Voice of Asia e paper September 23 2016 by VoiceOf Asia

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VOICE OF ASIA 28years yearsof ofdedicated dedicatedservice serviceto tothe thecommunity community 29

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

5 things you need to know to survive a Medicare audit Read on Page 18 or Call 832-806-1000

Vol. 29 No. 39 Friday, September 23, 2016 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 24 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

Third Biannual IACAN Gala 2016 A Huge Success

L-R: Lifetime Service Awardee P.G Parameshwaran, MD being honored by IACAN’s president Kumari Susarla, Gala Chair Padmini Nathan, MD. Also in picture are Lakshmi Parameshwaran and Suresh Bhavaraju, IACAN Dir.

OUSTON - Held on Saturday, Sep. 17th, 2016 the gala was initiated with a melodious invocation song by Mrs. Mani Sastry. Padmini Nathan, Kumari Susarla, and Lakshmi Parmeshwaren lighted the lamp, thus creating an auspicious ambiance. Consul General, Anupam Ray appreciated IACAN and all the marvelous services it provide to our community. He and his wife are wanting to become active members and help IACAN achieve its endeavors. Mr. Ray is also one of our advisory board member.

Consul General, Anupam Ray addressing the gathering at the IACAN gala. Photo credit: Unique Images Studio.

Kumari Susarla took the podium and commended the original architects of IACAN for building such a wonderful organization.

1st Health Expo by HealthLine, Local Media Lauded!

L-R: Shobana Muratee, Editor, Hardeep Singh, MD, (Keynote Speaker), Harpreeet Singh MD, Manish Gandhi MD, Dr. Chandra Mittal, Council Member (District F) Steve Le, Manju Sachdev, MD, (Emcee), Koshy Thomas, Publisher, Voice of Asia, Mrs. Moani Thomas, Consul General of India, Dr. Anupam Ray, and Dr. Lovell Jones. Photos by Kalith Talison. by Shobana Muratee

TAFFORD - Serving the community as its media support for the last 30 years was not enough for one publishing company in Houston – Voice of Asia News Group, publishers of Voice of Asia Newsweekly and HealthLine magazine. It went the extra mile to give back to the community with their free-for-all Health Expo on Friday, September 17th at the Stafford Centre, Stafford, Texas. Over 65 booths occupied the capacious 20,000 sq. ft. facility at the center offering arrayed services, products and information to the visitors. The daylong event started on a vibrant note with a formal inaugural featuring a host of medical professionals and dignitaries as speakers including the Honorable Consul General of India Houston Dr. Anupam Ray. “It’s a very laudable venture,” Consul General

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Print & Media Marketing: Marketing: Office Manager:

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

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

VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Editor Online:

Shobana Muratee

All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@ voiceofasiagroup.com

Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $30 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074

It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. Although paid advertisements may appear in Voice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, the Voice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. - The Publisher

THE STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI

Wheels of independence are set in motion The war in Europe was having an impact in India. The Congress Working Committee found itself unable to accept in its entirety Gandhi’s attitude to the war. In particular, they would not accept his view that the defence of India should not depend on the armed forces. Congress leaders met several times in Gandhi’s room at Sevagram and talked of their desire to start some action. Finally a proposal was put forward that all provincial governments should join with the British authorities in the defence of India, but the British rejected the offer …. Now read on. In September 1940, a meeting of the All-India Congress Committee was held in Bombay. There, as a protest against England’s utter indifference to India’s hopes, it was decided to launch individual civil disobedience against the authorities. It was also decided to hold meetings to protest against British imperialism. At that time such meetings were forbidden. Vinoba Bhave was the first to inaugurate individual satyagraha. He was arrested and so were hundreds of others who followed him. Nehru also was arrested. Within a few months over 30,000 Congressmen were put in jail. Only Gandhi was not imprisoned. He devoted his time to spreading the gospel of truth and nonviolence. In December 1941 the government released all the satyagrahis. Then, in 1942, as the Japanese swept across the Pacific and went through Malaya and Burma, the British began to think of a settlement with India. Japan, it was feared, might even invade India. Even Gandhi began to feel that his pacifism might stand in the way of India’s future. So he made the proposal of a provisional government so that all the resources of India could be added to the government’s side in the

ells Fargo’s chief executive faced a grilling from lawmakers today during a Senate hearing questioning the bank’s aggressive sales culture that led to a $185 million settlement in Southern California.

Earlier this month, the bank settled a lawsuit from the Los Angeles city attorney after investigators and two federal regulators found bank employees had opened up to two million bank and credit card accounts without customers’ permission, according to reports. More than 5,000 people were subsequently fired but the bank continued to be criticized for its high-pressure sales tactics and its lack of leadership accountability. The criticism reached a fever pitch during a Senate Banking Committee hearing where Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) turned the heat on Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf. Here are five takeaways from the hearing: 1. Sen. Elizabeth Warren to Wells Fargo CEO: “You should resign.” The hearing’s most notable moment came from Sen. Warren when she called for Stumpf to resign, give back his salary and be “criminally investigated.”

Cripps promised greater freedom than what had been offered before. He also offered complete freedom after the war, if India wanted it. The leaders would perhaps have accepted this offer if it had come a year earlier, but now it was rejected. The Congress leaders did not want any compromise based on promises. The British did not trust the people of India sufficiently to give them any real power, and so the Indian leaders felt that they could not trust the British to hand over power after the war. In August 1942 the All-India Congress Committee met in Bombay, and was presided over by Maulana Azad. Again the demand to set up a provisional government was made. “We can no longer hold back our people from exercising their will,”

Wells Fargo Chief Executive Officer John Strumpf prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, before Senate Banking Committee. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) cept full responsibility” Stumpf told the Senate committee that he takes responsibility for the bogus bank accounts and that the bank would deal with the issues in four ways: The bank would expand its review of customer accounts created in 2009 and 2010. He said the bank has also begun reaching out to customers in California to determined which accounts were authorized. He also said the bank would contact “hundreds of thousands” with open Wells Far-

go credit cards to determine “whether they need or want their credit cards.” The bank is said to have begun to use a confirmation email sent to customers “within one hour of opening any new deposit account” and an “acknowledgement letter” before creating an account. 4. Wells Fargo CEO: “I accept full responsibility” Stumpf told the Senate committee that he takes responsibility for the bogus bank accounts and that the bank would deal with the issues in four ways:

He also said the bank would contact “hundreds of thousands” with open Wells Fargo credit cards to determine “whether they need or want their credit cards.” The bank is said to have begun to use a confirmation email sent to customers “within one hour of opening any new deposit account” and an “acknowledgement letter” before creating an account. 5. Sen. Bernie Sanders reacts As the hearing was underway, Sen. Bernie Sanders (DVermont) chimed in with his reaction to the disproportionate punishment weighed on bank executives versus other lowlevel offenses. Do you trust the Senate hearing will bring about changes in the banking industry or will it continue to do business as usual?

Congressman Poe on Attack on Indian Army Base in Pakistan

2. “Gutless leadership” Sen. Warren also grilled Stumpf on whether he had fired any senior managers or returned any money the bank made from the bogus accounts. 3. Hillary Clinton writes open letter to Wells Fargo customers Ahead of the Senate hearing, the Democratic presidential candidate published an “open letter” to Wells Fargo customers saying she was “deeply disturbed” over the bank’s “widespread illegal practices over many years.”

OUSTON, TX- Sep 19 2016 - This weekend’s attack on an Indian army base in the garrison town of Uri left 18 Indian soldiers dead and marked the deadliest assault in Indianadministered Kashmir in over two decades. It is a reminder to democracies the world over that terrorism seeks to destroy peace loving societies every-

where. It is still unclear which terrorist group carried out this cowardly attack, but one thing is certain. This is just the latest consequence of Pakistan’s longstanding irresponsible policy of supporting and providing operational space for all stripes of jihadi terrorist groups. Pakistan’s reckless behavior in this regard is a serious security risk

to its neighbors – and India unfortunately pays the price all too often. We condemn this tragic attack, as well as Pakistan’s support for many criminals like the ones who carried it out, and stand firm in our commitment to our friends in India. A threat to democracy in India is a threat to democracy everywhere. And that’s just the way it is.

Clinton said, if elected, she would put in place safeguards to keep Wall Street executives accountable “when rampant illegal activity happens on their watch.” 4. Wells Fargo CEO: “I ac-

Great Summer Project For children! Enter Mahatma Gandhi Week 2016 Essay, I-Tribute, Poster and Speech contests. Visit gandhilibrary.org for registration and more information. All school going children can participate! These contests are being organized to create higher awareness of the inspiring life and work of Mahatma Gandhi to promote universal values of Truth, Non-Violence, Love and Service. Call 713-785-3900 or visit www.mahatmagandhilibrary.org

The “Quit India” resolution was drawn up and passed by the meeting for presentation to the government.

In March 1942 Churchill announced that the war cabinet had agreed on a plan for India and that Sir Stafford Cripps had agreed to go to India to find out whether the Indian leaders would accept the plan, and whether they would devote all their thought and energy to the defence of India against Japan. Cripps arrived in Delhi on March 22. He met Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and other important leaders.

The bank would expand its review of customer accounts created in 2009 and 2010. He said the bank has also begun reaching out to customers in California to determined which accounts were authorized.

And it wasn’t pretty.

Gandhi said. “Nor can we go on eternally submitting to the imperialist policies. The time has come for the English to go. Civil servants, army officers, government officers all of them should quit India.”

struggle against the aggressors. But this proposal was ignored.

‘You should resign,’ Senator Warren blasts Wells Fargo CEO

Nehru moved the resolution and Sardar Patel seconded it. The resolution also announced the starting of a mass struggle on the widest possible scale. Winding up the meeting, Gandhi said, “I have pledged to the Congress, and the Congress has pledged herself that she will do or die.” The government did not wait for the mass movement to begin. Overnight Gandhi was arrested, as were many other leaders in various parts of India. Gandhi was interned in the Aga Khan’s palace in Poona. Mahadev Desai, Kasturba, Sarojini Naidu and Mirabehn were also taken there. But with the leaders in jail, India did not remain idle. ‘Do or die’ was taken up by the people. There were mass movements everywhere. And there was a great outburst of violence throughout the country. People started destroying government buildings and whatever else they considered to be symbols of British imperialism. Shortly after his detention in the Aga Khan’s palace Gandhi suffered a grievous bereavement. Mahadev Desai, his faithful and able secretary, died of a heart attack. “Mahadev has lived up to the ‘do or die’ mantra,” Gandhi said. “This sacrifice will only hasten the day of India’s deliverance.” All over India there were strikes and disorder. Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy, blamed Gandhi for all the turmoil. Gandhi had invited violence, he claimed. In a long

series of letters to Lord Linlithgow, Gandhi tried to persuade him to retract this charge against him. Failing in this, Gandhi decided to undertake a fast as “an appeal to the Highest Tribunal” against the unjust charges. Gandhi fasted for 21 days in February, 1943. It was a great ordeal, but he survived the fast. Kasturbai nursed him back to health, but her own health was failing. She suffered two heart attacks. Gandhi tried his best to save her, but Kasturbai grew worse. One day she died quietly in Gandhi’s arms. A few weeks later Gandhi was taken seriously ill with malaria. The Indian people demanded his immediate release and the authorities, believing that he was nearing death, released him. Gandhi was slowly

restored to health. The demand for Indian independence had now acquired worldwide interest. Apart from India’s own attitude, America and other countries started pressing Britain to grant freedom to India. But Prime Minister Winston Churchill did not yield to any of these approaches. India had always been the jewel in the British crown, crucial to the Britain’s prosperity. Churchill was the last man to think of giving up India. Two months after Germany’s surrender in May 1945, the Labour Party came into power in Britain and Clement Attlee became the Prime Minister. After the defeat of Japan in August that year, the British

government announced that they expected to grant self-rule to India as soon as her internal problems could be solved. This was indeed a victory for India and a victory for the principle of nonviolence. Britain agreed to a planned withdrawal from India in friendship and with no bitterness. All through his life Gandhi had worked for unity between Hindus and Muslims, without much success. There was a large section of nationalist Muslim in the Congress but leaders of the Muslim League were drifting further and further away. Gandhi was not the man to give up hope, however, and he pursued his efforts to bring about a settlement. On the other hand, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, was hostile to the idea of unity. — To be continued

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VOICE OF ASIA

Opinion by Luiz Gomez

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FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

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Thought proving talk on Indian Govt’s control on Temples Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Global Hindu Heritage Foundation speaks in Dallas

“

India’s Identity in Hindu. This is similar to USA’s identity as ‘Anglo-Saxon Caucasian Protestant Christian’. It may have citizens from various races and religions. Similarly India maybe home for people practicing various religions, the identity however is Hindu” said Dr. Subramanian Swamy addressing an audience of about 600 people in a packed hall in Plano (Dallas area), Texas, USA. Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha, Republic of India) and a Senior BJP leader, Dr. Swamy visited Dallas on an invitation from Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) to speak on “The Government control of Temples in India” on Tuesday, 13th September 2016.

making the difference in the uplifting the moral compass in the India and fighting to uproot the corruption and cronies. Dr Swamy addressed the gathering by vividly describing the process that makes the Hindu Temples sacred by doing Pranaprathishta puja to convert Murthy into a God. Once they are sanctified, they cannot be removed since life is infused in the Murthy. Even the British Courts have agreed to this process. He said Churches and Mosques are only places of congregation; they can be removed and shifted with no recourse. Saudi Arabia has demolished hundreds of Mosques to widen the roads and construction of Apartments.

is brilliant speech covered various topics that are dear to all Hindus such as the history and significance of Hindu Temples; need for the preservation of Hindu values; difference between Hindu Temples and Christian churches and Mosques; illegal occupation and construction of Babri Masjid; legal battle to construct Rama Temple in Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama; efforts to repeal of the Endowment act in the Supreme Court; and the potential problems Hindus may face after Hindu Temples are freed from the government control. Welcoming the gathering, Gopal Ponangi, active volunteer and who served as Master of Ceremony for the evening, thanked everyone for coming to

Dr. Subramanian Swamy addressing an audience of about 600 people in Dallas TX. listen to Dr Swamy on a Tuesday evening, in spite of being a working day. Hari Ramasubbu initiated the event with invocation prayers. This was followed by Lighting the lamps at the altar by Dr Swamy and attendees from various organization in and around Dallas. Gopal then introduced Dr Prakasarao Velagapudi, the Founder and Presi-

dent of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation which organized the event in collaboration with various Hindu faith based organizations in and around Dallas area. Dr Velagapudi spoke about the origin of GHHF and some of the it’s activities over the last ten years. He then introduced Dr Swamy as a lone ranger, and one-man army

He rightly pointed out that Muslims must accept their Hindu ancestry to live in peace and harmony since all the people in India, irrespective of their religion, caste, creed, and state, have the same DNA. All Muslim should agree to build Temples in Mathura, Ayodhya and Varanasi, otherwise we should make a case to repossess 2000 Hindu Temples that were converted into Mosques. Since investigation has revealed the existence of Rama Temple before the construction of Babri Masjid based on scientific evidence, efforts must be made to build Rama Temple as soon as possible. He wants to see the Construction of Rama Temple completed by the end of 2017 since it is also the agenda of BJP. Further he recounted the tireless efforts of Sri Swami

