each other and evolve. Through the internet, we have been able to improve the way people interact with one other, conduct research, and stay informed of the latest events. Today, life without the Internet for most people is un-
imaginable. Thanks to this invention, I am able to see my brother while he’s in college. Overall, the internet has simplified the hectic daily life of people giving them extra time to spend with family and friends; not just in person but through social media applications, video calling and instant messaging. In 15 years I hope to be... A biomedical engineer or a doctor to keep developing technology to find a cure for cancer and improving people’s lives.
Travis High School student places 2nd in Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
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OUSTON - Congratulations to Mehaa Amirthalingam (pictured right), a freshman in the Global Studies Academy at Travis High School.
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
The young and financially independent share their best practices to retire early by Joan Cornfield
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n a growing movement, people in their 20s and 30s are planning to retire early.
Like, by age 35 or 40. Early financial independence isn’t just for top earners. People in expensive cities who don’t make huge salaries are also planning on retiring way before 65. They all have a few things in common. They live well below their means. They invest heavily in lowcost mutual funds. They are buy-andhold investors. And they all make extremely personal spending decisions. You don’t need a budget Many people think sticking to a dreaded budget is essential. Wrong, says Grant Sabatier. At the moment, Sabatier’s main job title is blogger and author of “Financial Freedom,” to be published in February. Now 33, Sabatier started pursuing financial independence at age 24. He was able to do it in five years and three months. Most people find budgets tedious and difficult, and there’s a good reason, Sabatier said. They’re overwhelming and have you trying to look at everything at once.
cost of living. “A web engineer netting six figures would move from San Francisco to Chiang Mai [in Thailand] but would only spend $10,000 a year,” Tom said. In their case, the couple cut their • Want to amass enough money to retire early or at least achieve financial independence? FIRE– that’s financial independence, retire early – people share their best tips for saving money. • They’re really no different from the rest of us. They live in houses or apartments – not unheated tents. They buy gas – not recycled cooking oil – for their cars. They buy food at the grocery store or at farmers’ markets -- they don’t grow it all themselves. • Living below your means means rethinking how you shop for food and clothes, plan meals and brace for shocks in the market.
cost of living in half when they sold a condo worth $1.2 million and bought a similar residence for half the price in a
She came in as the 2nd place winner in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Mehaa was recognized for her innovative idea of a novel toilet flushing system that uses both freshwater and grey water. On October 22, Mehaa was invited to ring the New York Stock Exchange closing bell along with the first place winner of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
If one of your reasons to save money is to gain flexibility, you can set a specific amount aside each month (hint: automate your savings) based on what you can afford to save after things like retirement savings and emergency fund contributions. “Saving gives you the freedom to live life on your own terms.” (PhotoL iStock)
Nice job, Mehaa! Voice of Asia welcomes positive news about young students and newly graduated professionals. Please contact the editor at voiceasia@aol.com to allow us to share the good accomplishments with the community in the Houston area.
MFAH announces 2018-2020 class of the Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship
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OS ANGELES - The Art Institute of Chicago, the High Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are pleased to announce the 2018–20 class of fellows designated for The Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program. This year’s fellowships are awarded through a recent five-year grant of $3.25 million. The fellowship provides specialized training to students across the United States from historically underrepresented groups in the curatorial field and support the goal of promoting inclusive, pluralistic museums. The students begin their fellowships this fall. Fellows will participate in The Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program during their undergraduate career, with the goal of continuing their education through graduate work. The two-year fellowship provides students with hands-on experience in a museum setting, assisting curators and staff on exhibitions, collections, and programs. Fellows are matched with a curatorial mentor at each museum who works to enrich the academic experience and to increase exposure to the museum context while broadening their understanding of art and art history. Fellowships include regular engagement during the academic school year followed by full-time engagement over the summer. Selected fellows for the 2018–20 program are as follows: • The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Courtney Khim, University of Houston; curatorial mentors: Alison de Lima Greene, Isabel Brown Wilson Curator, Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Kanitra Fletcher, Assistant Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art. Avani Sastry, Trinity University in San Antonio; curatorial mentor: Bradley Bailey, Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Curator of Asian Art.
Here’s how to budget without budgeting.
less fashionable Oakland, California, neighborhood.
Take an expense category, such as housing or transportation. Ask if the total amount is giving you what you want in return. Can you buy a cheaper car or move closer to work? Can you trade down in housing and save money on that monthly cost?
The couple achieved their goal of financial independence in January of 2015.
Looking at the big expenses can be a powerful strategy. Minimize those expenses that may not bring as much happiness as a movie ticket or latte. “Those are the things where the perdollar amount and joy ratio is very high,” he said. H.N. (she asked that her initials be used so her employers do not know about her finances) said it’s expensive to be sick. The 29-year-old has multiple disabilities and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease last summer. “I don’t want to retire,” she said, “but I want to make sure my finances are in as order as much as possible. The permanent disability rate of my condition is very high.” H.N. lives in New York City, where the cost of living is high but her salary is not.
Avani Sastry is a second-year student majoring in art history and history at Trinity University in San Antonio. Before discovering her passion for art history and the curatorial field, Sastry explored a wide range of fields, from plant biology research at the University of Texas, to reviewing films for the Austin Film Festival, to interning at the creative writing education nonprofit Gemini Ink. As a Mellon Fellow, Sastry is interested in applying her diverse experiences to her curatorial practice while pursuing her passion for modern and contemporary South Asian art, with an emphasis on post-colonialism, the desi diaspora, and issues of gender and sexuality. Her curatorial mentor is Bradley Bailey, Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Curator of Asian Art. • Art Institute of Chicago: Kayleigh Doyen, University of Illinois Chicago; curatorial mentor: Elizabeth McGoey, Ann S. and Samuel M. Mencoff Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts, Department of American Art. Raphael Espinoza, University of Chicago; curatorial mentor: Erica Warren, Assistant Curator, Department of Textiles. • High Museum of Art: Kayla Gaskin, Emory University; curatorial mentor: Michael Rooks, Weiland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Taylor Roberts, Oglethorpe University; curatorial mentor: Claudia Einecke, Frances B. Bunzl Family Curator of European Art. • Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Jabrea Patterson-West, University of Southern California; curatorial mentor: Stephanie Barron, Senior Curator and Department Head of Modern Art. Danielle Pesqueira, Whittier College; curatorial mentor: Rebecca Morse, Curator in the Wallis Annenberg Photography Department.
“The Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship program is a critical component of the Art Institute’s efforts to nurture and empower emerging museum professionals,” said James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director at the Art Institute of Chicago. “The impact of Mellon’s strategic leadership and generosity will be felt within the fields of art history and conservation—and by museum visitors—for generations to come.” “It’s a privilege to be a part of this important work and thrilling to see the tremendous impact this program has on the participants, as well as their museum colleagues,” said Rand Suffolk, Nancy and Holcombe T. Greene, Jr., Director of the High Museum of Art. “These fellowships are helping us change the field. That’s remarkable and compelling work.” “LACMA has an ongoing and vested interest in amplifying diverse and varied voices that have not previously been heard in museum leadership.”
To cope, she manages her money carefully to make room for the things that are important to her. “People assume I’m living this horrible, deprived life, but I really don’t think I’m deprived,” she said. To manage life on a $62,500 salary, she has a roommate, bringing her share of the total $1,690 rent to $810 a month. Her initial goal was to save as near as possible to $100,000 by age 30, which she hit this year. Rents are high in her area but food is good and quite cheap. Her monthly grocery bill runs between $300 and $500 a month, and she eats out infrequently, keeping it to $20, including tax and tips. That generally means going without appetizers and desserts. While many FIRE people love to leverage credit card points to save on travel, H.N. and her partner don’t spend enough money to accumulate points and miles. For a recent trip to Europe, she sprang for $3,000 business class seats. The extra rest and comfort made the cost worth it so she wouldn’t arrive exhausted and possibly ill. Try geographic arbitrage Allison Tom, 48, and Dylin Redling, 47, used geographic arbitrage to cut their expenses. It is a strategy used by someone who could work remotely, consciously choosing a place with a far lower
They were able to FIRE because they combined aggressive investing from whatever they made with living very frugally. “If you don’t do both, it’s very hard,” Tom said. Don’t be afraid of bears Redling says they’re fortunate to have experienced two big bear markets – because while it hurt their bottom line in the short run, they learned they could come out the other side intact. “Our strategy since Day 1 has been the Warren Buffett strategy of buy and hold for the long term,” Redling said. “Our nest egg is here to work for us for the next 30 years.” Treat money with respect Redling had an epiphany when he and Tom were first dating. Both were working a restaurant in Times Square. “I shoved all my cash in my pocket one day,” he said. When Tom saw this, she said, “What are you doing? You worked very hard for that money – put it in your wallet, and put it in order.” Her comments changed Redling’s way of thinking about money, from disregarding it to paying much more attention to the value of money and its relationship to work. “Think how hard you worked for that money,” he said. “Hopefully everything else will come from that initial respect for the value of money.” Reduce temptation Ms. TWN (the name comes from her blog, Travel and Write Novels), says she is still working on her husband to the goal of saving 40 percent of their income. “It will require a mind-set shift for him,” she said. Spending less is key – and one way is to reduce temptation. Ms. TWN, who lives in New York City, no longer goes into stores or looks around the Amazon site. Ms. TWN’s biggest moves were reducing her rent and reducing meals out. “I read a lot, and I used to go to bookstores,” she said. “Now I go to the library.” Ms. TWN now lives in the Bronx. When she lived in the more posh Brooklyn Heights, she said the money spent on a beautiful apartment gave her nothing to show for it. When she moved in order to save, she realized she was still as happy as she’d been. Only now, she had more money. - CNBC
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ENEVA, Switzerland | AFP | Monday 11/12/2018 - The World Health Organization warned Monday that antibiotics consumption is dangerously high in some countries while a shortage in others is spurring risky misuse, driving the emergence of deadly superbug infections. In a first, the United Nations health agency said it had collated data on antibiotic use across large parts of the world and had found huge differences in consumption. The report, based on 2015 data from 65 countries and regions, showed a significant difference in consumption rates from as low as around four socalled defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants per day in Burundi to more than 64 in Mongolia. “The large difference in antibiotic use worldwide indicates that some countries are probably overusing antibiotics while other countries may not have sufficient access to these lifesaving medicines,” WHO warned in a statement. Discovered in the 1920s, antibiotics have saved tens of millions of lives by defeating bacterial diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and meningitis. But over the decades, bacteria have learned to fight back, building resistance to the same drugs that once reliably vanquished them. The WHO has repeatedly warned the world is running out of effective antibiotics, and last year urged governments and big pharma to create a new generation of drugs to fight ultraresistant supergerms. “Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are the leading causes of antimicrobial resistance,” Suzanne Hill, head of WHO’s essential medicines unit, said in a statement.
The WHO has repeatedly warned the world is running out of effective antibiotics, and last year urged governments and big pharma to create a new generation of drugs to fight ultra-resistant supergerms. © ESB Professional / Shutterstock “Without effective antibiotics and other antimicrobials, we will lose our ability to treat common infections like pneumonia,” she warned. - ‘Urgent action’ Bacteria can become resistant when patients use antibiotics they do not need, or do not finish a course of treatment, giving the half-defeated bug a chance to recover and build immunity. Hill insisted that the findings “confirm the need to take urgent action, such as enforcing prescription-only policies, to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics.” While overuse of antibiotics is worrying, WHO said low numbers were also of concern. “Resistance can occur when people cannot afford a full course of treatment or only have access to substandard or falsified medicines,” it said.
WHO’s report showed large differences in antibiotic consumption even within regions. In Europe, which provided the most complete data for the report, the average antibiotic consumption was nearly 18 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants per day. But within the region, Turkey, which ranked the highest at over 38 DDD, showed nearly five times higher consumption than the lowest consumer-country Azerbaijan, which counted fewer than eight DDD. WHO acknowledged the picture of how antibiotics are used around the world remains far from complete. Monday’s overview, for instance, includes only four countries in Africa, three in the Middle East and six in the Asia-Pacific region. Notably missing from the chart are the United States, China and India.
Pneumonia to kill nearly 11 mn children by 2030, study warns
Extra Help is a federal program that helps pay for some to most of the outof-pocket costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage. It is also known as the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). Eligibility for Medicare Extra Help • For a single person: income is less than $18,090 and resources are less than $13,820. • For a married person living with a spouse and no other dependents: income is less than $24,690 and resources are less than $27,600 (Resources include money in a checking or savings account, stocks, and bonds. Resources don’t include your home, one car, burial plot, up to $1,500 for burial expenses if you have put that money aside, furniture, and other household personal items). The Extra Help program offers the following benefits: • Pays for your Part D premium up to a state-specific benchmark amount • Lowers the cost of your prescription drugs • Through 2018, gives you a monthly Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in a Part D plan or to switch between plans. Beginning in 2019, the Extra Help SEP will be available once per calendar quarter during the first nine months of the year. If you have Extra Help, you will no longer be able to use the SEP once per month to make changes to your prescription drug coverage. You should use Fall Open Enrollment during this time to make prescription drug coverage changes. If you are enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), you automatically qualify for Extra Help regardless of whether you meet Extra Help’s eligibility requirements. You should receive a purple-colored notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) informing you that you do not need to apply for Extra Help. What are the other benefits of receiving Extra Help? There are four different levels of Extra Help that you may qualify for, based on your eligibility. The four
Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900 levels of Extra Help cover 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% of your monthly Medicare Part D plan premium. Also, at the pharmacy, you will be charged lower copayments for your prescription drugs. If you qualify for Extra Help and join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, you’ll: • Get help paying for your plan’s costs • Have no Coverage Gap • Have no Late Enrollment Penalty • Be able to switch plans once every quarter beginning 2019. Note: Extra Help will not pay for your monthly Medicare Part B premium. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Using the Best Available Evidence Policy (BAE) You can use the Best Available Evidence (BAE) policy when the information that your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan has on your Low Income Subsidy is not up-to-date. Because of data exchanges, the right information is not always with your pharmacist or your PDP or MA-PD plan when you need it. When this happens, you can use the BAE to show that you qualify. The BAE Policy on the Medicare website. To select right Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Prescription drug plan or Medicare supplement plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.
China mulls $720,000 fine for faking vaccine tests after scandal
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EIJING, China | AFP | 11/12/2018 -Chinese vaccine manufacturers who falsify test results or break other rules could be fined up to $720,000 under a new law proposed after a scandal that fulled public fears over domestically made medicine. The law would regulate areas including production, distribution and use of vaccines, according to a draft posted Sunday on the website of China’s market regulator.
Doctors treat a child in Ivory Coast, where pneumonia is second only to malaria as a killer of infants © AFP .
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ARIS, France | AFP | 11/11/2018 - Pneumonia will kill nearly 11 million children under five by 2030, experts warned Monday on a global day aimed at raising awareness of the biggest infectious killer of infants worldwide. While in the developed world the severe lung infection mainly affects the elderly, in developing nations it is children who bear the brunt, with hundreds of thousands dying each year from the easily preventable disease. More than 880,000 children -mainly aged less than two years old -died from pneumonia in 2016 alone. A new analysis conducted by Johns Hopkins University and the aid group Save the Children using forecasts based on current trends showed more than 10,800,000 under-fives would succumb to the disease by the end of
the next decade. Furthermore, a handful of countries are set to carry the highest burdens, with 1.7 million children set to die in Nigeria and India, 700,000 in Pakistan and 635,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yet there is some good news. The study, published on World Pneumonia Day, found that scaling up existing vaccination coverage, coupled with cheap antibiotics and ensuring good nutrition for children could save a total of 4.1 million lives. Pneumonia, an inflammatory infection of the lungs that may be contracted via viral or bacteria infection, is treatable if caught early enough and the patient’s immune system isn’t compromised. But worldwide it hits young children who are often weak through malnutri-
tion, killing more infants each year than malaria, diarrhoea and measles combined. “It beggars belief that close to a million children are dying every year from a disease that we have the knowledge and resources to defeat,” said Save the Children CEO Kevin Watkins. “There are no pink ribbons, global summits or marches for pneumonia. But anyone who cares about justice for children and their access to essential healthcare, this forgotten killer should be the defining cause of our age.”
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“Those who participate in illegal behaviour, shield or connive with violators, hide the facts through fabrication, or impede investigation will receive severe punishment,” the draft said. This is the first time a law has explicitly targeted vaccines, which were previously covered by regulations controlling medicine. The authorities last month slapped the Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology company with a massive $1.3 billion in penalties over the rabies vaccine scandal. The firm’s chairwoman and 14 other people were arrested in connection with the affair in July while more than a dozen national, provincial and local officials were sacked, including several senior officials from the drug regula-
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The country was earlier this year rocked by a scandal that saw a manufacturer of rabies vaccines fabricating records.
flout the rules can be fined up to 5.0 million yuan ($720,000) for offences including submitting false test results, not recalling problematic batches and “other serious illegal acts”.