Dayananda Saraswathi to gather the information on the abuses of governments and how he filed a case in Supreme Court. Dr. Swamy indicated that he agreed to take up the Repeal of Hindu Endowment Act in Supreme Court. His extraordinary speech was interrupted by thunderous applause numerous times. Addressing the gathering, Sashi Kejriwal, one of the community leaders said that “it is upon us to support Dr Swamy for his tireless efforts to fight corruption in India and also to help support furthering Hindu Causes“ “It was an excellent speech by Dr Swamy. He has captivated the entire audience” Said Mahesh Choppa, an active volunteer at GHHF who managed food related areas for the event “Dr Swamy is very articulate and does enough research and study before he speaks” said Rajah Vysyaraju, another active volunteer who has spent countless hours organizing the event “Dr Swamy’s speech was very good informative and an eye opener and I thank GHHF for arranging Dr Swamy’s talk” said Ms Sashi Pattisam a resident of Dallas area. “For me, the take home was the message about India’s identity being Hindu just like USA’s identity is ‘Anglo-Saxon Caucasian Protestant Christian’ ” said Ramesh Kandadai another

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Special support to the event was provided by KC Chekuri through Yuva Radio in letting the community know about the event. Hari Dornala from Basera Restaurant and Pratyusha from Minerva Banquet Hall have provided support from hospitality standpoint. Sridhar Kodela has provided Audio support. Krishna Puttaparthi from DesiPlaza has supported through Videography and Photography. Pardha from Lordly Digital helped with publicity and Venkat Mulukutla from TV9 provided Media support to the event. Continued on Page 9

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FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

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Wages may be garnished in Texas for a student loan Q. I owe a student loan from more than ten years ago. They now say that if I don’t pay, they will garnish my wages. How long do they have to collect? I thought there was no wage garnishment in Texas. A. Unfortunately for you, there are basically no time limits within which government-backed student loans must be collected. Even though the debt is ten years old, it may still be collected. Additionally, although wage garnishment generally is prohibited in Texas, wage garnishment for student loans is based on a federal law that pre-empts Texas law. In other words, if you don’t pay, your wages can be garnished. Under the law, however, you must be given an opportunity to make arrangements to pay before wage garnishment is used. I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity. Q. I owe $1,500 to a creditor. I cannot afford to pay the full amount, so I sent a check for $1,000 clearly marked “accepted as payment in full.” They cashed the check. Now they say I still owe $500. I think the matter was settled when they cashed my check. Who is right? A. In my opinion, the credit card company is correct; you still owe $500. Paying someone with a check clearly marked “accepted as payment in full”

to settle a debt may discharge the obligation, but only limited situations. For a payment in full check to work, the check must be offered in “good faith” and the claim must be in dispute. In other words, it must be a good faith attempt to resolve a dispute about how much money is owed. Simply offering less than an agreed amount is not a good faith attempt to resolve a dispute. For example, if you and your mechanic have a dispute about how much you owe for repairs, a payment in full check to resolve the dispute would satisfy your obligation. If the mechanic cashed your check, he would not be legally entitled to any additional money. On the other hand, if you owe a bank $1,500 and the amount is not in dispute, you may not merely offer $1,000 to settle the debt. Even if the check is marked “payment in full,” the bank may cash the check and then seek to recover the additional $500. Q. I have been divorced for three years. My support obligation may run for an additional ten years. I am now planning to get married again. If I die before my child support obligation is completed, where does the money come from to continue the support? Will my new wife be obligated to pay? A. As a general rule, the obligation to pay support ends upon the death of the obligated party. In other words, the

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served. Traditional Indian snacks such as Samosas, Pav Vada, Thepla and Chevda along with American Crab Cakes were served. The President of Club 24, Mr. Pradeep Gupta addressed the members and acknowledged Manisha Gandhi for organizing this event. He also introduced the new members that have joined Club 24 in recent months. The new members introduced were Anuj and Dina Arya, Vineet and Vinita Gupta, Kaushik Dhar and Poonam Taneja, Raj and Jyoti Malhan, Judge Michael and Mary Grace Landrum. New members Bhavesh and Malisha Patel were unable to attend. The members had a chance to really showcase their singing abilities. The Karaoke

was kicked off by Rajan, owner of Madras Pavilion followed by Manisha Gandhi. Other enthusiastic members also followed through and the singing continued for approximately 3 hours. The members’ singing talent was amazing. As the yacht headed back to shore, the sunset over the waters was spectacular. Before the cruise ended, dinner was served. The menu consisted of Veg Lasagna, biryani, chicken and paneer masala topped with Gulab Jamun Cheesecake. The catering was done by both Madras Pavilion and Star Fleet. Pradeep Gupta announced the upcoming events for the club which are Diwali celebration and the Family Christmas Party. The yacht docked at about 8 pm to end a festive celebration.

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lub 24 arranged a fantastic celebration for its’ members with a 4-hour private cruise around the bustling Keemah boardwalk on Sunday September 11. Fifty-five members of Club 24 attended this special celebration. All the members met at the Star Fleet Terminal and were on board by 4 pm. The cruise took off after a short safety presentation by Captain Adam. The mood was very festive. The professional and very courteous staff of Star Fleet created a very special and memorable event for the members on the waters of Clear Lake.

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VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

1st Health Expo by HealthLine.....Lauded!

Hardeep Singh , MD delivering his keynote address.

Consul General of India Dr. Anupam Ray with the members of Indian Nurses Association. Also in pic far right is Satish Philip, grandson of Koshy and Moani Thomas. Photos by Kalith Talison Reflection Media Inc. Continued from Page 1

Ray said, and he stressed the importance of such events, especially if a nation is to become prosperous. He mentioned the valuable contributions of India’s ancient systems of medicine, Yoga and Ayurveda, to the world and pointed out how well Indian doctors were doing globally. Koshy Thomas, host and CEO, Voice of Asia News Group, welcoming the gathering at the Health-Expo said he was driven by the need to serve those first generation immigrants who industriously built strong communities and are now retired and ailing. “It took a toll on them and the reflection I had was very disturbing. That made me to think about how we can educate and empower the new generation of seniors and in turn their next generation.” HealthLine magazine - launched in 2015 - was instrumental in expanding to Health Expo: “To educate, enrich and empower them to live a healthy life,” he said.

Mr. Thomas gave part of the proceeds, a check for $1000, to H.O.P.E, a non-profit organization to help autistic children. The contribution was received by Rev. Johnson T. Unnithan, Vicar of the parent church, Immauel Mar Thoma. Manju Sachdev, MD was the Mistress of Ceremonies who conducted the inaugural smoothly with eloquence and grace. Earlier, Farida Abjani, CEO, Shining Nightingale and a distinguished HealthLine Advisory Board member, gave a rousing introduction to Dr. Sachdev. HealthLine Advisory Board members: Abraham P. Thomas, MD, Farida Abjani, RN, Lovell A Jones, PhD, Catherine Papasakelariou, MD, Arjun Ghose, RN, Hanh Trinh, MD, and Chandra Mittal, PhD were recognized on the occasion. Keynote Speaker Hardeep Singh, MD, MPH, Chief of the Health Policy, Quality & Informatics program at the Houston Veterans Affairs Re-

search Center for Innovations and Baylor College of Medicine presented a thought provoking insight into medical practice in the US. Recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President Obama for his groundbreaking multidisciplinary research, Dr. Singh pointed out that Indians in US were at a very high risk for cardiovascular disease. Sadly people are not very aware of many of the health related issues. His presentation at the Health Expo focused on three primary messages:: 1. Empowerment in health care 2. Be engaged consumers in health 3. Be a proactive citizen for health of our planet. He noted that global warming and land, water, air pollution has major consequences. He concluded by encouraging small steps toward reducing carbon footprint that would help for a better tomorrow. This was followed by a host of speakers, experts in various fields of medicine spoke on a

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Manju Sachdev, MD emceeing the event.

Koshy Thomas with the winner of Deep Foods gift basket.

variety of topics: Harpreet Singh, MD on Weight Loss (Vital Checklist), Payal Patani Fort Bend Regional Council on Drug Trends Among Youth and What Parents Need to Know, Judy Blake on Judy’s World (nonprofit), Abraham

Thomas, MD on Stroke, Rebecca Kramer, CEO, Lupus Foundation on Awareness on LUPUS, Sudhir Mathuria on Health Life 360, Pushan Jani, MD on Lung Cancer Screening, Dr. K.B Singh on the benefits of ancient Indian practic-

es of Yoga and Ayurveda and Hanh Trinh, MD on Hospice Care. Shobana Muratee, Editorin-Chief, Voice of Asia News Group proposed a Vote of Thanks to major sponsors Kelsey Seybold (prominent with their team in blue), Aetna, Texas CareGiver, Nova Management, Ace Pain Management, Deep Foods and Britannia, India Caregiver, Shining Nightingale, Radio Dabang, Krishna Sounds, Indian Doctor’s Association, Indian Nurses Association, Radio Sangeet, Masala Radio and the vendors were all recognized for their support. Special thanks went out to the vivacious Leena Shah and her team from Radio Dabang for posting live on Facebook, Umang Mehta from Deep Foods and Khalit and partner for photography and videography. Plentiful, attractive door prizes donated by Texas Renaissance Faire (free tickets), Deep Foods and Britannia (goodie baskets, juices and cookies), gift cards from Beauty Pro-Clips Salon, Escalante’s Sugar Land restaurant, Greatwood Smiles, Nex Gen Radio, Prime Laser Center, and Swasth Yoga were presented every 30mins. Chemmanur International Jewelers had six lucky draws for a gold coin and US Citrus presented a citrus plant to all the dignitaries on the occasion. Two food booths Universal Bakery & Snacks and DGN Factory - served up some delicious items. Volunteers were a great help with young Mia giving her best with a smile. The magnificent layout of the booths, the spirit of the participants, and the informational talks were all evident of master planning and execution by HealthLine Wellness Expo marketing team Jacob David and Susan Pothanikat, with Mathew Priyan handling accounts. For a first time attempt, it was a commendable effort, many said but it did have some challenges in terms of turnout which could be the result of multiple events taking place in and around Houston.

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VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

IACCGH Facilitates ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ Roadshow in Houston King & Spalding, USIBC, FICCI join to promote by Manu Shah

OUSTON - The 2015 Vibrant Gujarat Summit saw CEOs from India and abroad pledging a whooping $500 billion in investments in India, 21,000 MOUs and 1,225 partnership agreements. Delegations from India are on the road to make the lion roar yet again at its Summit in January 2017. A roadshow in Houston on 12th September stumped listeners with the sheer scale of opportunities that India presents. Led by Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner, State of Gujarat, members of the delegation sought to explain how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is changing a nation’s mindset from a “socialistic pattern to one of a facilitator and an enabler.” by inviting investors from every corner of the globe to partner with it in its race to become one of the greatest economic powers of the world.

Consul General Ray, Jagdip Ahluwalia, Judge Ed Emmett and Bharat Lal. power parity which is the largest on the globe.

Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner, State of Gujarat, during a presentation on Vibrant Gujarat

The event held at the offices of King & Spalding in downtown Houston was put together by USIBC, FICCI and the IACCGH. Gaurav Verma Executive Vice President USIBC moderated the event. Michael Taylor, Partner at Kings and Spaldings and event hosts welcomed the gathering. Special remarks were made by Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray, Judge Ed Emmett and Dr. Robert Robbins, President Texas Medical Center. Resident Commissioner Bharat Lal outlined the key drivers that helped Gujarat attract the highest FDI in the country such as its infrastructure which includes 14 airports, 43 ports, 2 LNG terminals and good roads, 24/7 electricity and strategic location. A slew of initiatives such as the Dholera Special Investment Region, GIFT City and transparent policies also contributed to making Gujarat the “growth engine of the country.” This model, he emphasized, is to be replicated

Highlighting facts such as India is the second largest country on the net with close to 400 million users, the Aadhar card gave 1.1 billion people an ID card with biometrics and Startup India which seeks to turn the millions of job seekers to job providers, he stated that India has the third largest startups in the world and hopes to leap to No. 2 by the year end. Make in India, he continued, is a business plan with 4 pillars to it. Sectors which allows private capital to participate in every sector of this opportunity, Processes which have been reengineered and simplified, Infrastructure is the largest infrastructure opportunity in the world today and Mindset which looks at the world as a partner.

IACCGH Board members present a memento to the Indian delegation. at the national level by inviting investment at the 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Stating that India is undergoing “a transformation on a scale and a speed never seen before.” Deepak Bagla CEO Invest India dwelt on the transformation of an “aspirational population” of 1.25 billion people to “hu-

man capital” and the opportunities created in this process.

receiving 55 billion dollars – the highest it’s ever received.

India’s, GDP growth rate of 7.6%, he observed, will need to continue growing at this pace for the next decade. Citing Ernst & Young, he said, that India was the world’s number one destination for foreign investment in the world last year

Referring to some mind boggling statistics, he pointed out the average age in India is 29. 850-900 million people are under the age of 35, a middle class of over 550-600 million people which makes it an 8 trillion dollar economy by purchasing

Returning to the infrastructure opportunities, Deepak Bagla stated that the Government’s plan to create 40 kms of roads per day, 250 new airports and refurbish existing ones, 98 smart cities, industrial corridors, ports and food parks offered a “wallet opportunity of 4 trillion dollars.” He further added that an Indian will spend $180,000 in his lifetime and multiplied by 1.5 billion people unleashes a purchasing power that is staggering.

The Government, he stressed, is pulling out all the stops to spur foreign investment in India from scrapping 1300 archaic regulations with 2600 more to go, a Single Tax Framework to be in place by April 2017, a Bankruptcy Tax Bill implemented in the new financial year to agencies that will “handhold investors” from state specific inputs, approvals to market strategy. Group Chief Executive of AECOM, Dhamo Dhamotharan offered a US industry perspective of doing business with India. The Company has several large scale projects in Gujarat and according to him, there was transparency in procurement, support from state agencies and issues addressed within 24 hours. He also observed that if this can be replicated in the rest of the country, India’s GDP growth projections can be a reality. The event which was one of IACCGH’s Partner Outreach programs to educate the community of opportunities in the US and abroad also facilitated b2b meetings with members interested in investing in Gujarat. Board members presented the delegation with a gold plated map of Gujarat created by local artist Anju Mittal. For more details, please log on to www.vibrantgujarat.com

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Indian-American physician Santosh Hegde - Crusader, Abraham Verghese to receive anti-corruption movement to National Humanities Medal speak at India House ASHINGTON: By PTI | Sep 15, 2016 - Indian-American physician-author Abraham Verghese, whose work has emphasised empathy in medicine, has been selected for the prestigious 2015 National Humanities Medal, the White House has announced.

by Bhamy V. Shenoy

here is not one IndoAmerican who is not aware of rampant corruption in India. However not many of them are familiar with how some have been successful in fighting such corruption. Just about everyone feels that it is not possible to fight corruption in India. Here is a rare person who has boldly fought against corruption and has been able to bring down the former BJP chief minister of Karnataka, Yeddurappa and put the most powerful Reddy brothers from Bellari behind the bars in connection with corrupt mining practices and has successfully prosecuted several officials for their corrupt practices.