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New study links stress to worse memory Probiotics may not be healthy for and reduced brain size in middle age everyone
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ew US research has found an association between stress in middle age and smaller brain volumes, worse memory, and poorer cognition, all of which have previously been linked to an increased risk of dementia. Carried out by researchers collaborating on the Framingham Heart Study and published on Thursday in the journal Neurology, the new work looked at data gathered from 2,231 of the study’s participants, who were dementia-free and had a mean age of 48.5. The researchers measured the participants’ level of blood serum cortisol early in the morning between 7:30 and 9 am. Levels of the hormone cortisol vary throughout the day, and increase when we are stressed. Each participant also completed tests to assess their memory, and cognitive functions, with 2,018 participants also undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure brain volume. After taking into account factors such as age, sex, smoking, and body mass index, the findings showed that adults with higher levels of cortisol performed worse on memory and other cognitive tasks and had smaller brain volumes than par-
New research has found that higher levels of stress may be linked to brain shrinkage and poorer cognition. (© goa_novi / Istock.com) ticipants of the same age with average cortisol levels. In addition, memory loss and brain shrinkage were found before any symptoms had started, with the researchers also noting that the associations found were particularly evident in women. “In our quest to understand cognitive aging, one of the
factors attracting significant interest and concern is the increasing stress of modern life,” said study senior author Sudha Seshadri, M.D., professor of neurology at UT Health San Antonio and founding director of the university’s Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. - Relaxnews
Probiotics are not always effective, especially if the gut barrier is not healthy. (Photo © SolStock / IStock)
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study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the United States has shown that probiotics are only beneficial for people with healthy intestinal barriers. Probiotics are living micro-organisms (bacteria and yeasts), which, if taken in sufficient quantities, are thought to have a positive effect on health. “Good bacteria” are present in large quantities in our bodies (in intestinal, vaginal, and oral flora). Probiotics, often sold in the form of food supplements containing cultures such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, are intended to reinforce the action of these beneficial bacteria, which are not always present in sufficient numbers for our immune systems to function properly. In this study, researchers from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University
of Texas at Austin sought to learn more about the functioning of the intestine and the efficacy of probiotics. The intestine is lined with an epithelium: a delicate singlecell layer that protects the body against potentially harmful bacteria in the gut. Assistant professor in biomedical engineering Hyun Jung Kim and PhD student Woojung Shin used an organ-on-a-chip, a special micro-chip with a layer of human cells to model the functioning of this intestinal barrier. The study found that damage to this barrier results in inflammation, which deprives probiotics of any positive effect. In a healthy digestive system, probiotics can be very useful. However, if the digestive barrier is compromised, they may be harmful, just like any other bacteria that can spread
through the body if not contained within the intestine. The study will pave the way for further research on the real causes of intestinal and digestive disorders and more personalized diagnoses. The hope is that doctors will soon be able to identify the reasons for damage to the intestinal barrier that are specific to each patient, and to provide better adapted treatments. Going forward, Shin plans to develop more customized human intestinal disease models for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, with a view to exploring how the gut microbiome controls inflammation, cancer metastasis, and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. - Relaxnews
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VOICE OF ASIA 19
Women carve niche in emerging sextech sector
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Crazy in love? The Japanese man ‘married’ to a hologram by Miwa Suzuki
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OKYO, Japan | AFP - Akihiko Kondo’s mother refused an invitation to her only son’s wedding in Tokyo this month, but perhaps that isn’t such a surprise: he was marrying a hologram. “For mother, it wasn’t something to celebrate,” said the soft-spoken 35-year-old, whose “bride” is a virtual reality singer named Hatsune Miku. In fact, none of Kondo’s relatives attended his wedding to Miku -- an animated 16-year-old with saucer eyes and lengthy aquamarine pigtails -- but that didn’t stop him from spending two million yen ($17,600) on a formal ceremony at a Tokyo hall. Stephanie Alys, 28, Chief Pleasure Officer at British luxury sex-toys brand ‘Mystery Vibe’ poses with a ‘Crescendo’ vibrator (right) and ‘Tenuto’ penis vibrator at the Web Summit in Lisbon on November 6, 2018. (Patricia de Melo/AFP pic) by Daniel Silva
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ISBON, Portugal | AFP - Start-ups founded by women are building a niche for themselves in the male dominated “sextech” industry with connected vibrators and other high-tech sex toys they design themselves. Sex toys made by men are based on their idea of what a woman wants, which is often not what women are actually looking for, said Stephanie Alys, 28, the co-founder of London-based MysteryVibe which makes a vibrator for women called the Crescendo. “So there are a lot of women who are starting companies and designing products that they themselves would like to see,” she told AFP at the four-day Web Summit, Europe’s largest tech gathering, which wrapped up in Lisbon on Thursday. Unlike traditional vibrators, the Crescendo connects to an app that lets you create your own vibration patterns and has been downloaded over 500,000 times. MysterVibe created a buzz at the Web Summit, dubbed “the Davos for Geeks”, with the presentation of its first device for men. Dubbed the Tenuto, it is embedded with six vibrating motors, including one designed to
pleasure the wearer’s partner. - ‘More comfortable’ Figures for how many women run sextech startups are hard to come by but Alys, a former political consultant, said she runs a “sex tech collective”, an e-mail list for women involved in the sector in London, which has about 50 members. New York-based Dame, founded by two women, has put out two vibrators meant for clitoral stimulation. The tiny Fin sits between two fingers while the Eva is worn hands-free. Women are “so excited” to know the devices are made by other women, Dame co-founder Alexandra Fine told AFP after an all woman panel discussion on sextech at the summit. “It’s like the fact that women are making the toys in and of itself makes them more comfortable with the idea of using it,” she said. The value of the global sex toy market is expected to hit $29 billion (25 billion euros) by 2020, according to online market research portal Statista. - ‘Feel inadequate’ Capturing a slice of this pie is difficult since sex startups are banned from advertising on digital platforms such as Google and Facebook, said
Fine, who holds a masters degree in clinical psychology. Women owned firms don’t just design sex toys differently, they also take a different approach to marketing them than men, she added. “Putting sexy women on the boxes doesn’t make me feel sexy, it makes me feel inadequate,” she said. Instead Dame pitches its products as “health and wellness” goods “that could fit on the shelf right next to your favourite candle or toothbrush,” Fine said. Polly Rodriguez, the founder of New York-based “Women of Sex Tech” which represents about 70 women who produce sex toys, said “women in particular are often scared of the reputational risk” of getting involved in an industry that has to do with sex. But she said she has been “continuously surprised” by the positive reaction after telling people she is the co-founder and president of Unbound Babes, which makes about 75 sex products and sells them online. “I am just really excited to build products that look beautiful, are affordable and hopefully smash the patriarchy at some level,” she told a panel at the summit.
Ten ways climate change can make wildfires worse by Marlowe Hood
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ARIS, France | AFP | Sunday 11/11/2018 Deadly wildfires such as those raging in northern and southern California have become more common across the state and elsewhere in the world in recent years. AFP talked to scientists about the ways in which climate change can make them worse. Other factors have also fuelled an increase in the frequency and intensity of major fires, including human encroachment on wooded areas, and questionable forest management. “The patient was already sick,” in the words of David Bowman, a professor of environmental change biology at the University of Tasmania and a wildfire expert. “But climate change is the accelerant.” - Fine weather for a fire Any firefighter can tell you the recipe for “conducive fire weather”: hot, dry and windy. No surprise, then, that many of the tropical and temperate regions devastated by a surge in forest fires are those predicted in climate models to see higher temperatures and more droughts. “Besides bringing more dry and hot air, climate change -by elevating evaporation rates and drought prevalence -- also creates more flammable ecosystems,” noted Christopher Williams, director of environmental sciences at Clark University in Massachusetts. In the last 20 years, California and southern Europe have seen several droughts of a magnitude that used to occur only once a century. - More fuel -
Around 40 guests watched as he tied the knot with Miku, present in the form of a catsized stuffed doll. “I never cheated on her, I’ve always been in love with Miku-san,” he said, using a honorific that is commonly employed in Japan, even by friends. “I’ve been thinking about her every day,” he told AFP a week after the wedding. Since March, Kondo has been living with a moving, talking hologram of Miku that floats in a $2,800 desktop device. “I’m in love with the whole concept of Hatsune Miku but I got married to the Miku of my house,” he said, looking at the blue image glowing in a capsule. -
- ‘Drop dead, creepy otaku!’
He considers himself an ordinary married man -- his holographic wife wakes him up each morning and sends him off to his job as an administrator at a school. In the evening, when he tells her by cellphone that he’s coming home, she turns on the lights. Later, she tells him when it’s time to go to bed. He sleeps alongside the doll version of her that attended the wedding, complete with a wedding ring that fits around her left wrist. Kondo’s marriage might not
“Especially in the northern areas, that translates into more fires.” At the same time, he noted that 95 percent of wildfires worldwide are started by humans. - Weakened jet stream Normal weather patterns over North America and Eurasia depend heavily on the powerful, high-altitude air currents -- produced by the contrast between polar and equatorial temperatures -- known as the jet stream.
Dry weather means more dead trees, shrubs and grass -and more fuel for the fire. “All those extremely dry years create an enormous amount of desiccated biomass,” said Michel Vennetier, an engineer at France’s National Research of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA). “That’s an ideal combustible.” - Change of scenery To make matters worse, new species better adapted to semiarid conditions grow in their place.
of water they can to nourish leaves and needles. That means the moisture in the earth that might have helped to slow a fire sweeping through a forest or garrigue is no longer there. - Longer season In the northern hemisphere’s temperate zone, the fire season was historically short -- July and August, in most places. “Today, the period susceptible to wildfires has extended from June to October,” said IRSTEA scientist Thomas Curt, referring to the Mediterranean basin.
“Plants that like humidity have disappeared, replaced by more flammable plants that can withstand dry conditions, like rosemary, wild lavender and thyme,” said Vennetier.
In California, which only recently emerged from a fiveyear drought, some experts say there’s no longer a season at all -- fires can happen year-round.
“The change happens quite quickly.”
“The warmer it gets, the more lightning you have,” said Mike Flannigan, a professor at the University of Alberta, Canada and director of the Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science.
- Thirsty plants With rising mercury and less rain, water-stressed trees and shrubs send roots deeper into the soil, sucking up every drop
- More lightning -
But global warming has raised temperatures in the Arctic twice as fast as the global average, weakening those currents. “We are seeing more extreme weather because of what we call blocked ridges, which is a high-pressure system in which air is sinking, getting warmer and drier along the way,” said Flannigan. “Firefighters have known for decades that these are conducive to fire activity.” - Unmanageable intensity Climate change not only boosts the likelihood of wildfires, but their intensity as well. “If the fire gets too intense” as in California right now, and in Greece last summer -“there is no direct measure you can take to stop it,” said Flannigan. “It’s like spitting on a campfire.” - Beetle infestations With rising temperatures, beetles have moved northward into Canada’s boreal forests, wreaking havoc -- and killing
With both of them wearing wedding rings, Akihiko Kondo holds a virtual reality singer Hatsune Miku doll at his apartment in Tokyo on Nov. 10. The two were ‘married’ the week before. (Photo: AFP-JIJI) have any legal standing, but that doesn’t bother him. He even took his Miku doll to a jewellery shop to get the ring. And Gatebox, the company that produces the hologram device featuring Miku, has issued a “marriage certificate”, which certifies that a human and a virtual character have wed “beyond dimensions”. Kondo’s not alone either: he says Gatebox has issued more than 3,700 certificates for “cross-dimension” marriages and some people have sent him supportive messages. “There must be some people who can’t come forward and say they want to hold a wedding. I want to give them a supportive push,” he says.
But eventually Kondo realised he had been in love with Miku for more than a decade and decided to marry her. - A ‘sexual minority’ “Miku-san is the woman I love a lot and also the one who saved me,” he said. And while Kondo says he is happy to be friends with a “3D woman”, he has no interest in romance with one, no matter how much his mother pushes for it. Two-dimensional characters can’t cheat, age or die, he points out. “I’m not seeking these in real women. It’s impossible.”
Kondo’s path to Miku came after difficult encounters with women as an anime-mad teenager.
Even in a country obsessed with anime, Kondo’s wedding shocked many. But he wants to be recognised as a “sexual minority” who can’t imagine dating a flesh-and-blood woman.
“Girls would say ‘Drop dead, creepy otaku!’,” he recalled, using a Japanese term for geeks that can carry a negative connotation.
“It’s simply not right, it’s as if you were trying to talk a gay man into dating a woman, or a lesbian into a relationship with a man.”
As he got older, he says a woman at a previous workplace bullied him into a nervous breakdown and he became determined never to marry.
“Diversity in society has been long called for,” he added.
In Japan, that wouldn’t be entirely unusual nowadays. While in 1980, only one in 50 men had never married by the age of 50, that figure is now one in four.
“It won’t necessarily make you happy to be bound to the ‘template’ of happiness in which a man and woman marry and bear children.” “I believe we must consider all kinds of love and all kinds of happiness.”
CHTF 2018 to open in Shenzhen on November 14th, with “Time Gallery” to feature 20-year memory
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ince its debut in 1999, CHTF has become an important window for China’s high-tech sector and the most efficient high-tech trading platform, known as the “No. 1 Fair of China’s Science and Technology”. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, CHTF will invite technology fans worldwide to review the history of the event and the extraordinary development of China’s high-tech industry over the past 20 years via the “Time Gallery” which integrates rich historical documents and employs diverse presentation methods. CHTF 2018 will present national high-tech exhibitions, comprehensive exhibitions and professional exhibitions. The national high-tech exhibitions are organized by the national ministries. The comprehensive exhibitions will showcase the products brought by enterprises, universities, scientific research institutions, innovation centers and incubation centers. Professional exhibitions will cover fields of IT, energy conservation, environmental protection, new energy, green building, new materials, smart medical health, aerospace science and technology, photoelectricity, smart city, advanced manufacturing, military and civilian integration, sensor technology and IT applications.
trees -- along the way. “Bark beetle outbreaks temporarily increase forest flammability by increasing the amount of dead material, such as needles,” said Williams. - Positive feedback Globally, forests hold about
More than 1,000 new products and technologies will debut including the proton therapy demonstration device created by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, and the world’s first self-driving solution with laser radar. Mr. Su Yanwei, Deputy Director of CHTF Organizing Committee, said CHTF 2018 will provide an exhibition area of 120,000+m2 and attract a record of 61 exhibiting delegations and 3000+ exhibitors from 41 countries or international institutions including 36 “Belt and Road” countries. Latin American and Caribbean countries show particular enthusiasm this year with Chile, Cuba, and Peru to exhibit for the first time. There will also be dozens of overseas professional exhibitor delegations including the Sino-German Industry 4.0 Alliance, Japan External Trade Organization and the delegation from Daejeon of Korea. Moreover, a large number of government officials, wellknown experts, scholars, and corporate executives will come to the fair, including senior officials from Argentina, Belgium, Switzerland, and Russia, senior executives from Microsoft, Amazon, SAP, Accenture, and Philips, as well as Nobel laureates, academicians and economists.
45 percent of Earth’s landlocked carbon and soak up a quarter of human greenhouse gas emissions. But as forests die and burn, some of the carbon is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change in a vicious loop that scientists call “positive feedback.”
BEAUTY & STYLE
VOICE OF ASIA 20
The best bridal hairstyles for Indian weddings If you thought the bun is as far as you could go for your big day, let these experts offer some more inspiration
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
13 Surprising home remedies for acne
chamomile tea bag with enough water to form a paste, and apply that to acne. Alternately, steep two chamomile tea bags with 1 cup boiled water for 15 minutes. Let the tea cool, then use a cotton ball to dab it on your face after
by Marissa Laliberte
I
nstead of shelling out for expensive acne treatments, learn how to get clear skin with these natural at-home remedies. With its natural inflammation-fighting properties, a 5 percent solution of tea tree oil is less harsh than a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide solution and can be just as effective against acne, though it may clear up a little less quickly. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with between 20 and 40 drops of witch hazel, then use a cotton swab to apply. This is one of those home remedies for acne that you can try up to twice a day; more could dry your skin and make the acne worse.
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or most Indian brides, the hair tends to take a backseat as the resplendent outfits, heirloom jewellery and makeup take centre stage. The idea that the veil will partially or wholly cover the head does pose challenges for a wedding hairstylist, and it’s tough to go the bespoke route. But like your wedding outfit, your bridal hairstyle must not be left to the last minute. A bad hair day can undo the effect of even the most beautiful ensemble. So draw up a mood board with your hairstylist in sync with the wedding theme, if any, and accessories like hair jewellery and fresh flowers that you intend to use. “Identify hairstyles that complement your makeup preferences and any special features that you want to accentuate. You could work with your stylist to identify which style works best for you—open hair, structured updos or soft romantic updos, bouncy curls, half tied hair or the sleek and chic look,” advises Vanessa Fernandes, BBlunt salon director and bridal hair
Image: Signe Vilstrup expert. For Indian weddings, the bridal attire and jewellery become the most crucial elements in deciding a hairstyle, besides the personality, hair type, texture and face structure. French hairstylist Michel Baltazar, creative director, Jean-Claude Biguine Spa and Salon is a much sought-after name on the bridal circuit as he marries French elegance with Indian traditions with unrivalled ease. “I wouldn’t know the most popular Indian bridal hairstyles, as most brides who come to me are looking for modern alternatives. But I have observed that open styles with soft movement in the hair are becoming increasingly popular. Just as the style, the focus should also be on the ease of the bride. The hairstyle shouldn’t be so elaborate or complicated that she feels disguised,” adds Baltazar. If your big day is coming up, read on as a few of the best hair experts in the country guide you on how to nail your bridal hairstyle.
Bridal hairstyles with hair jewellery
Green tea has antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds that can help fight acne. To get its effects, use a cooled cup of green tea as a face wash or lay the bag over the affected area. Honey’s antibiotic properties can help improve acne. Apply a teaspoon of honey to affected areas, or make a mask by mixing 1/2 cup of honey with 1 cup of plain oatmeal and leaving it on for 30 minutes.