US President Barack Obama would confer the honour upon Verghese, along with 11 others, and the recipients of 2015 National Medal of Arts at ceremony on September 21. Currently a professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, 61-yearold Verghese has authored several acclaimed books, including “My Own Country” and “Cutting for Stone”. In a statement, the White House yesterday said Verghese has been given the award for reminding “us” that the patient is the centre of the medical enterprise. “His range of proficiency embodies the diversity of the humanities, from his efforts to emphasise empathy in medicine, to his imaginative renderings of the human drama,” the White House said. “Abraham Verghese is not only an exemplary clinician, he is an exemplary humanist,” said Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne. “Every day in the classroom, he teaches his students that professions such as medicine benefit from an understanding of the human condition. “We are so proud that his breadth of scholarship has been recognised with this honour,” Tessier-Lavigne said. Inaugurated in 1997, the National Humanities Medal honours individuals or groups

Indian-American physician Abraham Verghese to receive National Humanities Medal. whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the human experience, broadened citizens’ engagement with history, literature, languages philosophy, and other humanities subjects, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities website. Up to 12 medals are awarded each year. “I am humbled and excited by this honour,” Verghese said in a statement issued by the Stanford University. He completed his education at the Madras Medical College. “The names of previous recipients include writers I most admire. It is a wonderful affirmation of a path that in the early years I wasn’t sure was

the right path, even though it was one I felt compelled to follow,” Verghese, who is also the Linda R Meier and Joan F Lane Provostial Professor, said. Verghese is known for his emphasis on empathy for patients in an era in which technology often overwhelms the human side of medicine, the university said in a statement. “I felt strongly then and now that what I was writing about, and my interest in the human experience of being ill or caring for the ill, was as much a part of medicine as knowledge of the function of the pancreas, for example,” said Verghese, who is also a Vice Chair of Stanford’s Department of Medicine.

Justice Santosh Hegde after retiring from the Supreme Court of India got involved in fighting corruption while many eminent persons will be happy with cushy and non-controversial job of being chairmen of commissions or simply quietly enjoying their leisure. It was during Hegde’s time as Lokayukta (Lokayukta is an institution in each state which has the power to investigate and file charges against the highest officials or ministers including the Chief Minister) Lokayukta in Karnataka became a model for the rest of the states. When BJP government was interfering in his investigation of the corrupt practices in mining operations and transferring honest officials, he resigned as Lokayukta. Then senior leader of BJP, L.K. Advani, a family friend of Hegde persuaded him to take back the resignation, assuring him to strengthen the Lokayukta institution and also

Justice Santosh Hegde to extend all help in prosecuting the corrupt. This finally resulted in the resignation of the Chief Minister of Karnataka. After his retirement from Lokayukta, Hegde continued to fight corruption by creating opportunities to speak to small and large gatherings. He went around the country and interacted with the people, especially with the students urging them to stand for principles. He told them not to give bribe which is as criminal as accepting it. As Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement was coming to the national agenda, Hegde’s involvement as a core group member gave a tremendous boost. Though Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal have been given much credit for the anticorruption movement, it is the enormous credibility of Justice Santosh Hegde which laid the solid foundation. However later when Kejriwal converted it into a political movement, Justice Hedge quietly moved away from it. But he did not stop his anti-corruption drive and continued to speak to motivate people to get involved.

However, on one important topic of getting involved in politics, I differ from Justice Hegde. If every one were to keep away from politics as he has done, who will fill the political space in a democracy? From hindsight one can admire his decision to stay away from Aam Admi Party led by Kejriwal who has failed to uphold the principles for which he fought. Just imagine if only Justice Hedge like his late father K S Hegde, a former Speaker of Lok Sabha has joined the political party and led AAP instead of Kejriwal. India’s anti-corruption movement today might have taken a different form. K S Hegde was also a Supreme Court justice and resigned when Indira Gandhi superseded him. May be we can learn during the meeting from Justice Hegde what are his thoughts on who should join politics. Please do not miss the opportunity of hearing justice Hegde speak. The event, organized by Foundation for India Studies (FIS) will take place on Thursday,29th September at 6.15 PM in India House.

Indian-American CEO Charged With 30 Million Dollar Fraud ASHINGTON: A 44-year-old IndianAmerican former CEO has been charged with two separate fraud schemes totalling more than USD 30 million and faces a maximum statutory sentence of twenty years in prison for each count.

Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, who has been charged by Indictment with 15 counts of wire fraud. He was CEO of

Essex Holdings Inc. According to the Indictment, from September 2010 through May 2014, Xavier operated Essex Holdings, raised more than USD 29 million from nearly 100 investors for supposed investments in sugar transportation and shipping, as well as iron ore mining in Chile. Xavier used a false financial statement, forged documents, and false promises of fixed rates

of return, to induce investors to invest with Essex Holdings, federal prosecutors alleged. “Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewellery, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery,” the Justice Department said. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to

pay old investors in a Ponzilike fashion before the scheme collapsed, it added. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain USD 1.2 million in payments and approximately USD 1.5 million worth of commer-

cial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government, that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility.

According to the indictment, Xavier provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 9

A Classic Carnatic treat by Vidwan Vijay Siva

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Krishna Sounds: Still the Best!

Darshak Thacker and wife Mona Thacker of Krishna Sounds.

Vocalist Sri. Vijay Siva with Houston’s classical musicians at Carnatic vocal concert hosted by HYMA and BKM. by Mahalakshmi Siva One of the torchbearers of the D K Pattammal & D K Jayaraman school of Music, Sri. Vijay Siva is an artist with a very deep and sincere approach to his music, who always strives hard to give his best. On September 18th, Houston classical rasikas were treated with a grand Carnatic vocal concert by Sri. N. Vijay Siva organized by HYMA (Houston Youth Music Association) and BKM Houston. Truly a born singer, Vijay siva chose to start his concert with Annamacharya kriti ‘Vandeham’ in the raga Hamsadhwani. That set the tone for the rest of the concert and prepared the audience for the three hours of rich musical experience. This was followed by a Dikshitar’s navagraha kriti ‘Soorya moorthe’ in praise of Sun God Surya in the raga Sourashtram. With a crisp alapana in the raga Kasiramakriya (Pantuvarali), he sang the Diskshitar kriti Sri Sundararajam Bhajeham. Vijay Siva continued to enthrall the audience with a beautiful Composition of Arunachala Kavirayar, ‘Arivar Yar Unnai’ in the ragam Mukhari. He made it lot more attractive with Kalpana Swaras. Vidwan R. K. Shriramkumar’s (another torch bearer of DKP/DKJ tradition) reply in violin comprised all the ingredients that were infused by Vidwan Vijay Siva. Prior to starting the main piece of the concert ‘Enduku peddala, a composition of Tyagaraja’, he sang ‘Manasuloni Marmamu’ in the raga Varamu, a composition of St.Tyagaraja,

Thought proving talk on ... Temples Continued from page 3 The event had representation from Sanatana Dharma Foundation, Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple, DFW Hindu Temple, Ekal Vidyalaya, Overseas Friends of BJP, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Art of Living, Radha Krishna Temple (Allen), Ram Mandir, Isha Foundation, Diwali Mela team, DATA, TPAD and MGMNT to name a few The event was attended by who is who of Hindu Community in Dallas. Dr Kishor Fruitwala, President of DFW Hindu Temple, Sri Krishnamurthy, Founding member of DFW Hindu Temple, Dr Jai Kumar, Prashant Patel, Dr Anup Shetty, Sante Chary, Shreya Bhat, Ram Kasarla, Sudhakar Veeravelli (Telugu Talli), Dr Renuka Basavaraju, Neeraja Sheth and several others Mr. Gopal Ponangi thanked Dr. Swamy for his enlightening speech and also nearly 600 people who came to listen the speech, even though it was a working day. The event was concluded with cutting a cake by Dr. Swamy whose birth day is on September 15th. Shri Gaur from Seva International has felicitated Dr Swamy with a shawl Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) is 501C3 Non Profit organization and was established with the objective to protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples, mutts, peethams, endowments, Trusts and other institutions globally. More information is available at www. savetemples.org

less heard in concert circuit these days. Vijay Siva next executed a well-planned Sankharabharanam raga alapana and it was in two stages, interspersed with violin interlude. It was indeed a grand treat for the rasikas with the lengthy sancharas. The swara segment again was rich with the raga content. Violinist R. K. Shriramkumar has the ability to modulate his playing to suit the style of the main artist, thereby providing the best support. He matched Vijay Siva in every facet of his singing. Ace mridangist J.Vaidyanathan (son of vocalist’s guru DKJ) is one of the most knowledgeable mridangists in the field today. His anticipatory moves

made it even more interesting, which he continued in the tani that followed. Vocal support was provided by Sri Pramod Gokhale and Tambura supported by Kumari Kruthi Bhat of Houston. Vijay Shiva brought melody to the Ahiri raga kriti “Mayamma Yanine”, a Shyama Shastri composition following the main piece. His clear diction made the rendering exercise a lot more enjoyable. What a soulful rendition it was! RTP in the ragam Abheri with Swarakshara ragamalika swaras in the ragas Todi, Mohanam and Valaji showcased the artist’s brilliance.

Vijay Siva and his accompanists, displayed enormous control and manodharma at the same time in navigating through the Pallavi. RTP was followed by lighter pieces ‘Mathada Baradheno’ (Kamas – Naraharidas), Versus from Narayaneeyam (Rukmini Kalyanam) set to ragamalika (ragas Revati, Chenjurutti, Kuntalavarali, Kapi, Bageswari and Manirangu), Krishna bhajan ‘Naam Japan Kyun Chhod Diya’, Thiruppugazh ‘Timira vudhadhi’ and a Bharathiyar composition in the raga Nadhanamakriya. The concert concluded with a composition of Sri.Krishna Premi. The artists were felicitated by Vidushi Krishnaveni Hebbar and Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat and a short and sweet blessings by Janaki Viswanathan concluded the evening. The music lovers of Houston dispersed hoping to hear many more lovely concerts.

Houston’s celebrity Sound Engineer & Drummer Darshak Thacker and his company Krishna Sounds Productions team along with Mona Thacker, provided high quality crystal clear live sounds, stage lights with color par light to make the backdrop three dimensional. This year, he also set two screens providing live feed on both screens by camera man Paresh shah, after culture event Darshak Thacker live band played Lord Krishna’s songs with Darshak’s high energy drum beats to make everybody dance along with Kamal Haji, Kashmira Nayak & Hardik Jani.

Mahatma Gandhi’s 147th Birth Anniversary Celebration Celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 147th birthday please join the Houston’s 11th annual 5K “Walk For Peace” organized by Mahatma Gandhi Library in association with many local organizations. Join the walk and vote for peace with your feet. Please come and pay tribute to the Apostle of Peace. Please find below the details of the event: Date: Sunday, October 2, 2016 Time: 4:45 PM to 6 PM Place: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Herman Park Drive, Houston, TX Please see the attached flyer for more information To register, please visit www.gandhilibrary.org The walk will be followed by 1000 Lights For Peace, an international, multiethnic dance and music show. Please feel free to forward this e mail to your circulations lists. For additional inquiries, please contact Sesh Bala, Walk For Peace Coordinator at 832-725-3936 or write to him at seshbala@ hotmail.com. Alternately, please contact Namita Sutaria, Media Coordinator, at (281) 773-8009 or write to her at namitasutaria@ hotmail.com.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Third Biannual IACAN Gala 2016 .... Continued from Page 1 In the last 7 years of its young life, under 3 past presidents, IACAN organized informative education programs, survivor activities and Bone Marrow (BM) drives. She praised the volunteers who donate many hours to organize these activities. She noted that not only retirees but people with full time jobs volunteer. With the help of volunteers IACAN conducted 100 BM drives in the last 7 years. 4000 donors were registered and 45 have actually donated BM in the South Asian community. For its efforts in BM donor recruitment IACAN is recognized with 2016 leadership award by the national marrow donor program (NMDP). Kumari appealed to audience to come forward and volunteer their time.

She announced that IACAN was launching the spirituality project in this gala. Spiritual books will be given to the hospitals and plans are being made so patients in hospitals can be visited by persons who have spiritual knowledge. Kumari said IACAN is about people helping people. She stated IACAN’s vision is “every Indian American reduces cancer risk by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and no Indian American travels the cancer journey alone”. Dr. Padmini Nathan’s speech captured the essence of the evening. She emphasized the fact that about 50% of cancers are preventable. This fact was also echoed in his keynote speech by Dr. Buchholtz, Executive Vice President and Physicianin-Chief of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Unfortunately, more and younger men and women are being diagnosed with diseases such as prostate & breast cancer. Statistics shows that today in America 1 out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women are diagnosed with cancer, and 1 out 4 people lose their lives to cancer. This is where IACAN can play an essential role in our community. While we continue our work in supporting cancer survivors and their families going through the ordeals of this disease, we will strive to focus on cancer prevention and recur-

Mistress of Ceremonies, Dr. Ratna Kumar.

Dr. Sen Pathak being honored with ‘Lifetime Service Award’ by IACAN presidents (past and present and distinguished guests. Photos by Unique Images Studio.

Guest Speaker Archarya, Gaurangbai of Chinmaya Mission

Board Members of IACAN rence. IACAN provides education, creates awareness about diet, life style changes, and ways to stay away from harmful chemicals in our daily environment. IACAN thus becomes a key role player in our lives. Archarya, Gaurangbai of Chinmaya Mission presented a thought provoking speech on life and spiritualty. Like the waves of the ocean, ups and downs are integral part of life. Spirituality can be a beacon of light that will enable us to navigate through the hard times of life.

The next event in the program was a remarkable example of IACAN’s achievements. In the recent past, IACAN in collaboration with Gulf Coast blood center and the “Be the Match” program, has been busy registering healthy donors for the Bone Marrow transplant program. Gaytri Kappor is liaison for this and she nominated IACAN for the leadership award of the NMDP. At this year’s gala event, IACAN honored six bone marrow donors with plaques and highlighted the success of the BM program by recognizing one young recipi-

ent. IACAN hopes to continue to help in this worthy cause. IACAN also honored D. Paremvaswaren and Dr. Sen Pathak with life time service award for their leadership roles and active participations. MD Anderson’s reverend Dr. Findly’s laughter yoga was the icing on the cake. He transformed the evening into a fun filled interactive delight. The audience enjoyed it thoroughly. The enthusiastic, young volunteers had a very successful and fun fund-raiser called “baloon pop” and it was one of the

Event Chair Dr. Padmini Nathan addressing the guests. highlights of the event. Accolades to Dr. Rathna Kumar for serving as the Master of ceremony and also for having her students perform a wonderful dance number. The audience enjoyed the dance program. Dr. Buchholz, the key note speaker addressed the audience and gave a comprehensive account of cancer as the disease and the role that MD Anderson plays in treating this dreaded disease.

Mr. Suresh Agrawal delivered a heartfelt and wonderful vote of thanks. Thank you Arlene for paying tribute to Mr. Sarma Susarla, the recipient of Exceptional Public Service Medal. Thank you Arlene for paying respect to Mrs. Meena Agrawal, our former IACAN board member. IACAN as always appreciates all the volunteers. With their help everything is possible.

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 11

Indian ministers approve Rafale fighter jet deal

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

At least 13 dead after Bangladesh ferry capsizes

by Bhuvan BAGGA

EW DELHI, India | AFP | 9/21/2016 An Indian cabinet committee gave its approval Wednesday to a long-delayed deal to buy 36 fighter jets from France’s Dassault, as the country looks to bolster its military in the face of China’s growing clout. A senior Indian defence ministry official said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet committee on security had given its green light to the multi-billion dollar Rafale jet purchase at a meeting in New Delhi and the defence ministers of both France and India would ink the agreement on Friday. “The deal was approved at the meeting in the evening,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “It will now be formally signed by Indian and French defence ministers on September 23 in New Delhi.”

The Dassault Rafale fighter jet performs a flying display at the International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget on June 19, 2015 (AFP Photo/Miguel Medina). deal in India, known as the offset clause. Hollande again pushed the deal on a visit to India in January, when he was Modi’s guest for the Republic Day celebrations, but officials privately acknowledged that price had become a sticking point.

The official said that other details including the exact amount and formalities “will become clear after the signing event”.