Mint. (Image: istock/La_vanda) by mashing aspirin in a little water, or dissolve four pills in 2 tablespoons of
cleansing. Witch hazel can act as an astringent,
Mint can help remove pore-clogging oil. To help clear acne before it begins, mix 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh mint with two tablespoons each of plain yogurt and oatmeal (use a blender to pulverize the oatmeal to powder). Leave the concoction on your face for 10 minutes, then rinse off with water. Echinacea is traditionally used to speed wound healing and prevent colds and flu, but its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help with acne as well. Use echinacea tea as a daily face wash by soaking a cloth with it, or put a few drops of tincture on a cotton ball and dab it on blemishes. The salicylic acid in aspirin is a goto for acne treatments, and the aspirin can dry up pimples and reduce inflammation. To take advantage of these home remedies for acne, form a paste
Echinacea. (Image: istock/AlexRaths) water. Chamomile helps decrease inflammation from acne. In a blender or coffee grinder, combine the contents of a
naturally drying and shrinking blemishes. To get its benefits, pour witch hazel onto a cotton ball and wipe your face each morning and night.
Why you need to choose your bridal hairstyle before your big day by Anjan Suchar
Y
ou’ll wear a bridal lehenga that weighs more than anything you’ve ever donned, and put on layers of makeup to en-
sure it lasts as long as you’d like it to, without even batting an eye, but when it comes to bridal hair, an elaborate hairstyle—with a lot of products and pins—has the misfortune of making
Bridal hairstyles to go with a sari
you feel like you have excess weight bogging you down on your shoulders very quickly. Besides making sure that your bridal hairstyle complements your outfit, jewellery and makeup, it should also be something that speaks to your personal aesthetic and makes you feel comfortable. And that’s exactly why a pre-consultation with your hairstylist is considered to be vital. “Comfort is the most important,” says Hiral Bhatia, hairstylist to Bollywood celebrities like Sonam K Ahuja and amongst the top choices for brides around the country. “And a thorough consultation with your hairstylist is a must. Preferably, show them picture references so that they understand your vibe.” She gives us four reasons why you should make sure you decide your bridal hairstyle before your wedding day:
Anushka Sharma in a still from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Besides their heavily embroidered bridal ensembles, for a Muslim bride, the ornamental pasa or jhoomar on the side, is a characteristic feature. Depending on the size of the pasa and how heavily embroidered the dupatta of your ensemble is, you can opt to go all out with exaggerated voluminous curls, flipped to one side, suggests Fernandes. Prep towel-dried hair with a great leave-in cream that readies your hair for styling. This will also tackle any possible damage from heat tools. Use a volumising spray at your roots
and begin tonging to create those curls. This look will enhance your thick, long tresses. “If you prefer your hair tied up, consider a messy curled high bun, side-parted as desired. Leave a few loose curls to frame the face. Secure the dupatta on it using bobby pins or invisible U-pins. Again, the heaviness of the dupatta will determine the size of the bun. The pasa works well with a look like this, and can be placed on to the parting by securing it with bobby pins. Bear in mind that its edge rests on your hairline.”
Bridal hairstyles with a dupatta
Your bridal hairstyle shouldn’t bog you down As it’s your big day, you don’t want to be uncomfortable at any point. One must thoroughly enjoy their wedding day. Keep in mind that there is jewellery and possibly a heavy dupatta involved, so chose your hairstyle accordingly. You don’t want to be in pain. Bridal hair should be simple, ethereal and beautiful. Image: Instagram.com/aasifahmedofficial The South Indian and Maharashtrian brides wear a rich silk sari on their wedding day, but covering the head is not a mandate. As a result, the hairstyle is more in focus. Modern braiding techniques or coiled buns with small floral accents look great with the traditional garb.
Rajasthani, Marwari and Punjabi brides usually tend to have similar wedding drapes, with a heavily embellished lehenga and a dupatta over their head. For pheras, an updo works best. “We recommend it as it looks classic, neat, is off your face and neck, and doesn’t get in the way of all the religious customs on the day,” states Fernandes. “Brides prefer it too. But there are variations to updos that you can try, from a tightly tucked bun to a chignon.
Image: Instagram.com/artinayar
Fresh flowers like orchids, roses or mogra are the popular favourites to accessorise this. To add a little height, we can backcomb the hair but you don’t want to disguise the face shape. A moderate-to-heavy dupatta will
To lend a more contemporary edge, small flowers, like baby’s breath at the intersections of the braids, can have a lovely effect. For Maharashtrian brides, Fernandes uses fresh flowers like orchids and smaller roses to match the colour of their nauvari saris, or adds dense gajras to a plaited bun.
cover the hairstyle for the most part of the ceremonies, but if you choose to take it out, a bun will still look neat with the help of floral accessories.” When it comes to most Hindu weddings, the most common style is to centre part the hair and pull the mane into an updo. Bollywood celebrity hairstylist Aasif Ahmed strongly recommends that the bride should wear a maang tikka. “Something not so heavy that gives you a headache, but an heirloom piece that keeps you rooted to traditions. A maang tikka can make you look stunning. How many occasions apart from a wedding give you a chance to adorn your head with a maang tikka, anyway?” he questions. - Vogue India
Your hairstylist should match your vibe For your wedding, you should look for a hairstylist that you feel you can trust and who understands your aesthetic. Go through the pictures of their work in advance, so you understand their style of work too. I’m a big braid lover myself, and love fresh flowers in the hair. You don’t want to be in for a surprise on your wedding day There is so much happening on your wedding day. You don’t want to stress about your hair and makeup. Having a pre-planned look cuts down on the time needed to put it all together, giving you more time for your photoshoots, or even for a quick respite in between events. You want to have time to prep for your look Pre-deciding the complete look helps you prep the hair in advance. A haircut or colour job can be done according to the style, and extensions can also be kept ready by your hairstylist if needed. - Vogue India
VOICE OF ASIA 21
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Home&Real Estate Post-9/11 veterans struggle with housing affordability by Rincey Abraham
by Lucy Wang
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OUSTON - With more than 20 million U.S. military veterans in the United States today, it’s important to recognize the specific challenges that they face when they reenter the job and housing markets as they return home. A new study from Apartment List found that while veterans overall have higher homeownership rates and lower housing cost burdens compared to non-veterans, younger veterans are facing tougher challenges in the market. Currently, 76 percent of veteran households own their own homes, compared to 62 percent of non-veteran households. Almost one third of non-veterans pay more than 30 percent of their income toward housing expenses, while less than a quarter of vets do. In fact, vets are more than 30 percent less likely to be spending more than half of their income on housing costs than non-vets. The reasons behind this largely have to do with federal policies and loans, such as VA loans and GI bills, which support homeownership among veterans. However, the study found that post-9/11 veterans are 5 percent less likely than comparable non-veterans to be able to afford a home. And almost 35 percent of post 9/11 veterans are cost burdened and are less likely than prior veteran generations to own a home. “Despite having broad access to zero-down mortgages with favorable rates through the VA loan program, fewer than half of post 9/11 veterans own their home,” the study found. Many home developers have been providing their time and
Escape to the Austin treetops in this eco-luxe treehouse bout an hour’s drive outside Austin, a dreamy treehouse awaits guests seeking respite in nature. Will Beilharz, designer and founder of ArtisTree, has completed the Yoki House, the fifth eco-luxury addition to the treehouse resort at Cypress Valley Canopy Tours in central Texas.
Younger veterans are facing tougher challenges in the market. expertise in order to fill the gap by helping build homes for military families and provide mortgage-free homes. Operation: Coming Home is a volunteer organization from the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County and the U.S. Veterans Corps and Mattamy Homes, that builds new, mortgage-free homes for families. Building Homes for Heroes and Habitat for Humanity’s Veterans Build are other programs that are working to build or modify homes for veterans that is constantly in high demand. Building Homes for Heroes averages 30 homes a year, while Habitat for Humanity’s program built more than 180 homes last year. “The need for this type of housing is incredibly huge,” Kim Valdyke, director of construction at Building Homes for Heroes, told BuilderOnline. “I think we have over 5,000 applicants in our database.” Even when controlling for demographic changes over time, post 9/11 veterans are having
a harder time with homeownership. Post 9/11 veterans are 5 percent less likely to afford their housing costs compared to non-veterans, compared with Gulf War veterans who are 25 percent more likely to afford housing costs and Vietnam veterans who are 10 percent more likely. When looking at demographics, Apartment List found that post 9/11 veterans are on par with non-veterans in the same age and race group, while veterans from previous generations were more likely to own a home. This shows that policy changes need to occur to benefit modern veterans. “First, policy wishing to support veteran homeownership in the 21st century should account for the unique challenges that underrepresented minorities face in housing markets,” Apartment List stated. “Second, post 9/11 veterans’ struggle to find affordable housing is not driven by the fact that more young veterans are being pushed into or out of the rental market.”