In an interview ahead of that trip Hollande said that India needed new planes and “France has shown that it has the world’s best aircraft”.

While stopping short of confirming the deal, the French presidency also said that Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian would head to the Indian capital on Friday.

The increasing assertiveness of its giant neighbour China as well as its simmering rivalry with Pakistan have increased India’s need to upgrade its military.

In a brief statement, the presidency said that Le Drian’s visit had been “agreed in principle with Prime Minister Modi” when he met French President Francois Hollande at the G20 summit in China earlier this month.

Manmohan Bahadur, a retired air vice marshal, said the Rafale would give India’s airforce a cutting edge that its rivals lacked.

There was no immediate comment from Dassault but a report by the Press Trust of India put the purchase price at around 7.9 billion euros (8.8 billion dollars). The Rafale purchase was first mooted in 2012 but has faced major delays and obstacles over the last four years. India entered exclusive negotiations on buying 126 Rafale jets four years ago, but the number of planes was scaled back in tortuous negotiations over the cost and assembly of the planes in India. Modi announced on a visit to Paris last year that his government had agreed in principle to buy the jets as India looks to modernise its Soviet-era military. But the deal continued to be held back by disagreements such as Delhi’s insistence that arms makers invest a percentage of the value of any major

- Cutting-edge technology -

“It is a deal that should have happened much earlier. The Rafale beats any other fighter jet in the region,” Bahadur told AFP. “Besides having absolutely cutting edge technology, it comes with beyond visual range missiles, which are also better than what both China and Pakistan possess. Its endurance, striking range and power stand out.” Gulshan Luthra, from the New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said the planes would deliver an important boost to India’s air force. “The fundamental thing is the air force does not have new aircraft, the old ones need to be replaced and Rafale is a spearhead,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have been very late on this deal. But this has been chosen and it’s a very good aircraft.” The highly versatile Rafale is

currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq as part of international campaign against the self-styled Islamic State jihadist group. It has also been deployed in the past for air strikes in Libya and Afghanistan. The deal, if confirmed, is a major vote of confidence in the Rafale which had long struggled to find buyers in overseas, despite heavy lobbying efforts by the Hollande administration. It is the biggest order for the Rafale after Egypt agreed to buy 24 of the jets in 2015 and Qatar purchased the same amount later that year.

Bodies of victims being carried by locals. AFP Photo. HAKA, Bangladesh | AFP 9/21/2016 - At least 13 people died when an overcrowded ferry capsized and sank in southern Bangladesh Wednesday and around a dozen more remain missing in the country’s latest river accident.

Some passengers managed to swim to shore when the ferry sank shortly after setting off from the Barisal district carrying an estimated 70 to 80 people.

“So far we have recovered 13 bodies including three women and a child. Around a dozen people are still missing,” said Barisal police chief Mohammad Akhteruzzaman. He said divers had located the sunken vessel which will be dragged to shore. “Another salvage vessel is coming to the scene to help the rescue effort,” he added. Hundreds of people die every year while travelling on

Bangladesh’s ferries due to overcrowding or poor maintenance. An accident in February last year left 69 people dead in central Bangladesh, just a fortnight after five others were killed when an overloaded ferry sank. The initial figures for those missing in Bangladeshi boat disasters are often revised downwards as details emerge of passengers who manage to swim to shore.

Indian court to rule on 2008 British schoolgirl’s death by Peter HUTCHISON

UMBAI, India | AFP | Wednesday 9/20/2016 - An Indian judge will finally deliver a verdict Friday on two men over the rape and death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in Goa in 2008, after years of delays and controversy. Fifteen-year-old Keeling’s bruised and half-naked body was found on popular Anjuna beach in the north of the Indian resort state eight years ago. Her death made headlines worldwide, drawing attention to the dark side of a tourist destination that has long been a hangout for Western hippies and later highlighting India’s sluggish justice system. Police initially dismissed the teenager’s death as an accident but opened a murder probe after Keeling’s mother, Fiona

MacKeown, pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped. MacKeown also accused local authorities of trying to cover up the death to protect drug gangs operating in Goa, a former Portuguese colony. Several weeks after the attack, local men Samson D’Souza and Placido Carvalho were arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, using force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty and of administering drugs with intent to harm. The move angered the victim’s family who had wanted the defendants tried for rape and murder, but officers from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said they lacked sufficient evidence to indict them on stronger charges.

Police allege D’Souza and Carvalho plied Keeling with a cocktail of drink and illegal drugs, including cocaine, before sexually assaulting her and leaving her to die by dumping her unconscious in shallow water where she drowned. The trial began at a children’s court in Goa’s state capital Panaji in 2010 but has been plagued by numerous delays, including infrequent hearings due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings. - Key witness refused to testify -Final arguments were heard at the end of last month with the prosecutor arguing that dozens of bruises on Keeling’s body were evidence of a struggle. Defence lawyers however said the teenager died an accidental death.

Vikram Varma, a lawyer acting for MacKeown, told AFP the prosecution’s case was dealt a blow when a key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, refused to testify, but he is hopeful that some justice can finally be achieved. “It was important for the judge to hear Mannion’s testimony to convict. So that was a setback,” said Goa-based Varma. “(But) I’m keeping my fingers crossed that after all this struggle we may get a verdict of guilty,” he added. MacKeown told a British tabloid last month that she feared the men would walk free. “We were close to putting it to bed once and for all but my heart has been broken again because Mannion cannot testify,” she told The Sun newspaper.

US/WORLD

VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

US probes chemical shell attack Migrant Boat Capsizes Off on American troops in Iraq Egypt, Killing at Least 42 Islamic State militants may have fired a chemical rocket

AGDAD, Iraq - A rocket that landed within several hundred yards of US troops at Qayara air base near Mosul may have contained mustard agent, it said. No one was hurt in the attack on the base, which is home to several hundred US soldiers.

The army gave the toll in a statement, saying it had “thwarted an illegal immigration attempt” and that the boat had been 12 nautical miles off the coast when it sank.

If confirmed, it would be the first chemical weapons attack on coalition forces in Iraq.

Mosul is the main IS stronghold in Iraq (File photo)

Troops stationed at the base are equipped to deal with chemical attacks.

likely,” a Pentagon official told Fox News.

“Unless you are right next to [the shell], exposure is un-

Two field tests were conducted after the troops saw

what they thought was a suspect “oily” substance. The first test came back positive but the second was negative, CNN reports. (BBC Online)

Pakistan PM tells UN India obstacle to peace United Nations, United States | AFP | 9/21/2016 - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lashed out at India over escalating tensions in Kashmir, telling the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that New Delhi was an obstacle to peace.

“The international community ignores the danger of rising tensions in South Asia, at its own peril,” Sharif warned the General Assembly. “Pakistan wants peace with India. I have gone the extra mile to achieve this,” he told the gathering in New York. “But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in

In the city of Rosetta, Egyptian families gathered near the harbor urging authorities to do more in their search and rescue effort for their loved ones who were among the lost. “We have been telling the authorities from 5:30 a.m., that the boat is sinking, and they were saying they had no rescue boats, and no one was moving,” said Hassan Suleiman Daoud, a relative of one of the migrants. Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the total number of dead was still unknown. Local official Alaa Osman from Beheira province said the migrants were from several African countries. He said over 150 people have been rescued so far but that bodies are still being pulled from the water.

Gun battles raged Tuesday on the disputed Kashmir border between the nuclear-armed neighbors, two days after 18 Indian soldiers were killed in an attack blamed on Pakistanbased militants. The Sunday assault was the worst of its kind to hit the divided Himalayan region in more than a decade.

AIRO, SEPT. 21, 2016 (AP) - A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing at least 42 people, Egyptian authorities said.

© AFP | Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif addresses the United Nations General Assembly General Debate September 21, 2016 at the United Nations in New York. a dialogue. “Let us be clear: talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences,” the Pakistani premier said. “We are open to discussing all measures of restraint and re-

sponsibility with India, in any forum or format and without any conditions,” Sharif said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to punish those responsible for Sunday’s attack in Kashmir and has faced calls from some within India for military action against Pakistan.

Egypt’s official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank near the coast, some 180 kilometers (112 miles) north of the capital, Cairo. Osman said the boat had likely come from Kafr el-Sheik province, further to the east. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage across the Mediterranean in recent years fleeing war and poverty, mostly via lawless Libya. Thousands have drowned. The number of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean

People gather along the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosett during a search operation after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean (AFP Photo/STRINGER). Sea from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly in the past year, EU border agency Frontex said earlier this month. More than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year, it said. Experts say smugglers in Egypt mostly use old fishing vessels, stuffed way beyond capacity both below and above deck. New and more dangerous smuggling practices and attempts to reach Europe by riskier routes have led to a spike in the number of migrants dying as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration said in a report last month. It said newer routes, particularly from Egypt, are longer and riskier, leading to search and rescue efforts often being carried out farther away from land. It said 2,901 people died or disappeared crossing the Mediterranean in the first six months of 2016, a 37 percent increase over the first six months of last year. Last May, hundreds of migrants died after a wooden boat coming from Libya capsized, even as the Italian navy rushed

to the rescue. European rescue boats, including naval vessels, often patrol off the Libyan coast to prevent such disasters. The migrant crisis has proven deeply divisive in Europe, which has struggled to come up with a unified response. Rightwing nationalist parties opposed to taking in more migrants and refugees have made gains, including in Germany, which has accepted more migrants than any other European country. Migrants rescued by the Italian navy near Europe’s southern borders are brought to processing centers and offered accommodation while they apply for asylum. But many of the thousands registered each month travel further onwards toward Europe’s richer north, in hopes of settling there. More than 60,000 migrants and refugees are stranded in transit in Greece — just across the Mediterranean from Egypt — and those who arrived after March 20 have been restricted to five Aegean islands under an EU-brokered deal to deport them back to Turkey. The agreement has been fraught with delays, however, and most of the people in island camps have applied for asylum in Greece, launching a lengthy process during which they cannot be deported.

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Vol. 29 No. 39

Lifestyle VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 13

Section 2

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But a new more theatrical, baroque look of curiosity cabinets and sumptuous velvets is set to sweep through our homes if the trends at the big Maison et Objet show (Paris Design Week) in the French capital is anything to go by.

velvety taffeta, copper and brass, the look is not all that far from the 19th-century Second Empire style that sprung up from the decadent court of Napoleon III and his bigspending wife empress Eugenie. Continued on page 16

Yet India’s Suket Dhir — hailed by Vogue as a potential “global fashion superstar in the making” — is uneasy about the sudden attention that has come with winning the International Woolmark Prize for menswear this year.

Dhir is now in a race against time to deliver his award-winning collection to prominent department stores in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney from next month — as well as around $75,000 in prizemoney to build up his business, he also gets to provide a capsule collection for key retailers worldwide.

“So indoors we want to break free, we want sensuality, theatricality and opulence, even surrealism,” added Gregoire, who helped put together this year’s show.

The 37-year-old faces challenges unique to India in preparing the collection of contemporary Western menswear with an Indian twist.

Objects displayed at the Maisons et Objets and More With its lux- (House and Objects and More) “MOM” fair in Villepinte, uriant thick north of Paris, during the Paris Design week (AFP Photo by shag-pile car- Anne-Laure Mondesert) pets, marble,

More companies offer rewards for healthy lifestyle changes

: My employer has started offering employees financial rewards for weight loss. I’m skeptical. Does this kind of financial incentive really work? Offering financial incentives to employees for making healthy lifestyle changes is increasingly common. These days, nearly 80 percent of large employers do it. There are many ways to offer incentives, and doctors and economists are still learning what works best. Some experiments have been successful. For example, employees at two large companies were randomly selected to receive up to $800 to quit smoking. They were three times more likely to quit than employees encouraged to quit but not given money for doing so. Other experiments have not worked as well. Employees in another company were selected at random to receive a bonus of $550 to lose weight. They were no more successful than employees not offered a bonus. The timing of when the bonus is given appears to affect behavioral change. People who receive payments separately (not lumped in with their paycheck) and repeatedly (every month, rather than at the end of the trial period) are more responsive to incentives. How the incentive is provided may also affect a person’s response. For example, over three months, employees in one company were given a positive incentive to walk: $2 every day they walked 7,000 steps. Others were given a negative incen-

AUTHORIZED PARTNER

EW DEHL (AFP) - He shot onto the world stage after winning a glittering international fashion prize previously given to design icons Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld.

“I never thought of myself as a top designer, more of a glorified tailor,” Dhir told AFP at his small, busy design studio in the backblocks of New Delhi.

”We live in anxious times. Step out of our doors and we are confronted with fear, insecurity and pollution,” design guru Vincent Gregoire told AFP.

by Dr. Anthony Komaroff (Associated Press)

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India's prize-winning designer steadies for world stage

Home design craves comforting fantasy in troubled times ARIS, France - The clean lines of Scandinavian style dominate home interiors.

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Dhir uses traditional weavers located close to the villages that they come from, along with dyers and block printers from all over the vast country to make his clothes. But the artisans are not used to working with the wool that is required for the collection and which can change shape in India’s blistering heat and humid monsoons.

The 37-year-old faces challenges unique to India (PHOTO: AFP) his jackets are block-printed with small motifs such as umbrellas, and the buttons on his shirts are sewn on with different types of thread. Dhir said his clothes, some of which are mixed with silk and use the traditional ikat technique — hand-tied and dyed yarn — to pattern textiles, are meant to be worn every day. “When I think of my grandfather, I think of these beautiful jackets and blazers that you could pass on from one generation to the next,” the father-of-one said. “I can’t do anything blingy,” he added. Indian menswear often involves

tive for not walking. They received a “bank account’’ that contained all the money they might earn if they walked 7,000 steps each day. They then had $2 taken away every day they did not walk 7,000 steps. Both types of incentive worked better than no incentive at all. But the negative incentive — losing money you could have won — was a more powerful stimulus to regular walking. There is some evidence that incentives work better when offered to groups of people, rather than on an individual basis. These programs usually involve financial incentives that are tied to the group’s success. When an individual fails to meet his or her personal goal, it reduces the bonus that all other members of the group will receive. If you fail to meet your personal goal, the others in the group suffer a financial hit — and they will know that you are the reason for it. It’s a powerful incentive not to miss your personal goal. Even if it turns out that financial incentives do generally help people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, it remains to be seen how lasting this change in behavior will be. And it also remains unclear whether the savings to employers from reduced medical expenses due to healthier lifestyles will be greater than the money spent on the incentives themselves But as far as I’m concerned, it’s worth a look. Our lives are filled with incentives and disincentives designed to encourage actions that benefit us and the people around us. From traffic lights to auto insurance premiums that drop if we avoid accidents or traffic tickets, our society tries to channel our behavior. I see nothing wrong with it — if it works.

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‘look at me, I’m so great’ and that’s refreshing in Indian fashion,” said Vasudev. She said the coming months would be critical for Dhir — and will determine whether he can become one of only a small number of Indians sought after in international stores. “More than a handful are stocked but only a handful have been noticed and get consistent business,” she said of Indian designers. “It’s a very significant prize because the door has been knocked down for you. (But) You need to be able to manage your quality, your numbers, your deliveries,” Vasudev added. She pointed to the international success of Indian designer Rahul Mishra, who won the same prize for womenswear in 2014, as an example of what was possible. On the road to becoming a recognised designer, Dhir worked in a call centre and sold mobile phones and also spent several unsuccessful years in college, infuriating his family. “I was clueless about what to do with my life,” he said. He then enrolled at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi before starting his own label in 2010.