“The most challenging part of the project was the fact that the foundation started 25 feet in the air. Until the foundation was built, every piece of material needed to be rigged into place via ropes, chains, and cables,” Will says. Nestled between two old-growth bald cypress trees, the romantic rentable treehouse takes inspiration from the spring-fed creek that lies 25 feet below the suspended structure. “Water is life—one of our most precious resources, and Artistree treehouses are designed to let people experience nature’s resources more intimately,” says Will, who christened the treehouse ‘Yoki’ after the Hopi Native American word for rain. The roof is standing-seam galvanized metal and the siding is Thermory driftwood. The theme of water is referenced everywhere from the Onsen-style soaking tub in the detached bathhouse to the stra-
“The most challenging part of the project was the fact that the foundation started 25 feet in the air. Until the foundation was built, every piece of material needed to be rigged into place via ropes, chains, and cables,” the designer says. (Photos: Lucy Wang) a perfect spot for bird watching and morning coffee. The glazed entrance door opens up to the spacious, lightfilled living room with a small dining area, kitchenette, and loft. The master suite, equipped with heating and air conditioning, is furnished with a king-
at themselves,” he adds. On the other end of the suspension bridge sits the 250-square-foot bathhouse at the edge of the ravine. There, guests can enjoy a relaxing soak in a custom, Onsen-style tub placed in front of floorto-ceiling windows for bird
- Houston Agent
Houston-based coworking company looks to expand real estate nationally by Tierra Smith
H
ouston-based The Work Lodge, an all-inclusive flexible workspace concept, is ready for national expansion. The company signed its first franchise agreement in Fort Worth. The brand has opened two locations in Houston (one in Vintage Park and one at 25700 I-45 in The Woodlands) and has two under development: at 1500 Dragon St. in Dallas and at 710 South Main St. in Fort Worth.
The custom concrete soaking tub is set in front of a wall of windows. tegically placed windows that frames views of the babbling creek. The minimalist design uses locally and sustainably sourced natural materials such as Elm, cypress, and spruce to strengthen the getaway’s connection with the outdoors.
The Fort Worth location will open in March, owned and operated by Heather Carlile, the company’s first franchisee. The Work Lodge is looking for franchise partners in new markets and to further expand in markets where it is already established. The total initial investment to launch a Work Lodge location ranges from $300K to $1.5M. The Work Lodge offers private and virtual offices, coworking spaces and conference rooms. It can accommodate teams from one to 100 people, and the offices have custom-made furniture, cul-de-sac hallway layouts and common areas. “As entrepreneurs and corporations search for flexible workspaces, Work Lodge is able to provide our members with a holistic approach by removing the friction of facilities and growth, freeing entrepreneurs and businesses to focus on building their dreams,” founder and CEO Mike Thakur said in a release. “Our mission at Work Lodge is to build, maintain and grow reimagined workspaces for
A 60-foot-long suspension bridge links the treehouse with the detached bathhouse. The entry sequence to the 500-square-foot treehouse begins with a 60-foot-long suspension bridge connecting to a rooftop observation deck with a spiral staircase that leads down to Yoki’s curved “front porch,”
The common area at Houston’s Vintage Park location. (Photo: The Work Lodge) everyone — from the solopreneurs to Fortune 500 companies — while also giving back to the community.” The use of coworking spaces is expected to rise dramatically, according to a new survey conducted at the CoreNet Global Summit. The survey found that nearly one-fourth of the global workforce plan to regularly use a coworking space in the next five years.
One benefit of utilizing coworking spaces is the ability to increase or decrease the company’s real estate footprint, the survey found. It can also reduce cost, attract and retain talent, communicate the company’s brand and maximize efficiency. The trend is also supported by nearly 65 million freelancers, contract workers and entrepreneurs across the nation. - Bisnow.com
size bed. “From an interior design perspective, we wanted clean, warm wood tones to make it feel almost like you were inside of a tree,” Will explains of the abundance of honey-hued birch. Massive windows create an immersive feel and blur the lines between indoors and out. Will also cites Japanese minimalism and Turkish decor styles as inspiration behind Yoki’s cozy yet elevated atmosphere. “The simple yet intentional interiors were designed to encourage guests to look outside at nature, or look inside
Texas home prices rise in the four major city markets
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verage new home prices increased in four major Texas markets in September with prices edging up 0.7 percent to $357,364 in the Houston area, according to a report by Dallasbased HomesUSA.com. The HomesUSA.com New Homes Sales Index tracks a
12-month rolling average for new homes listed in the local Multiple Listing Services for the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio markets. The September average in Houston represents a $2,526 rise from $354,838 in August, HomesUSA.com said.
watching and stargazing. The bathhouse also includes a separate shower. “Each space is curated with nature enthusiasts in mind, making it a perfect getaway from the city: a place where quiet stillness gives way to the soft cicada’s summer song; where there is space and time for complete introspection, innovation, and rejuvenation of the spirit.” A night at Yoki starts at $600 a night. Head to Cypress Valley Canopy Tours to book your stay. - Dwell.com Statewide, the average rose to $355,821 in September from $353,668 in August. New home prices rose to $371,985 in Dallas in September, up from $369,283 in August. Prices Austin hit $368,125, up from $366,435 in August. New homes averaged $294,483 in San Antonio, up from $294,154 in August. The volume of home sales reached 3,800 across the four cities in September, up from 3,790 in August. - HomesUSA
SMALL BUSINESSES
VOICE OF ASIA 22
B
D
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
ACCOUNTANTS BOOK-KEEPING
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
INCOME TAX
Personal and Business Tax Returns, Payroll Sales Tax, Income Tax Audits and Representations.
S. Ram and Associates
Tel: 832-877-9625 Free Consultation asu2020.com
RESTAURANTS
ELECTRICAL SERVICE
India’s Restaurant & Catering
Superior One Electric
For special parties and corporate events. Preferred Wine list, authentic vegetarian & nonvegetarian dishes, finest Indian cuisine with chef’s special dishes Ph: 713-266-0131/0805
Commercial & Residential KHOA TRINH, Electrical Technician Tel: 832-359-5447 Free Estimate TECL# 27099 *Repair / Remodeling *New Installation * Ceiling Fans * Light Fixtures *Electric Panel *Trouble Shooting * Services Upgrades
M.D. Associates LLP A full service CPA firm
2 Locations to serve you Houston 713-774-6533 Spring 281-251-2205
visit us at: www.mdassociatescpas.com
AC & HEATING SERVICE 75 Degree AC
Quality and Integrity works with Affordable Pricing New A/C + Heating, Installation, A/C Repair, Heating Repair, Yearly System Maintenance 1 Year Warranty on all of our works!
KENNY HO, Manager Call 713-598-2737 75degreeacservices@gmail.com
We cater from 10 people to 800 people for all occasions. We deliver to your venue.
Madhuram Mirch Masala 10758 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070
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Specializing in North Indian Cuisine, office & Corporate catering 2514 Times Blvd, Rice Village Ph: 713-523-4753 Visit us online: www.shivarestaurant.com
The faster you go, the more details you miss. Dating isn’t a race, Aries. There’s no prize for going out with someone before your competition does. If you’re “meant to be” it will happen no matter what.
21 April to 20 May It’s important to be a good listener. Ask careful questions if you have any doubts. Superiors, co-workers, and customers will appreciate your interest. You can help build morale by bringing in a snack or going out to eat with co-workers.
21 May to 20 June You’ve been meaning to clean house in some way in your work and money life, and this period provides just the right combination of energies to get it done. It’s a great time to update your resume.
21 June to 22 July Use your imagination to visualize yourself in peak condition. Post pictures on the walls or keep a diary or photo album to remind you of what you want to achieve. How do you want your body to feel?
23 July to 22 August Are you feeling yourself, Leo?! There’s nothing wrong with being confident. In fact, your confidence is one of the most attractive things about you at the start of the week. Go for what you want!
23 August to 22 Sept You’re in a powerful position now. Step up and take action to get what you want. You can be a catalyst for change simply by being who you are. Be diplomatic as emotions could be running high. Be simple, direct, and honest.
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: HOLIDAY SONGS
List Your Business Today! The longer you wait the more you loose on the opportunity to reach your potential cleints. Call 713-774-5140.
Week of NOVEMBER 16, 2018 21 March to 20 April
Networking and Computer Repair
Home & Business, on site, Microsoft MCSE & A+ certified, low flat rates, free estimates, pickup & delivery, www.PCNetworkGuru.com Call Amit at 832-971-6807
Shiva Indian Restaurant & Catering
TACLA 72152E
Offering Attractive Rates for Website listing of your service and product.
COMPUTER SERVICES
Astrology.com
23 September to 22 Oct You’re facing an exciting time now. With so many extra opportunities to make money and augment your salary, it may be tempting to spend more as well. Your employment sector holds the key.
23 October to 21 Nov You may notice you’ve been feeling more stressed than usual. This has been going on for some time now as the cosmos has been impacting your nervous system and body.