Fall men’s collection by Suket Dhir showcased by runway models. (Vogue.com)

“This was my first experience weaving with such difficult fabric on such a tight deadline. These designs were one-off pieces and (now) I’m reproducing this collection for five or six stores,” he said. “We’ve successfully managed to do that (although) we are a little behind schedule.” The judges of the prize, awarded in January, noted Dhir’s attention to detail in his collection of tailored jackets, shirts and loose pants which were inspired by his childhood spent with his grandfather in Punjab state. The linings of

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garish outfits such as heavily embroidered jackets and bright silk kurtas or long shirts. Leading fashion journalist and author Shefalee Vasudev hailed Dhir as one of an increasing number of Indian designers making subtle, contemporary clothes. “His fashion is meaningful. It’s not screaming for attention. It’s not saying

Dhir said the first few years were rocky financially, largely because he refused to design outfits to cater for India’s lavish annual wedding season, which many designers rely upon for income. “I don’t do wedding gear and that’s where the money is. But this acknowledgement, this recognition (of winning the award) has happened because I have stuck to my aesthetic,” said Dhir, the first Indian to win the award for menswear. “We are breaking even at the moment which is really good. I wish I had a swankier office and a swankier car but we’ll get there”.

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Virtual love on display at Japan’s granny ‘Dreamgirls’ annual Tokyo Game Show bitten by cheerleading bug

HIBA, Japan - Strutting her stuff in a gold-hemmed miniskirt, white leather boots and shaking silver pom-poms, octogenarian Fumie Takino has discovered her elixir of youth -- cheerleading.

by Hiroshi HIYAMA

HINA, Japan | AFP | - Game geeks with a heart for digital romance have something to celebrate as sensual, soft-spoken cyber women are blurring the line between reality and fantasy at the Tokyo Game Show. Virtual reality took centre stage at the annual exhibition Thursday, with Sony Interactive Entertainment showcasing PlayStationVR (PSVR), a much-anticipated headmounted display debuting next month. Dozens of software titles for the device are in the pipeline, allowing players to fly like an eagle, drive sports cars in high-speed races, and explore castles. Gamers can also indulge in fantasy by flirting with virtual females thanks to increasingly realistic VR technology. Among such offerings is “Summer Lesson”, which puts the user in the company of a soft-spoken, yet chatty, beauty. “One thing that we cared the most about for ‘Summer Lesson’ was to create a sense that a character is truly there,” said Jun Tamaoki, a developer behind the software by Japanese toy and game giant Bandai Namco, told AFP. However, Tamaoki shrugged off concerns that such an experience could discourage players from going out to meet real women. “I think this could improve the communications skills” of even the shiest game players, Tamaoki said. “Summer Lesson” is playable on the PSVR but does not feature male characters to interact with.

Takino and her troupe of spirited grannies tweak the nose of old age, even if their rambunctious routine to the song “Dreamgirls” leaves them painfully out of breath and their pink tank tops dripping with sweat. Attendants hold smartphones to introduce games at the Tokyo Game Show 2016 in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo, on September 15, 2016 (AFP Photo/Toru Yamanaka).

The PSVR hits store shelves on October 13 in key markets including North America and Japan, just in time for the Christmas shopping season. Tokyo-based entertainment and electronics conglomerate Sony’s latest offering will carry a price tag of $399, significantly cheaper than rival gadgets of similar quality. - No Nintendo -One of the world’s largest international video game exhibitions, the Tokyo Game Show has drawn more than 600 exhibitors offering over 1,500 game titles, ranging from global brands to indie game publishers, for a four-day run through Sunday. The event, celebrating its 20th year, is designed mostly for Japanese game developers and players. Organisers expect some 230,000 fans, including “cosplay” enthusiasts sashaying through beaming displays of combat games and fantasy world characters. Virtual music concerts featuring digital characters, most notably Japanese cyber diva Hatsune Miku, were also among the highlights at the show, thanks to improving in-

teractive capability and digital imaging. But the impact of the trade show is diluted by the absence of stalwarts Nintendo -- which has ridden the wave of mobile gaming phenomenon Pokemon Go -- and Microsoft. Nintendo has stayed away from the event because it charges fees for fans to come. Microsoft, whose XBox series of consoles has struggled to make a significant splash in Japan, has only participated in selected years. Officials at Kyoto-based Nintendo say it has technological research programmes for virtual reality, but they have also voiced concerns about the technology’s effects, including impact on health from long hours of playing. Participants at the game show seemed unfazed, saying they were sold on the technology after trying out some titles. “Unlike normal games, I strongly felt being more inside the display,” said Hiroyuki Morikawa, assistant professor of integrated information technology at Aoyama Gakuin University.

California governor under fire over ‘tampon tax’

OS ANGELES - California Governor Jerry Brown has come under fire for refusing to support legislation that would have scrapped sales taxes on tampons and diapers. Citing concerns about cost, Brown on Tuesday rejected a bill to repeal the so-called “tampon tax,” drawing criticism from state lawmakers who had pushed for the measure. “Today’s lesson: my uterus should carry the burden of fiscal responsibility for the state. Thank goodness GovBrown is

around to #mansplain it,” tweeted assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, who authored the bill. The California measure was part of a growing international campaign to do away with taxes on sanitary products for women on grounds they are necessities and should be treated the same way as other essential items such as food and water. Similar bills were approved earlier this year in New York and Illinois. The California measure had unanimously been approved last

month by lawmakers but Brown vetoed it along with several other bills saying the state could not afford the estimated $300 million in lost revenue. “Each of these bills creates a new tax break or expands an existing tax break,” Brown said in rejecting the bills. “As I said last year, tax breaks are the same as new spending,” he added. Lawmakers rejected his argument, with some suggesting that a wiser approach would be to tax candy, soda and snacks.

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Takino, 84, has spearheaded the group of more than 20 bubbly seniors for some two decades, founding the “Japan Pom-Pom” squad after being bitten by the cheerleading bug -- despite it traditionally being the preserve of teenage girls -- in her sixties. “You have to be 55 or older,” Takino told AFP, referring to the qualification for joining her team, the average age of which is 70. “Once you hit the age of 70, you have to admit it’s downhill,” she said with a smile, before adding: “We’ve come a long way in 20 years!” Japan is renowned for its spritely pensioners: women live for an average of 87 years and men to 80. But the average “healthy” lifespan is 10 years less for both sexes, meaning many suffer physical and mental ailments in the final decade of life. Takino, however, insists that her glamorous hobby has helped mitigate the effects of ageing -- making her feel mentally and physically more agile. She took up the activity when her relationship with her husband began to falter. She explained: “My marriage was not going well. I put up with it until my children

The “Japan Pom Pom” troupe of bubbly seniors in action during the national cheerleading championship of the United Spirit Association (USA) in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo (AFP Photo/Toru Yamanaka) got married.” Takino added that she would not have had the confidence to pick up the pom-poms in her youth, explaining that she became emboldened by changes she made in middle age. - Sense of freedom The first came at the age of 53 -- when she packed up and flew to Texas to study. It was against the wishes of her ageing mother, but she says her children supported her decision. After completing a master’s degree in gerontology at the University of North Texas and a work placement in New York, she returned home with a new-found sense of freedom. But it was actually in Japan that she encountered the quintessentially American activity of cheerleading with its eye-popping array of moves, from human towers, somersaults and back flips. It took off in Japan around 30 years ago, though remains rare outside school and university environments. “It blew my mind,” said

Takino, who immediately rounded up five friends to start her own troupe after first hearing about cheerleading. Two decades later, the grannies gather each week for intense training -- and while they don’t overdo the acrobatics, they take practice seriously, even analysing videos of themselves to improve. Earlier this year, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary by performing as guests at Japan’s annual United Spirit Association (USA) Nationals competition, where mostly high school and university teams compete. Given their age, some members have to drop out for health issues or to care for ageing spouses, but new recruits are easy to find. Shinko Kusajima, in her late sixties, says forging new personal bonds is a huge attraction. “When you get old, you keep losing friends,” she said at a practice where she hoped to become a new member. “But you always have mates here to share a good time.”

Belgium gets world’s biggest pickled brain collection by Marine Laouchez

russels, Belgium | AFP | 9/14/2016 - A new collection in the psychiatric hospital of Duffel in the north of Belgium makes for a ghoulish sight: around 3,000 preserved brains that were originally saved by a British doctor. The collection of frontal lobes, hippocampi and other key parts of the brain floating in formaldehyde or fixed in paraffin will be used for research into psychiatric illnesses such as depression or schizophrenia. British neuropathologist John Corsellis collected and conserved the brains over a period of more than 40 years between 1951 and the middle of the nineties but authorities in London ran out of space. Now they have come to Duffel, where Manuel Morrens, the director of research at the hospital, and his colleagues will share the collection with the faculty of medicine at the University of Antwerp. “It’s the largest brain collection available, to our knowledge,” he smiles. “Nowadays in Belgium, it’s really hard, if not almost impossible, to get your hands on actual tissue of patients after they have deceased,” says Morrens, due to the stricter ethical guidelines around collecting brain tissue. “Normally we study how the brain works by looking at blood samples, but now we are able to look at it directly.” One of the main advantages of conducting research on brains from this era is that they are untouched by certain medications that didn’t exist at the time. “Contemporary

research

The collection of brains was started in 1951 by a British doctor, and was almost lost because of lack of storage in London (AFP Photo/) is hampered by the fact that brains were removed from patients who have received treatment. We’re investigating illness in its purest form,” enthuses Morrens. Until recently the Corsellis collection was kept in bell jars and Tupperware tubs in a musty psychiatric hospital in southeastern England, a collection taken from the mentally ill, epileptics, people with Alzheimer’s and even boxers. But British authorities ran out of storage space and offered them to medical institutions around the world. - Brains in bell jars -The original Corsellis collection numbered around 8,500 but the Belgian doctors have mainly taken those that relate to depression and schizophrenia. Each pickled brain comes with its own medical file kept up until the death of the patient. The brains could help uncover new discoveries in biological psychiatry science, a field that specialises in understanding mental problems in terms of the biological function of the nervous system, says researcher Violette Coppens.

“Psychiatry is a field that is new in terms of scientific investigation,” she said, that has only been well known since the 1980s. But as the body’s the most well-protected organ and therefore most difficult to get to, the brain is the hardest to study -- making the Corsellis collection all the more important. Coppens and her colleagues will cut samples from the brains and then study them under a microscope to look for inflammation. On Coppens’ screen a cut from a brain has been partly dyed red in order to see its cells more easily. Research conducted on living patients is limited by technology, explains Morrens. MRI scans cannot identify, for example, what kind of proteins or enzymes are activated by illness. “Can an inflammation of the brain cause, worsen or influence in some way the disease course of several psychiatric disorders?” muses Coppens as she examines the purple rivulets in her sample highlighted by the dye. It’s the question the team will be trying to answer after studying and comparing thousands of different brains.

VOICE OF ASIA 15

HEALTH, SC & TECH

Self-driving cars coming sooner than you think: Lyft

ASHINGTON, | AFP | - The move to self-driving cars is coming faster than most people think, says the head of ridesharing giant Lyft.

Lyft, which has a partnership with General Motors on autonomous vehicles, says he sees a “transportation revolution” stemming from a shift to selfdriving cars, and that by 2025 “private car ownership will all but end in major US cities.”

ARIS, France | AFP Soaring rates of population growth and ageing have long been seen as portending a global explosion of Alzheimer's, the debilitating disease that robs older people of their memory and independence. But an unexpected, and hopeful, trend may be emerging.

Lyft rival Uber launched a driverless car service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last week. parked the rest of the time.

“As a country, we’ve long celebrated cars as symbols of freedom and identity,” Zimmer said in a Medium blog post Sunday.

“It will be both more practical and appealing to access autonomous vehicles when they are part of Lyft’s networked fleet,” he writes.

“But for many people -- especially millennials -- this doesn’t ring true. We see car ownership as a burden that is costing the average American $9,000 every year.”

Zimmer’s comments come days after Lyft rival Uber launched a driverless car service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and with major automakers and technology firms racing to be part of the movement.

Zimmer argues that autonomous vehicles will work better as part of a fleet like Lyft’s because the average car is used just four percent of the time and

The shift is a huge benefit for the environment, according to Zimmer.

“Every year, more and more people are concluding that it is simpler and more affordable to live without a car,” he said. “And when networked autonomous vehicles come onto the scene, below the cost of car ownership, most city-dwellers will stop using a personal car altogether.” As a result, he commented, “cities’ physical environment will change more than we’ve ever experienced in our lifetimes... we’ll have the chance to redesign our entire urban fabric. Cities of the future must be built around people, not vehicles.”

Don’t be hard-headed about concussion recovery

OUSTON -- (Sept. 7, 2016) -- Just like the body needs time to rest and heal from an injury, the same is true for the brain. In fact, pushing the brain too quickly after a concussion can potentially delay healing, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine. “Just as we have concussion guidelines for sports, where you slowly increase activity and pull back if you have any problems, the same approach should be taken for schoolwork or any other type of learning activity,” said Dr. Craig DiTommaso, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor. For students returning to school after a concussion, it is important to allow them to do their schoolwork at an appropriate level and increase slowly back to their previous level without overstressing the brain, according to DiTommaso. “It’s still under investigation, but it looks like pushing the brain too fast and too hard after

Alzheimer’s stemmed but not stopped, say experts by Mariëtte Le Roux

Within five years, autonomous vehicles will account for the majority of Lyft rides, says co-founder and chief executive John Zimmer.

a concussion can actually delay the healing,” he said. DiTommaso suggests giving the brain time to rest and heal after a concussion, but also trying to resume normal activities as much as possible. Once normal activities are tolerable, then resume a manageable amount of schoolwork and athletic activity. Each concussion is different, and every brain and brain injury is different, so symptoms may vary for each person. In general, signs such as headaches, problems with concentration and dizziness can indicate that the patient is trying to recover too quickly and should consider talking to a physician with expertise in brain injuries. “Any headache or dizziness that is different than before a concussion or brain injury is something that needs to be looked in to,” said DiTommaso. He suggested that parents and teachers should be aware that a student may need to have some allowances after suffering from

a concussion – they may need to rest at times. In fact, many states, including Texas, require by law that a student recovering from a concussion have an individualized education program in which the school has to make accommodations as the student transitions back to school. This helps students gradually work back up to their previous level of scholastic function. Depending on the symptoms, physicians can help with various aspects of a gradual recovery, including: • Setting guidelines on school and athletic activity • Addressing concentration issues if limiting schoolwork • Balance training if dizziness limits progress Prescribing specific headache medications or other interventions to decrease the frequency or intensity of headaches DiTommaso noted that this also applies to adults who suffer from concussions and a graduated return to work program is just as important for them.

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

In rich countries at least, recent data suggests the rate of new cases has slowed or even reversed -- a tantalising hint that quality-of-life improvements may protect against dementia. "These findings are promising, and suggest that identifying and reducing risk factors for Alzheimer's and other dementias may be effective," Keith Fargo, scientific director at the American Alzheimer's Association, told AFP. Overall numbers will keep growing for now -- albeit at a slower rate -- as more and more people live ever longer, he noted. "We have stemmed the flow, but we haven't stopped it," added David Reynolds of Alzheimer's Research UK. According to the World Health Organization, dementia affects some 47.5 million people worldwide -- with 7.7 million new cases every year. Alzheimer's is the most common cause, responsible for 6070 percent of dementia cases. The disease, which claimed actor Gene Wilder last month, typically progresses from forgetfulness and absent-mindedness to major memory loss and near total dependence as suf-

ferers become unaware of time and place. Towards the end, those afflicted can forget how to eat. Alzheimer's was first identified more than 100 years ago, but there is still no effective treatment or cure, and scientists disagree on its causes. A main culprit is thought to be the buildup of protein plaques on the brain, though one can have Alzheimer's without it. Some recent studies have linked the condition to air pollution, fungus or even accidental transmission during a medical procedure.

health stemming from a growing awareness of the dangers of smoking, obesity and a lack of exercise. Better high blood pressure and cholesterol drugs may also play a role. Several studies have linked brain stimulation to lower dementia risk -- whether in the form of high-level schooling, a cerebrally-challenging job, or simply filling out a crossword or Sudoku. "It's the old adage of use it or lose it," Reynolds said. Further research is needed to prove that these factors act as dementia shields.

- Use it or lose it -New studies pointing to an Alzheimer's slowdown in rich countries, especially among men, imply that a healthy lifestyle -- and plenty of brain exercise -- may slow or stave off dementia.

In the meantime, public health policy should encourage "better environments and healthier societies", said Carol Brayne of the Cambridge Institute of Public Health.

Such trends have been observed in the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain.

This is no time for complacency, she and other experts said ahead of World Alzheimer's Day.

Britain had the biggest reversal -- Alzheimer's incidence there dropped 20 percent in as many years.

In developing countries, incidence rates may be underestimated and are likely to rise as medical care improves and more people make it to their 80s.

A study in the journal Nature Communications in April reported 209,000 new cases in Britain in 2015 -- far fewer than the 251,000 forecast in 1991 based on population growth and ageing trends. This meant the likelihood for British over-65s of developing dementia was "lower than it was for the previous generation", the authors concluded. The reasons are not clear. Some researchers point to improved cardiovascular

"There are other things that have changed that may push it (the trend) in the wrong direction," said Reynolds. "Diabetes and obesity have been rising rapidly over the last 20 years," he added. "So it is possible that whilst we are in many ways healthier, for other reasons we have made ourselves less healthy... and that may then either reduce the decline or even push up the rates of dementia."

Drug-resistant infections could spark financial crisis: study

ASHINGTON | AFP | 9/19/2016 The spread of superbugs that are resistant to all known drug treatments could spark a global financial crisis on the level of the 2008 meltdown or worse, a World Bankled study warned on Monday. Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise, and in the future, many infectious diseases will once again be untreatable, forcing more people into poverty and costing nations dearly. One recent review of the scope of the problem pegged the total cost at $100 trillion globally by 2050. The planet’s poorest people and countries can expect to be hit hardest, said the latest report by the World Bank Group, which looked ahead to the years 2017-2050. The damage could be equal to or even worse than the 2008 financial crisis, it said. “We now know that -- unless addressed swiftly and seriously and on a sustained basis -— the growing global problem of antibiotic resistance will be disastrous for human and animal health, food production and global economies,” said Margaret Chan, Director-General

of the World Health Organization (WHO).

percent by 2050, according to the projections.

“The fact that, left unchecked, it would penalize the poor more than anyone, makes clear why this needs to be addressed as a critical issue for development.

“Global increases in healthcare costs may range from $300 billion to more than $1 trillion per year by 2050,” it added.

The report, called “Drug Resistant Infections: A Threat to Our Economic Future,” looks at what will happen when antibiotics and other antimicrobial dugs no longer treat infections the way they are supposed to. The spread of illness would push up to 28 million people -- most of them in developing countries -- into extreme poverty by 2050, it found. “Currently, the world is broadly on track to eliminate extreme poverty (at $1.90/day) by 2030, reaching close to the target of less than three percent of people living in extreme poverty,” said the report. “Antimicrobial resistance risks putting this target out of reach.” Furthermore, low-income countries could lose more than five percent of their GDP by 2050, it said. The world’s volume of exports could shrink by up to 3.8

The problem would also cut into livestock production, which would decline from 2.6 to 7.5 percent per year. There is no easy answer to the problem of antimicrobial resistance, and therefore the crisis would likely persist, and not end with a cyclical recovery as other financial crises have in the past. A day-long special session on the problem of antimicrobial resistance has been scheduled during the UN General Assembly in New York this week. “The scale and nature of this economic threat could wipe out hard-fought development gains and take us away from our goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group. “The cost of inaction is unaffordable -- especially for the poorest countries. We must urgently change course to avert this potential crisis.”

VOICE OF ASIA 16

Section 2

Young Life

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Youth to the fore as Milan fashion week opens 70’s vibe with Bohemian romanticism seemed to be the focus by Angus Mackinnon

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Practical Money Matters

What College Students Should Learn About Money by Nathaniel Sillin

ILAN, Italy (AFP) Milan fashion week kicked off on Wednesday with collections from Italian labels Grinko and Blugirl setting a youth-orientated tone for six days of catwalk creativity.

s you prepare for a new year at college, managing your money may be the last thing on your mind. But, college is the perfect time to instill strong and healthy financial habits, such as budgeting and living within your means.

Blugirl, the sexy younger sister of designer Anna Molinari’s main womenswear brand Blumarine, served up a typically irreverent, mixand-match collection on the opening morning. Bohemian romanticism was to the fore in the form of 70sstyle off-the-shoulder tops with puffball sleeves. But the look was hardened sometimes with biker boots and sharp fringes helping to create a ‘rock chick’ edge, while a military theme was balanced out by ultra-feminine, delicate touches including frilly neckties. Next up were newcomers Wunderkind, the youth-targeted branch of Germany’s Joop which is one of three Milan debutants among the 71 catwalk shows scheduled between now and Monday. Paris-based couture star Giambattista Valli has shown his own younger line, Giamba, in Milan before but Friday’s show will be the first time it has been included in the official programme. The other newcomers are Chinese label Ricostru, the latest up-and-coming talent to benefit from the patronage of Giorgio Armani. They will display their 2017 Spring/Summer collection on

A model presents a creation for fashion house Blugirl as part of the 2017 Women’s Spring / Summer collections shows at Milan Fashion Week. (Photo: AFP) Monday at the Teatro Armani, which has been entirely given over to young designers in a move that has been branded something of a gamble. Armani himself usually presents his main collection on the final day of Milan, thereby helping to delay the departure of hundreds of buyers and media for the next leg of the global fashion circuit, in Paris. This year however the veteran designer is showing his main line on Friday and his Emporio Armani collection in Paris, generating fears the whole circus will decamp to the French capital on Sunday evening, after Dolce and Gabbana’s afternoon show. Carlo Capasa, the head of Italy’s Chamber of Fashion, defended the decision. “I have a very high regard for young designers and I think it is right that we have a day just for them: the day of the future,” he told reporters.

Alessandro Michele’s latest offering for Gucci was set to be the highlight of an opening day on which Alberta Ferretti, Roberto Cavalli and Philipp Plein are also showing. The future of fashion’s system of twice-yearly menswear and womenswear shows is up in the air because of trends towards unisex collections and clothes being made available to buy immediately, rather than four months after the catwalk show. For Milan that could have significant consequences. “The indirect benefits to the city of the last fashion week in September were estimated at 48 million euros,” said deputy mayor Cristina Tajani, who said the industry could do more to help its host city. “We have done our bit by putting some of the city’s symbolic venues at the disposal of young designers for their shows,” she said, urging fashion houses to get involved

Does arguing about politics Home design Continued from page 13 turn young people off? The fact that there are so many amulets around also shows the need for more than just physical comforting in these troubled times. Nomades Authentic, which often works with shells and semi-precious stones, had begun putting Catholic holy medals in bell jars. But in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Nice -- close to where its creator Evelyne Viladrich is based -- she began adding crucifixes too. Young supporters cheer Hillary Clinton during a political rally in Lexington, Kentucky. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post) By Jessica T. Feezell

ven before this year’s contentious election cycle, political scientists have been wondering how citizens are affected by regular exposure to heated political disagreement. Does it energize us to get more involved — or make us cynical and disengaged? We were particularly interested in how exposure to and engaging with political disagreement affects young people, who could make up one of the largest generations in the 2016 electorate.

Some studies suggest that all of this disagreement should decrease political engagement. But our research shows that being exposed to and even getting involved in political disagreement do not affect young people that way. In some contexts, it actually gets them more active in politics. One particularly interesting finding is that young people who argue online with those they disagree with politically are 27 percent more politically active online. (Washington Post)

“These are spiritual objects,” she said. “We have need of them now.” For Gregoire the look is all about the “spirit of the Victorian curiosity cabinets. We had that a few years ago but it was a little scary, with skulls and that... Now we have funny animals which bring good luck, or bad, and which we can play with.” - Animal kingdom -The city dweller who longs for nature can also transform their home into a cozy hunting lodge. If the real thing seems a bit

in organising events that are accessible to the general public rather than just fashion insiders. Capasa said his organisation was already doing that. “We are putting a lot of emphasis on the special events that will take place in the city in parallel with the shows,” he said. One event that will be strictly invitation only will be Bottega Veneta’s show in Milan’s Academy of Fine Art. For the first time in its history, the couture house will show its menswear and womenswear collections together amid the artworks to celebrate its 50th anniversary and designer Tomas Maier’s 15 years as its artistic director. Gucci, whose look has taken a gender-bending turn under Michele, has already announced it will show its men and women’s collections together from September 2017, as has Antonio Marras. much, why not decorate your walls with fake stag and bulls’ heads made of wood you can mount yourself (from the Italian studio Miho Unexpected Things or the Dutch Studio Roof)? They come upholstered or in tartan and can be accessorised with glasses, or hats from the Spanish firm Softheads. Crockery is getting closer to nature too, with drawings of little wandering insects popping up on plates. And why not put a peacock in your sitting room? Dutch taxidermists Museumwinkel have everything from (farmed) butterflies starting at five euros euros ($5.60) to a lion (who died in a Belgian zoo) for 22,000. “People want to get closer to nature and these pieces are unique,” said spokeswoman Nicolette Naphausen. “We are giving animals a second life.” Set up six years ago by an accountant, Museumwinkel now employs four full-time taxidermists. More cutesy are Anne-Claire Petit’s knitted animals -- giant lobsters, Bambis, woodpeckers and cats, the nearest things you will get to an adult cuddly toy.

By starting on the right foot with good saving and spending habits, you’ll have a good chance to set yourself up for a life of financial success. Here are some ideas students — with the help of parents, relatives and the school’s financial aid office — can consider while taking the leap into living away from home. Create a financial plan early on. Create a general financial plan for your college years right away, and a more detailed budget for the upcoming semester. You can start with estimated costs for tuition, fees, room and board from your school’s financial aid office and fill in the actual numbers once you know them. Even with financial aid, most college students need to be frugal as they balance major expenses and a limited income from work or parental support. While you may need to take out student loans, the better you manage your personal and educational expenses the less you’ll have to borrow now, and repay later. Adjust your budget as you go. Your focus should be school, but you can also take time to track your money and stick to your budget. A budget can be a tool and a learning opportunity, and particularly during your first few semesters, you’ll likely have to make adjustments as you learn to balance wants and needs. Try to stick with it and remember it’s okay to make changes (and an occasional mistake) as you go. Parents can discuss how they manage their personal or family budget and offer suggestions for cutting expenses or finding work. College students may face many financial firsts, such as signing a rental agreement, purchasing insurance or applying for a loan, and parents can share their experiences. Making your budget add up. Learning how to roll with the punches and live within your means are timeless skills. You’ll have to balance academic obligations with a part- or full-time job to increase your income. But, there are often flexible oncampus jobs you can qualify for if you have a work-study grant as part of your financial aid package. - Child cocoons - Nature too has found its way into children’s bedrooms, where soft hues and light-coloured wood are taking over. “Ten years ago or so everything was very colouful. Today the kids rooms are getting closer to the adult world,” said Sandrine Guigou, co-founder of the brand Lilipinso.

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When it comes to saving, there are all sorts of ways to cut costs on necessities and indulgences. Consider the following three tactics almost any college student can use to spend less money. • Use student discounts. Dozens of stores offer students discounts, validated with an official ID, or a .edu email address, and you may be able to save 10 to 20 percent off your purchase. Ask store employees or check online before to see if a store offers a student discount before checking out. • Save on textbooks. Look for alternatives to buying new textbooks, such as renting textbooks, buying used books, purchasing or renting e-textbooks or using the library’s reference copies. • Mobilize your savings. If saving money is just one more thing you don’t want to think about, you can save your spare cash via your smartphone. Thinking about buying a car next summer or saving money for spring break? There are mobile apps that will calculate how much money you can afford to save at a given moment — whether that’s $20 or ten cents — and will save it for you. You could also set up an automatic weekly or monthly transfer to your savings account through your bank. Chances are you won’t miss the money, and you won’t spend it if you don’t see it in your checking account. Make a practice of saving for the future. You’ll want to figure out the best way to use your savings. If you’ve taken out student loans, you could allocate some of the money to early loan payments. Private and unsubsidized federal student loans accrue interest while you’re in school. Making a payment can help you avoid increasing your debt load and save you money on interest. Plus, unlike with some other types of loans, there’s no penalty for making early student loan payments. Bottom line. College is an ideal time to instill healthy financial habits. Ask your parents or other relatives for guidance, discuss student loans and budgeting with your college’s financial aid office, learn a new skill online or attend a local personal finance workshop or seminar. While you set off on a series of firsts, take advantage of these resources to learn how to manage, save and wisely spend your money. Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter. com/PracticalMoney “And when rooms are not in pastels, they tend to have black and white urban graphics,” she added. Cacti, swans, butterflies, flowers and features are the main motifs used by this wallpaper and rug maker which works with around 100 designers from around the world.

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VOICE OF ASIA 17

Section 2

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Bollywood Masala

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

‘I don’t want my documentary to release in India’ By Justin Rao

cinematic liberty. This is somebody’s life. This is my life, I take it very personally,” she added.

UMBAI, Sep 20 (PTI) Bollywood actress Sunny Leone is against the release of the upcoming documentary on her life, “Mostly Sunny” in India, as she feels it does not do justice to her story.

The Dilip Mehta directed documentary recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, which Leone didn’t attend citing a family function.

“Mostly Sunny” charts the life of Leone, born Karenjit Kaur Vohra in Sarnia, Ontario, from her childhood in a conservative Sikh family to her shift to Los Angeles, her emergence as one of the biggest adult movie stars in the world and her subsequent mainstream movie career breakthrough in Bollywood.

Sunny Leone is the most searched Bollywood celebrity in the world (Photo:UPI) “Its not a biopic made on my life where you can manipulate

and say what you want. It is not like you are appealing to

“It thrills me that this final project of my father’s, about which he was so passionate, is finally coming to life,” she said at a launch event at London’s Royal Opera House on Tuesday.

in her forthcoming film “Veere Di Wedding”.

“It’s time for Bollywood to stand with the jawans of this country and ban Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan. Please respond to #UriAttack,” he further added.

Fawad Khan (File photo)

Pt Ravi Shankar’s opera to get UK premiere in 2017

The first-of-its-kind stage musical, which combines operatic traditions with Indian classical music, was being composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar at the time of his passing in 2012 and completed with the help of his daughter, sitar maestro Anoushka Shankar.

Kareena Kapoor (File photo)

Soumyadipta Banerjee took to Twitter on Tuesday calling for the film industry to boycott the Pakistani actor. “Ban Pakistani artists the same way they have banned you. This is not the time to promote culture,” he said, while calling for Bollywood to unite against Pakistan.

Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, “Veere Di Wedding” is a slice-of-life film exploring the spirit of modern day women.