22 November to 21 Dec Do you miss being part of a twosome? You aren’t the clingy type, but you enjoy being with someone from time to time. Like now. Your friends can fill in the void if you’re just bored.
22 December to 20 Jan You may feel very moody or emotionally vulnerable now. Jealousy or feelings of insecurity can create unnecessary problems. Do your best to be confident. Events will bring improving relationships with co-workers.
21 January to 19 Feb You’re trying to find a solution to an ongoing money quandary. You’re becoming more of an authority figure in what you do. And you’re ready to cash in on all your hard-earned cachet. Cash flow should increase very soon.
20 February to 20 Mar The cosmos is encouraging change and transformation on a number of levels. You may become a lot more sensitive to your body - what helps it function optimally and what damages it.
ACROSS 1. Rare bills 5. Clairvoyant’s gift 8. Snoopy 12. Time distortion 13. Show worry 14. Wyoming’s official sport 15. *John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is ____)” 16. And elsewhere 17. Opposite of bonjour 18. *”Have ____ a Merry Little Christmas” 20. MTV’s “____’d” 21. Incessantly 22. A cool ____, as in money 23. *”Should auld acquaintance be ____” 26. *”Run ____ Run” sung by Chuck Berry 30. *Co-writer of #15 Across 31. Used tabulator key 34. Your majesty 35. 1965 Watts events 37. *”Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” sung by Brenda ____ 38. Mozart and Einstein, e.g. 39. Golly! 40. Dry ravine, in Asia 42. Not don’ts 43. Diplomatic alliance 45. Like empty hotel room 47. “Fat chance!” 48. Shenzi of “The Lion King” 50. Eastern European 52. *Vince ____ Trio of “Linus and Lucy” fame 55. Between violin and cello 56. Rainbows and such 57. Rumpelstiltskin’s weaver 59. Coral reef island 60. Facebook’s “psst” 61. ____ Mann of “The Simpsons” 62. Decades 63. Lt.’s inferior, in the Navy 64. *”Last Christmas” duo
DOWN 1. *____ Turtle Doves 2. Not straight 3. Post-meal sandwich 4. Spring action, past tense 5. Like yesterday’s meal 6. Coffee burn, e.g. 7. Bread or cabbage 8. Having small nodules 9. Scandinavian war god 10. Radio button 11. *”All I want for Christmas is ____” 13. Bygone Spanish money 14. R in R.E.M. 19. Alex Haley saga 22. ____ pie in a sand box 23. Blacksmith’s hearth 24. Gibson garnish 25. Fowl perch 26. Film roll 27. Ronstadt, e.g. 28. Infectious protein particle 29. Bank job 32. *Like Elvis’ Christmas? 33. 10 decibels 36. *Deck’em 38. Ivory Coast neighbor 40. Utmost degree 41. Not sympathetic 44. Maryland Academy 46. Young and inexperienced 48. Second-largest Great Lake 49. Talks and talks and talks 50. It houses web content 51. “On Golden Pond” bird 52. Open-mouthed astonishment 53. Shakespearean “does” 54. Tiny bit 55. Port vessel 58. Mrs. Goldberg, e.g.
SOLUTION: HOLIDAY SONGS page 23
CLASSIFIEDS
VOICE OF ASIA 23
Avoid the Naughty List: don’t let the holidays ruin your credit
Lechi Foods Bidding on Project # RFP # 18-05-23 Lechi Foods is bidding on Project # RFP #18-05-23. Production Bulk Products for the HISD. We are looking for possible M/WBE suppliers to provide the following: Bakery Ingredients: Flour, Sugar, SAF Instant Yeast,.. Packaging materials: Corrugate box 14x10x8 44 ECT, RSC, C Flute, USDA Smoke Links (Chicken & Beef &Cheese),16/#. Our company will be looking for M/WBE Subcontractors for the next 10 days. If you are interest in providing the above listed products or services, please contact us by 11/21/2018. • lechi@lechifoods.com • 281.470.6200
positively on your score, as does a healthy mix of accounts, such as having a mortgage, a few credit cards and auto loans. • Staying out of hot water: Many people believe that financial transactions like rent, utility and telecommunications payments impact credit scores, but in fact, these are not factored in by many scoring companies. However, if you don’t pay bills and they get turned over to a collection agency, this could affect your credit score. Severely delinquent accounts are often reported to the credit bureaus.
Understanding how your credit score is calculated is critical. Photo Source: (c) Mariusz Blach / stock. Adobe.com
L
ooking for the “perfect gifts,” paired with enticing retail discounts and deals, can pressure holiday shoppers to spend more than they can afford. As a result, consumers may max out credit card limits or miss payments, negatively affecting credit scores. In addition, store credit cards may offer instant discounts that are tempting at the register -- but that new application could decrease your credit score. Not having enough money for presents and the strain holiday shopping puts on their finances are big causes of anxiety for
many consumers, according to a recent Experian survey. However, many of these same consumers seem to be on the right track: in the survey, respondents listed several smart financial resolutions, including 28 percent who want to improve their credit scores, while almost 50 percent said saving more was a New Year’s resolution. But understanding how your credit score is calculated is critical. With this mind, here are some key factors: • Payment history: Account-
ing for roughly a third of your credit score, paying loans on time is crucial; too many late payments can decrease your score. • Balance: You never want your credit card balance to be higher than 30 percent of your credit limit -- on a single card and across all of them. Keep balances low to keep your score high. • Credit history: Those who’ve never used credit before will likely have a low score, or no score at all, while credit accounts that have been active for a long time reflect
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD SOLUTION
Magic
Adventure
Merriment
Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Friday September 2 9 th through November 2 5 th TexRenFest.com
Romance
Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP) Wayfinding & Graphics Standards Program Consultant Project No. 19-19
Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, R o o m N o . 11 B 0 1 , Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Documents can be o b t a i n e d a t : w w w. hccs.edu/about-hcc/ procurement/
Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP-C) Commercial Truck & Trailer Parts & Repair Services Project No. 19-21
Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, R o o m N o . 11 B 0 1 , Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Friday, December 7, 2018. Documents can be o b t a i n e d a t : w w w. hccs.edu/about-hcc/ procurement/
OBITUARY
“While it’s fun to give to others during the holidays, make sure to give yourself the gift of not getting into debt,” says Rod Griffin, director of Public Education at Experian. “Stick to a shopping budget. Only use credit cards for an amount you can pay off and pay the bill in full on time. You’ll lose your cheer quickly after the New Year if you face a mountain of debt.” A positive credit profile and history of using credit smartly can open up financial opportunities, like getting a car loan or home mortgage. There are clear benefits to building your credit file, but if you don’t build it responsibly those gains won’t be felt. To plan for the holidays and 2019, visit experian. com/education for information about credit scores, as well as personal finance tips. “Credit is a tool to be used wisely,” adds Griffin. “If you check your credit score regularly and make strategic decisions on when and how much credit to use in the short-term, it will benefit you when you absolutely need credit to make a large purchase or for an emergency expense.” - StatePoint
Theme: HOLIDAY SONGS from Page 22
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
Molamma Abraham (57) Molamma Abraham (57) w/o Mr. Abraham Thomas, Chettyarathu Family, Marunnpoikayil Padeethethil, Kozhuvalloor, mother of Jessin Thomas Abraham (Houston) and Christiemol Sosamma Abraham (New York) was taken to her heavenly abode on November 7th, 2018 at Houston, Texas, USA. She was the daughter of Mr. Abraham George and Mrs. Aleyamma George, Kappiyil House, Kanam
and was a dedicated member of St. Peter’s Marthoma Church, Delhi. Vicars of Immanuel Marthoma Church, Trinity Marthoma Church, CSI Church and members from all the churches mourned her demise. Thomas M Varghese (Babykutty), her brotherin-law and family, her husband’s family and her own family lament her passing away and pray that her soul may rest eternally in the Lord.
VOICE OF ASIA 24
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new travel trends report predicts that the countertrend of JOMO -- Joy of Missing Out -- will become particularly popular in Asia, where consumers are hyperconnected. As it happens with many social phenomena, the pendulum has swung back from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), birthing a new digital wellbeing trend dubbed JOMO, which prescribes disconnecting and being present in the moment. In a new report from market research group Euromonitor International, analysts predict that this trend will become increasingly important in countries like China and South Korea -- global frontrunners in digital connectivity. For example, more consumers in Asia agreed with the statement “Using the internet adds a great deal to my daily stress levels” in a Euromonitor survey, compared to respondents in the Americas and Europe. The findings were presented at World Travel Market London, a major travel trade fair taking place in London this week. Earlier this fall, researchers on Google’s Android team published a report looking at the JOMO phenomenon as well, and found that most participants in their small study (data was sourced from China, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, and the
HOLIDAY TRAVEL & LEISURE Why JOMO -- Joy of Missing Out -- is predicted to become increasingly important for Asian travelers
FRIDAY, November 16, 2018
US) were more likely to disconnect when it was short-term and voluntary, like during a vacation. Does the concept of JOMO travel sound enticing? The Euromonitor trends report also points to the emergence of JOMO-friendly travel outfits like bespoke travel company Black Tomato, which helps travelers disconnect from their everyday lives by dropping them off in remote, secret locations and challenging them to find their way back to civilization sans wifi -- the equivalent of a travel blindfold. - Relaxnews
Which Asian countries see the most tourism? Rank Destination International tourist arrivals (2017) 1. 2. 3. 4.