“I am the one telling the story, it is my life. There were certain things I didn’t like and I wanted it (the documentary) to be for many people to watch, not just one age group. I don’t see my story as a sob story, where something went wrong. That’s not my story,” the actress said.

ects.

n a rather bizarre response to the attack at a military base in Indian-occupied Kashmir, an Indian journalist has urged Bollywood to ban Fawad Khan.

ONDON, Sep 21 (PTI) Sitar legend Ravi Shankar’s only opera “Sukanya”, named after his wife, will get its world premiere in the UK in May 2017.

UMBAI, Sep 20 (PTI) Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has rubbished reports that she would enact a pregnant woman

When asked about this, Leone said, “It’s really simple, at the end of the day, its my personal story. I surrendered to his vision but when it got to my story, how it looks and the story that is actually told... In my view no one in this entire world has the right to say how my life should be told.”

Indian journalist calls for Bollywood to boycott Fawad Khan

Soumyadipta is a senior journalist and a popular blogger based in Mumbai for the last 10 years. He also specialises in launching start-up media proj-

Kareena not playing pregnant woman in ‘Veere Di Wedding’

Mehta said he was surprised that Leone developed cold feet before the Toronto premiere and said the actress wanted certain changes in the documentary.

Leone said she doesn’t want the documentary to release in India as it is less of a film on her life and more of “somebody else’s opinion”. “I hope it doesn’t come to India. Because that’s not the story that is mine. This is somebody else’s opinion, somebody else’s vision. No one has a right to tell your life story except for you,” Leone told PTI in an exclusive interview.

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“My father was, of course, the first Indian classical musician to work with Western classical musicians, the first to write concertos for orchestra, the first to bring the music of India to a global audience. Even in his final years, he was the first to think further, to want to push even more boundaries, and bring Indian classical music to the context of opera,” she added. The opera explores the common ground between the music, dance and theatrical traditions of India and the West. Conductor and collaborator David Murphy who worked with Shankar for many years completed the opera with help from Anoushka Shankar.

“Ever the practical musician, before undergoing what was to be his final surgery, he outlined the roadmap he had in his mind to take the work to completion a vision so clear and compelling that it feels as if he is closely supervising the entire creative team as we move towards the world premiere in May 2017,” Murphy said. The story of ‘Sukanya’ comes from a tale in the ‘Mahabharata’, after whom Shankar’s wife of 23 years was named. Sukanya Shankar recalled: “My memory is very vivid and fresh of the day when Raviji was asking my mother about the story behind my name, Sukanya, sometime in the midNineties.

However, Banerjee did not stop there. The journalist has also written an open letter to the Kapoor & Sons star asking him to “go back to Pakistan.” He further suggested that fellow Pakistani artists such as Adnan Sami, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Mahira Khan should also be banned from working in their country. (Express Tribute)

“No (not playing pregnant woman). I am not having six pack abs, but I will have three pack abs,” Kareena told PTI. The 35-year-old actress liked the idea of “Veere Di Wedding” and she cannot stop gushing about the project, which also stars Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania. “There has never been story of women, about four girls. It’s not about four sisters. It’s the story of four friends. It’s about wedding. It’s about my wedding in the film and my friends,” the “Ki& Ka” star said. “It’s an original film. It’s an emotional bond between friends...Is young and fresh. I have been talking about ‘Veere Di Wedding’ since nine months as I have genuinely liked the film and I am quite excited to start it,” she said.

According to Kareena, it is going to be an amazing film. “Normally everyone wants to be part of a hero and heroine love story film in which the actors look great and locations look fab. After ‘Ki and Ka’ and ‘Udta Punjab’, I wanted to do something slightly different,” she said. The actress will start shooting for the film next month. “We will start shooting in October and then there will be a break. We will start work on the film in March. We are shooting the film in Delhi, Greece and etc. I am very excited about the film,” she said. As Kareena is expecting her first baby with husband Saif Ali Khan in December, there were rumours earlier that she might not do “Veere Di Wedding”. The “Heroine” actress was, however, amazed at the reports of her walking out of the film.

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Prostate cancer options show little difference in survival

IAMI (AFP) - Men with localized prostate cancer were unlikely to die in the 10 years after diagnosis regardless of whether they chose surgery, radiation or no intervention at all, researchers said Wednesday. The findings in the New England Journal of Medicine included more than 1,600 men aged 50-69 who agreed to be randomly assigned to either surgery to remove the tumor, radiation to shrink it or active monitoring -- a wait and see approach. About one percent of men in the study died within 10 years of prostate cancer, “irrespective of the treatment assigned, a rate that was considerably lower than was anticipated when the trial commenced,” said the study, led by Freddie Hamdy of Oxford University. Of the 1,643 men in the study, 17 died of prostate cancer in the next decade after diagnosis -- eight in the ac-

tive monitoring group, five in the surgery group and four in the radiotherapy group. Those in the active-monitoring group were more likely to see the cancer spread elsewhere in the body, a process known as metastasis. However, this disease progression did not make for significant differences in the likelihood of dying from cancer or any other cause in the 10 years after diagnosis, the study said. A separate article in the same journal examined quality of life issues among the men who chose different options. Surgery to remove the prostate had the greatest negative effect on sexual function and urinary incontinence, it found. Men in the radiation group tended to experience more bowel problems after treatment than the other groups.

5 things you need to know to survive a Medicare audit

“Sexual function appears to be better in the radiation therapy group,” said Louis Potters, chairman of the department of radiation medicine at Northwell Health in New York, who was not involved in the study. Potters praised the research as “the first real effort to assess treatment approaches for prostate cancer.” “Despite the high prevalence of prostate cancer as the number one cancer in men, there has not recently been a study that has directly addressed observation, surgery or radiation therapy,” he added. “As a result, men have had to make treatment decisions based on non-comparative data.” For John Burn, professor of clinical genetics at Newcastle University, the study provides “valuable information for men faced with difficult choices.”

ARIS, France (AFP) - The world should prepare for a “global epidemic” of microcephaly, a condition which restricts head growth in foetuses, as the Zika virus takes root in new countries, researchers said Friday. Scientists from Brazil and Britain said they had found additional evidence that Zika is what causes the often debilitating disorder, a link already widely accepted in medical circles. In a study conducted among newborns in Brazil -- hardest hit by a joint outbreak -- nearly half of 32 infants with microcephaly had traces of Zika virus in their blood or cerebrospinal fluid, the team reported. None of 62 infants born with normal heads tested positive for Zika in their blood. This “striking association”, the researchers wrote in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, led them to “conclude that the microcephaly epidemic is a result of congenital Zika virus infection”. If this is the case, “we should prepare for the epidemic of microcephaly to expand to all countries with current

(local) Zika virus transmission and to those countries where transmission of the virus is likely to spread,” the team wrote. “We recommend... that we prepare for a global epidemic of microcephaly and other manifestations of congenital Zika syndrome.” The researchers also proposed adding Zika to a category of congenital infections known to happen before or during birth. The list includes toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, HIV and herpes. Zika is a virus spread mainly by mosquitoes, but in rare cases via sex. In most people, including pregnant women, it is benign with mild or no symptoms. - No cure, no vaccine -But in an outbreak that started mid-2015, it has been linked to microcephaly and rare, adult-onset neurological problems such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which can result in paralysis and death. More than 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika, mainly in Brazil, and more than 1,600 babies have been born with microcephaly since last year, according to the World

People who slept more than an hour each day were 45 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a debilitating condition associated with overweight and a sedentary lifestyle, the study found.

The meta-analysis -- a review of existing scientific literature -- by Yamada Tomahide of the University of Tokyo and colleagues, covered more than 300,000 people of Asian and European origin from around the world. For naps of less than forty minutes, the link with diabetes disappeared, they noted.

Individuals with diabetes are unable to naturally regulate their blood sugar levels.

Experts not involved in the research noted that the statistical correlation revealed nothing about cause-andeffect.

Without treatment, the disease can lead to blindness, nerve damage, kid-

The study, they added, has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed science

Here are five things you need to know to prevail in an audit. 1. Know the common audit triggers. A number of factors can prompt a Medicare billing audit, including a tip from a disgruntled employee, but most are driven by a statistical analysis done by your Medicare Administrative Contractor.

• Is it an emergency or nonemergency response?

Health Organization (WHO).

• Is the ambulance transport medically necessary?

There is no cure or vaccine. The researchers said theirs was the first study to compare children with microcephaly to a “control” sample of healthy children -- two controls for every malformed baby. Using a control group is a way for scientists to test the impact of a single variable -- in this case Zika infection -between two groups that are otherwise as similar as possible. Eighty percent of women who gave birth to babies with microcephaly had been infected by Zika while pregnant, the team found -- compared to 64 percent of mothers who delivered healthy offspring. This meant a very high percentage of pregnant women overall had been infected in Brazil’s Zika epidemic area. These were preliminary results, the team said, with findings on another 400-plus babies included in the study to follow later. Interestingly, the team found that not all infants diagnosed with microcephaly had abnormalities show up in brain scans.

Providers have up to 30 days to submit the required documentation, and the MAC has up to 60 days to send its response. If the contractor does not receive information in a timely manner, it’s an automatic denial, and unanswered requests can increase the scope of the audit. 2. Know what to expect in both prepayment and post-payment reviews. In a prepayment review, the ambulance provider will receive one letter requesting documentation for every flagged claim, usually for the same service, to be reviewed individually. These reviews are typically triggered when the Medicare contractor determines that a provider ranks higher in ALS or emergency procedures as compared to their geographical peers. This is often apples to oranges, as the country fire/EMS service will naturally have a different patient profile than a private ambulance service specializing in dialysis or nursing home transports. “When they try to compare ambulance providers using these standard statistical models, it’s

Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6776 Southwest Freeway Suite # 178 Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com very difficult because providers do specialize in certain types of calls,” said Kim Stanley, chief customer officer for EMS Management & Consultants, which specializes in ambulance billing and compliance. “It’s really not good statistical data to be able to compare apples to apples. They’re just known as an ambulance provider for Medicare.” A post-payment review examines the provider’s entire universe, using a set of randomly selected trips for statistical analysis. (RATSTATS, the statistical tool used for these reviews, is available as a free download for providers to perform in-house compliance audits). The provider then is required to submit all of the medical records for those trips to the MAC. If the MAC’s analysis determines a high rate of error, that rate is extrapolated to all the claims across that provider’s universe. For example, if they determine a 40 percent error rate on 90 randomly selected trips over 24 months, then Medicare has the justification to apply that error percentage to every claim submitted in that same two-year period. The provider will then receive a letter that specifies an amount that must be repaid. If Medicare doesn’t receive payment within the allotted time, the money – plus interest – will be withheld from future checks. (To be continued ) For Medicare or healthcare planning contact Sudhir Mathuria @ 713-771-2900.

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• SENIORS FOCUSED WEBSITE “It can falsely Brian Mertz • TXCSS RESOURCE DIRECTORY appear that their CEO • UPCOMING CAREGIVER EVENTS illness followed increased nap• ADVERTISE IN OUR RESOURCE DIRECTORY ping, rather support@texascaregiversupport.com Visit us at: www.texascaregiversupport.com than the other way around,” said Benjamin Cairns, a researcher at the Cancer Epi- bolic disease at the University of Glas- of napping by comparing two or more demiology Unit of the University of gow said the results should be taken groups of people -- can reveal whether with a generous pinch of salt. too much day-time sleeping is bad for Oxford. health. “It’s likely that risk factors which “This could mean that long naps “Without proper trials, we simply will appear to cause diabetes or other dis- lead to diabetes also cause napping,” he wrote in a comment distributed by never know the answer,” Sattar said. eases, even when only the reverse is the non-profit Science Media Centre. true.” The study was unveiled at a meeting Only clinical trials -- experiments in of the European Association for the Naveed Sattar, an expert on metawhich scientists could test the impact Study of Diabetes in Munich. Member, IACCGH

ney failure, heart disease and premature death.

Ambulance providers are more likely than ever to face Medicare audits. Most challenged claims are flagged because of incorrect or incomplete documentation, and it’s important to train medics as well as billing staff on the latest regulations to maximize coding and billing compliance,

• Is it Advanced Life Support or Basic Life Support?

Can long naps cause diabetes? ARIS, France | AFP - A study presented at a scientific congress Thursday reported a link between long naps and a higher risk of diabetes, though it couldn’t say if daytime sleeping was a symptom or a cause.

Careful documentation and billing compliance can help you successfully navigate the audit process

These audits take two forms: prepayment review and post-payment review. In both cases, the MAC investigates three key elements of each claim:

World must ready for global microcephaly ‘epidemic’: study by Mariëtte Le Roux

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Woman’s Life

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Don’t confuse Islam and terror, Helping women cross the digital divide says French Muslim woman

ARIS, France | AFP - A young French Muslim woman who lost three family members in the July 14 jihadist attack on Nice made an impassioned plea Monday not to confuse the Islamic faith with terrorism.

hdi Hachadi, was crushed under the wheels of the truck that sped through the crowd on the Nice waterfront. “The life of a child who had such a promising future was snatched away. He was brought up in the Muslim faith

past 12 months. They included the 130 cut down in Paris by IS gunmen and suicide bombers on November 13, 2015, and the 86 killed in Nice.

by James Moore

n the runway at San Francisco International Airport that day, the plane looked like another British Airways 777 rolling out on the tarmac for an international flight. The giant aircraft, however, was filled with a group of creative thinkers and accomplished business people taking part in what the airline called an “Ungrounded” flight. The destination was London and the G-8 summit, and as they reached cruising altitude, assigned teams set to work attempting to find sustainable solutions to global problems.

A guest and Yasmine Bourzegan Marzouk at the ceremony in Paris on Monday. (Photograph: WITT/SIPA/Rex/Shutterstock Yasmine Bouzegan Marzouk, 21, told a national ceremony in tribute to the French victims of terror attacks that they were carried out by “barbarians who do not follow the law, faith or religion”. “On July 14th, this national holiday, our lives were changed forever,” she added, her voice breaking with emotion as tears streamed down her face.

which says we should respect others and show tolerance,” she said. The truck was driven by Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a Tunisian who the Islamic State group said was one of its followers.

“We are from a Muslim family and no one should make the link (between Islam and the attacks),” she said.

Marzouk called on French President Francois Hollande “and his successors” to “put a halt once and for all to these acts of savagery... so that the terror to which French citizens are subjected will end and hatred can no longer be stoked by different religions.”

Bouzegan Marzouk, who herself survived the attack, recalled how one of her relatives, 13-year-old Me-

Hollande listened grim-faced to the list of 230 French people killed in terror attacks at home and abroad in the

One of the passengers onboard was Austin entrepreneur William Hurley, the founder of Honest Dollar and Chaotic Moon Studios. Addressing the rain-swept ceremony at the Invalides, Hollande said France was at “war”. He announced a reform of the 30year-old system to compensate victims of terror attacks and their families, saying: “This war has produced so many victims that... the authorities’ response and the rules for compensation cannot remain unchanged.”

or capital to create our ideal future state. We can do better.

Research shows that involving women is not only fair; it is good business. Harvard Business School confirmed that women are driving growth and innovation. Having even one woman on the team creating a product for women, improved likelihood of success by 144%. Just like other industries such as academia and corporate America, the technology industry has been too slow to include women. But we have a unique opportunity to quickly change that.

Now that we know the majority of people living in poverty are female, and that empowering women and girls is vital to creating a sustainable future, the next step is ensuring women are included in the design of bold new ideas to transform our world. Women are too often overlooked as global problem-solvers, and are not offered the opportunity

Increasing the number of women in technology is not just good for their gender; it also is expected to have a widespread impact on the global economy. Tech giant Intel estimates that an additional 600 million women and girls online has the potential to boost global

Police flooded into the Les Halles shopping district of Paris on Saturday after a national alert system broadcast warnings that a hostage-taking was under way. It turned out to be a false alarm.