China - 60.7 million Thailand - 35.4 million Japan - 28.7 million Hong Kong - 27.9 million
JOMO will become increasing important in hyperconnected Asian countries, says a new report.© istock/FredFroese
Budapest’s underwater wonderland draws divers from far and wide
In China’s Himalayas, a wine ‘flying above the clouds’ bustling, profitable businesses was a godsend. “It has brought good changes to the four villages, lots of change, we don’t have to worry about money, people don’t have to go out to work laborious jobs anymore,” Ci said. Dulou attributes the wine’s success to the collaboration between East and West. “The Chinese are very creative and they are not afraid of change and that’s extraordinary because you can be the most creative in the world, but if you are afraid of change there is no creativity,” the viniculturist said. Revamping ‘Made in China’ French luxury giant Moet Hennessy has bet on this remote location to show that China can produce a first-class drop. © PeopleImages / istockphoto.com
Members of a group of hobby divers, speleologists and accompanying staff prepare to descend into the water at the entrance tunnel during an exploration of the Janos Molnar cave system on October 2, 2018 under the Buda Hill in Budapest. (Photo © Attila Kisbenedek / AFP)
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ot every diver’s dream is to watch shimmering shoals of fish swim through coral reefs in dazzlingly blue seas. For Laura Tuominen, the ultimate diving experience is not to be found in the Red Sea or the Caribbean, but in a labyrinth of spectacular underwater caves beneath the pavements of Budapest. The Hungarian capital is already famous worldwide for its steaming hot spas and thermal baths. But the underwater Janos Molnar cave system, named after the Hungarian pharmacist who discovered it in the 19th century, has become a hot tip for diving aficionados. Around seven kilometres (4.4 miles) in length and previously open only to scientific expeditions, the cave became accessible to the public -- that is, qualified divers -- when a diving centre was opened here in 2015. “We are under Budapest! It’s amazing!” shouts Tuominen, a 39-year-old Finnish anaesthesiologist and passionate amateur diver, as she jumps into the warm waters from a platform mounted in the narrow space at the bottom of the entrance tunnel. She is one of a group of hobby divers and speleologists, wearing dry suits and carrying double cylinders of compressed gas on their backs, who then descend into the gloomy waters, the light from their torches gradually fading out of view. The group is accompanied by a diving centre staff member who directs them with the help of “guideline” cords through the maze of narrow passageways and cavernous cathedral-like chambers. - ‘Very rare’ urban setting “It’s the only underwater cave in Budapest open to divers. Speleology is a niche market. It doesn’t have mass appeal. And our urban location makes us special. It’s very, very rare,” says Attila Hosszu, who has run the centre since it opened. The advantage of being underneath a city is that “you don’t have to haul your equipment up a mountain or down a deep valley to get here,” Hosszu adds. The entrance to the centre is a
discreet metal door near one of Budapest’s main boulevards and just a block away from the Danube river that separates the city’s two halves, Buda and Pest. According to the diving centre’s website, the cave was formed many millennia ago, when the geological fault line on which Budapest is situated cracked. The ascending thermal water ate into the rock to create caves close to the surface. “You can see amazing stalactites and stalagmites in Mexico. But you have to travel for days to get there. Here, you just walk in and dive, it’s very exciting,” says 38-year-old Russian Irina Litvinenko after getting off the tram on her way to the centre. Outside on the streets, the autumn wind is blustery. But inside the centre, the air is still warm and humid, making the divers sweat as they get their equipment ready. Explorations from the 1950s began to reveal the full extent of submerged canyons, halls and passageways. But until the diving centre opened three years ago, only scientists were permitted entry to explore or collect samples for laboratory examinations. - ‘Silence is precious’ Zoltan Bauer, who has been guiding groups through the cave since 2015, says visitors come mostly for the stunning underwater landscapes. “There are only a few creatures in the cave,” the 29-year-old says, referring mainly to tiny crustaceans. “But what I really like is the shape of it, how it looks, its beautiful formations.” Litvinenko, a Cyprus-based finance worker, is similarly entranced. “Usually, cave diving is about going in and out of a tunnel. But this is like a Swiss cheese, you go down one hole and come back through another,” she enthuses. “For me, it’s super-relaxing. In this technological world, silence is precious.” The water’s balmy temperature of 20-27 degrees Celsius (68-80 degrees Fahrenheit) year round is another draw, says Marton Illes, a 37-yearold IT developer from Budapest, who lives nearby. “This is my 15th dive here, but I’m
China’s appetite for wine has matured over the last 10 years, led by its burgeoning middle class. The coun-
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DONG (China), Nov 12 — A US$300 (RM1,255) bottle of wine sold in the United States and Europe is made in the unlikeliest of places: At the foot of the Himalayas in China, where farmers sing traditional songs while picking grapes. A stone’s throw away from Tibet, Ao Yun’s vineyards are located beneath the sacred Meili mountain at altitudes ranging up from 2,200 metres in the southwestern province of Yunnan. While wine consumption is soaring in China, it is not known as a major producer, but French luxury giant Moet Hennessy has bet on this remote location to show the Asian country can produce a first-class bottle of red. It took four years for the company to find the ideal spot in the vast country and the result was Ao Yun, Chinese for “flying above the clouds”, which debuted in 2013. “The place is magical, it has this wild side,” Maxence Dulou, Ao Yun’s estate manager, told AFP as he carefully inspected the grapes at one of the vineyards. Dulou, 43, said he had “dreamed” of discovering a great “terroir” — the unique French term for the ground and climatic conditions in which grapes are grown — in China since his university days. The company wanted to show that a great wine could be made in China, where even local consumers trust French wines more than home-grown products, he said. The smooth full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc has surprised many wine lovers. Only 2,000 cases are produced per year and are sold in China, other Asian countries, the United States and Europe. East meets West Moet Hennessy leased the vineyards for 30 years from local farmers in 2012 — a decade after the municipal
In this photo taken on October 10, 2018, bottles of 2014 vintage Ao Yun wine are seen at the Ao Yun vineyards, located beneath the Meili mountain in Adong, in southwestern China’s Yunnan province. (AFP pic) government encouraged villagers to switch from growing barley to grapevines in an attempt to kickstart the wine industry. But without proper knowledge or training, they floundered until the luxury giant turned up, bringing a wealth of expertise and resources to four villages: Adong, Shuori, Sinong and Xidang. The vineyards are situated in the middle of the Mekong, Yangtze and Salween rivers, a unique location which boasts moderate temperatures all year round so the vines do not need to be buried to prevent them from freezing in the winter. The property is divided into more than 300 small parcels spread over 28 hectares and grapes are harvested by hand, requiring four times more work hours on average than the biggest vineyards in the world. For villagers like 42-year-old Ci Liwudui, who leases out his land and has family members working on the vineyard, the transformation of the farms that once grew basic crops into
just scratching the surface. There’s so much to see down there, so many passages,” says the part-time diving instructor.
feet).
To preserve the cave’s unique ecosystem, the daily number of divers is limited to 30.
Geologists, chemists, biologists, and maintenance engineers repairing safety ropes rub shoulders with tourists in the tunnel before a dive.
It costs 60 to 140 euros ($68 to $159) depending on the depth of the dive -- maximum 90 metres (300
The depth also determines the time limit, currently 150 minutes, but nolimit dives may be coming soon.
Marine biology and ecology expert David Brankovits -- a regular visi-
try is set to become the world’s second largest wine consumer by 2021. China’s wine market was worth US$71 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow 27 percent in the next five years to nearly US$91 billion, according to research group Euromonitor. However, Chinese consumers are turning their noses up at local wines, as imported wine consumption grew over 17 per cent year on year in 2017 while domestic wine sales plummeted for the fifth consecutive year. Chinese wine has had a history of inconsistent quality, but Dulou is determined to change the prejudice attached to the term ‘Made in China’. “I think that little but little, Chinese people will realise that we can make great products in China, notably wines,” he said. “We do everything with passion, and we do it with utmost precision to make the best wine possible, to have the best grape possible, and to be one of the companies that revamp ‘Made in China’.” — AFP
tor -- says the “creatures found here cannot be found anywhere else, scientists can study their evolution, and their food and energy sources”. And as long as tourist divers respect the cave -- a protected site since 1982 -- there are no concerns about them coming here, Brankovits says. - AFP