By Emily Musil Church, Ph.D., XPRIZE

The world community came together in late 2015 to create the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of goals and agenda to end poverty, protect the plant, and ensure prosperity for all by the year 2030. Study after study has proven that we need to empower women if we are going to build a better future. Goal #5 calls for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. This one goal has far broader implications that affect all other SDGs, such as quality education, ending hunger, and the promotion of peaceful societies. An educated girl is healthier, has significantly higher earning power, has healthier children, and even boosts the per capita income growth for the nation. If all women had a secondary education, child deaths would be cut in half. Empowered women = stronger economy and healthier children.

Bogdan’s ITU organization launched International Girls in ICT Day in 2011 as part of the initial efforts to begin closing the gender digital divide. Celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in April, 160 countries around the world have participated in the 7,200 events that reached 240,000 girls.

France remains on high alert for attacks.

OPINION: Women Can Save the World mpowering women is essential for creating a sustainable future. Women and girls are particularly susceptible to challenges of extreme poverty and environmental degradation. But we at XPRIZE are optimists for the future. We believe the future is ours to create. The best way to help save the world? Clear the barriers that keep women and girls around the world from reaching their full potential. More importantly, bring women to the table as we design new technologies. Including women and girls is not just the right thing to do; it is mission critical.

“This was amazing,” he said. “Just amazing. We collaborated with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations

va, Switzerland. “Tech has become a part of everyone’s lives, but right now women are largely excluded. They’re less likely to be online than men, less likely to choose technology-related studies, less likely to be working as a tech professional, and much less likely to be in a tech leadership role. We have to change that. We can change that.

Doreen Bogdan of ITU and Whurley make the “Equals” sign. (Photo: James Moore) and came up with ideas for increasing the number of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and improving their access to digital resources and jobs. We’ve been energized about all of this ever since.”

When we launched the Global Learning XPRIZE, a competition to address the issue of 250 million children worldwide who lack basic education, we made it a priority to focus on and include women. We made sure that we had gender balance in our advisors and judges, that our field test would include an equal number of girls and boys testing the technology, and we are creating a research project to measure the impact of technology on the lives of girls.

Hurley, who is known in the tech community as “Whurley,” has just become a part of an international effort that will focus on empowering women by increasing their access to information and communications technologies (ICT). ITU and United Nations Women just launched a program called “Equals: The Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age.”

The “Moon Shot” web series about the Google Lunar XPRIZE teams, backed by Executive Producer J.J. Abrams, focuses on the stories behind the teams creating new space technologies. The segment on Team Indus features team member Deepana Gandhi, a young woman from rural India who loves math and space (warning: this 7 minute episode is likely to leave you teary and inspired!). She talks about how few opportunities there still are for girls, and how just seeing news footage of one Indian woman astronaut broke open the boundaries of what was possible for her and gave her the motivation to overcome the obstacles to her education.

Data from UN Women indicates the Digital Divide isn’t just about economic access to technology but is also constrained by gender. Globally, 250 million fewer women are online than men and the Internet user gap between the sexes has increased to 12 percent in 2016. In the developing world, the figure is even more daunting for women with a 31 percent difference.

It is up to us to listen to the voices of women and girls from around the world, to design for their lives and needs, and most importantly to invite them to be part of the process of creating new solutions for the biggest challenges we face. Doing so just might save the world.

“We need to make girls and young women understand that tech is not just for boys,” said Doreen Bogdan, Chief of Strategic Planning at International Telecommunications Union in Gene-

GDP by as much as $18 billion. “The information society is incomplete without the inclusion, contribution and leadership of women and girls,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women, in the Geneva announcement of the Equals program. “They must have access to ICTs, and we must foster their capabilities to use the technology. This is central to the realization of women’s rights at all levels and can be a real driver of accelerated progress towards the achievement of Agenda 2030.” The agenda involves the UN Sustainable Development Goals and includes a campaign to bring equality to women through the Internet and associated technologies. There is much to be accomplished. In 2016, women ran just three of the tech companies in the Fortune 500 — IBM, Xerox, and Oracle. There were only 21 female CEOs out of all of the Fortune 500. Businesses, non-profits, institutions and individuals interested in working to close the digital divide for women are asked to email partners@equals.org to become a part of guiding, tracking, and scaling up successful initiatives for change. (Huffington Post)

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US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. Picture: Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP.

ASHINGTON, | AFP | 9/16/2016 - Fed up with the endless talk about interest rates and inflation? Think economic growth could be faster? Think you can do monetary policy better than Federal Reserve head Janet Yellen?

a tool for economics and other students by the Fedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s San Francisco branch, available at www. frbsf.org/education/teacher-resources/chair-federal-reserveeconomy-simulation-game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our hope is that the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chair the Fedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; game will inspire students of all ages to take an interest in monetary policy and its role in the US economy,â&#x20AC;? said Jody Hoff, director of education and outreach at the San Francisco Fed.

Then try â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chair the Fed,â&#x20AC;? a new online game that challenges your ability to manage an economy. The game puts your hand on the interest rate lever and tests how effective you would be managing unemployment and inflation -- and whether, as former Fed chair William McChesney Martin once said of the Fedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central duty as a spoiler, you are ready to remove the punch bowl just as the party gets going.

For hard-core gamers, the technology is ancient, but it gives a good idea of some of the challenges with the Fedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. As the newly appointed Fed chair, the player has to figure out if the momentum in inflation at, say, 2.3 percent, requires a pre-emptive rate in-

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There is no fee to apply. Companies chosen to participate are required to join TiE in their local city or chapter or TiE-Houston. Note: If you are interested in participating in the event as an accredited investor, startup organization or accelerator, or represent an angel organization, please contact Sehar Javed at admin@ houston.tie.org. TIMELINE OF EVENTS Application Process opens: Now through October 7, 2016 How to Pitch to Investors Workshop (mandatory for applicants): September 27, 2016 Register Here! Announcement of Presenting Companies: October 12, 2016 Social: October 19, 2016 Participating Company Bootcamp: October 27, 2016 TiE Houston Venture Forum: November 3, 2016 Reception with Selected Companies: TBD About TiE The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. There are currently 13,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 61 chapters across 18 countries. TiEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, education, incubating, and funding. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs.

Fed keeps rates steady, signals one hike by end of year By Jason Lange

ASHINGTON The U.S. Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday but strongly signaled it could still tighten monetary policy by the end of this year as the labor market improved further.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened,â&#x20AC;? the U.S. central bank said in a statement following a two-day policy meeting.

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It added that its rate-setting committee had decided against raising rates â&#x20AC;&#x153;for the time being,â&#x20AC;? until there was more evidence of progress toward its employment and inflation objectives. The Fed has held its target rate for overnight lending between banks in a range of 0.25 percent to 0.50 percent since December, when it raised borrowing costs for the first time in nearly a decade. The central bank has appeared increasingly divided over the urgency of raising rates. On Wednesday, Kan-

sas City Fed President Esther George, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester and Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren dissented on the policy statement, saying they favored raising rates this week. At the same time, policymakers cut the number of rate increases they expect this year to one from two previously, according to the median projection of forecasts released with the statement. Three of the 17 policymakers said rates should remain steady for the rest of the year. The Fed also projected a less aggressive rise in interest rates next year and in 2018, and cut its longer-run interest rate forecast to 2.9 percent from 3.0 percent. But in a sign of growing confidence, the Fed said the nearterm risks for the economic outlook â&#x20AC;&#x153;appear roughly balanced.â&#x20AC;? That means policymakers think the economy is about as likely to outperform forecasts as to underperform them. Investors reacted with skepticism to the shallower rate path projections. U.S. short-term interest rate futures trimmed earlier losses and some nearer-term maturities rose on

Wednesday. Before the rate decision, traders saw about a 58 percent chance of a December rate hike, and were betting on another hike in 2017. The dissents from those wanting a hike suggested to some economists that pressure was building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While the Federal Reserve held rates unchanged, the highly unusual 7-3 vote points to the depth of its policy dilemma and makes a December hike more likely,â&#x20AC;? said Mohamed El-Erian, Chief Economic Adviser at Allianz. The Fed in December signaled that four rate increases were likely this year, but that was scaled back in March due to a global growth slowdown, financial market volatility and concerns about tepid U.S. inflation. The economy expanded sluggishly in the second quarter and added fewer jobs than expected in August. Inflation also showed signs of stirring last month. The Fedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision, which came the same day that Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central bank added a long-term interest rate target to its massive asset-buying program in an overhaul of its policy framework, was widely anticipated by economists.

India top source for MBA seekers in schools abroad

EW DELHI: Indians top when it comes to the number of international students applying for MBA programmes in graduate schools abroad, followed by Chinese and Americans. A 2016 report by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) that carried out a survey on application trends of 216 leading graduate business schools across the world revealed that India is now the top source of international can-

didates for both one-year and two-year MBA programmes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;India has pushed China and USA to second and third positions in the international applications category,â&#x20AC;? the report said, adding that about 49 per cent of schools offering full-time one-year MBA programmes showed a rise in applications submitted by international students when compared with the number of applicants under the category in 2015. Seventy percent of fulltime

two-year MBA programmes recruit international candidates. These candidates, especially those from China, India and the US, are also a priority for outreach and recruitment by a majority of one-year MBA and masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programmes in management and finance,â&#x20AC;? it said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the creation of tailored business courses like the Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Data Analytics, the demand for business schools is growing,â&#x20AC;? GMAC CEO Sangeet Chowfla said.

VOICE OF ASIA 21

SPORTS

Katy Premier League raise $20k benefiting needy local family Celebrating 5 years of fun and fund-raising

ATY - It all started when a good friend from the Cinco Ranch Volleyball community in Katy was going thru a challenging period and was fighting for his life due to cancer. Even though he was going through a tough phase, he never let his spirits down and always had a smile on his face. We did not want to lose such a gentle n kind-hearted person and wanted to join his fight. We took him as our inspiration, fed of his fervor and enthusiasm to fight back and led a campaign thru one of his favorite sports – Volleyball. We then conducted the first KPL in 2012 and collected proceeds for his treatment. Unfortunately, we were unable to save him but he ignited a never-ending fire in us to give something back to the community. There are many other such unfortunate people stuck in illfated circumstances. Every year we identify such causes and donate the tournament proceedings towards it. Ever since then, our motto has been “Charity thru Sports”. Over the last 4 years(2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) with the staunch support of ‘Camelot Integrated Solutions’, KPL has been successfully conducted and all the proceeds have been passed on to the identified beneficiaries. Over the last 4 years, through KPL, we were able to raise and donate about $90,000 dollars to who need the money. As of now, KPL is open to Desi community only. People from all ages, genres and languages of our desi community are welcome to this charitable event. We organize and conduct sporting events for kids and women too. We especially encourage kids to participate in KPL as they can learn the gift of giving through sports. There are a lot prizes, trophies and medals that can be won too. We believe and encourage a festive

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Cyclist dies after crash in Paralympics road race IO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17 (AP) - An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. ‘’This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,’’ IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. ‘’The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,’’ Craven added. The competition was fierce among the 20 teams participating this year. (Photo courtesy KPL) family atmosphere where everybody can compete and the same time, contribute to make a difference in someone’s life. End of the day everybody wins. For KPL 2016, all the proceeds will go to the family of late Sri Uday Kumar Gullapalli’s family. Sri Uday Kumar Gullapalli served the desi community of Houston through his priestly activities. His mission was to serve the community by providing a Hindu place of worship and establish a library of Hindu philosophy. He unfortunately passed away due to an freak accident at his house. He‘s survived by his wife, Ms. Sireesha Gullapalli and 2 kids, Ms. Samhita Gullapalli and Mr. Saahit Gullapalli. As the family struggles through their daily affairs and try to get their lives together,

we as community partner would like to step up and support them in whatever way we can. 20 teams prticipated in KATY PREMIER LEAGUE (KPL 2016) this year. The initial Kick-off and Captain’s meeting was conducted at Mayuri restaurant where the Chief guest lit traditional lamp to signal the official kick off of the tournament. After a quick foreword and commentary about this year’s beneficiary, the sponsors unveiled team jerseys and presented it to the respective team captains. The tournament was conducted on Aug 26th and Aug 27th, 2016 at Third Coast Volleyball club 5652 Forney Dr, Houston TX 77036. About 600 people attended this grand event. Radio Hungama played the MC in the evening.

They were a lot of impromptu games and pop-quizzes for participants of all ages and lot of prizes to go with that. During the break, there was an exceptional and superbly choreographed dance performance by the kids from ‘Bollywood Dancing Stars’. The dance performance ended with a medley wherein all the participants danced to the tunes of songs from popular Indian film music.

Intermediate and Beginner levels. The Advanced level finals saw 2 of the best teams in Houston fight tooth and nail.

Throughout the tournament, KPL arranged plenty of water, Gatorade, fruits and nuts for all participants. Like every year the evening dinner was sponsored by KPL and catered by Swagath Groceries, Katy.

We are very Grateful and Thankful to our sponsors ITServe Alliance Companies, AIS Insurance and ‘Akshara’ The school - who’ve genuinely embraced the idea of ‘Charity thru Sports’ and have lent immense aid and assistance. We would also like to Thank and recognize our Media partners Pepon Inc(Social Media Partner), Radio Hungama(Radio Partner) and NNN (TV Partner). Their incredible support has enabled us to reach out to a wider audience and varied sections of our community.

There was excellent camaraderie along with fierce competition among all the teams as they fought hard to win the championship. The tournament has into 3 categories - Advanced,

Overall it was a fun filled event and with the help of friends and family in the community and all the KPL participants we were able to donate $20,035 to the Gullapalli family.

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

Your Horoscope for the Week of September 23, 2016 READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE

by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April You don’t have to accept whatever comes your way, but neither should you reject innovation as a matter of course. You may also have the gift of being able to push others in the direction you want them to go. You understand how to use the energy of the team, and this enables you to stretch a dollar with great success. Take some time out to do things with children. You may just find they really need more than you imagined. Try not to lose your patience, support will work better than criticism.

New dynamic cycle of change that is about ready to begin. Unpredictable events may disrupt your routine greatly. You may find it hard to get a clear response from a co-worker, mate. You need the information & you need it now, but somehow it may not be forthcoming. Try asking again, with finer delicacy. It may just be that, there’s more here than meets the eye. An act of kindness or gesture of caring can melt the resistance and get you what you want. Your generosity could also put you in the poorhouse.

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

Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov

Your life will become too busy. Try not to sweep your problems under the rug. Expect disagreements with others if financial irresponsibility has left you in a tight spot. The key might be to set limitations on each other’s spending habits. Perhaps you were supposed to take care of this situation long time ago. Slow down and deal with it now. Then you’ll get this problem behind you forever. If you want to make long term plans, make sure you share them with those who will be affected.

Your job may demand that you pay attention to every detail. You prefer to deal with the big picture. A close friend or partner could get on your nerves now. They may be worried about a minor matter that frustrates you. Don’t allow your emotions to make decisions for you. It may cause trouble to control your actions or re-actions. Your emotional wellbeing will depend on how well you deal with a recent family situation.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Stressful domestic matters, Just be with you self & spend time by yourself if at all possible. Your usual cool may not be evident and your emotions could be extreme. Erratic behavior may cause isolation. Allow others to do their own thing. When communicating with children, try to put yourself in their position. It’ll help you take a fresher perspective on the whole situation.

Your involvement with family situation could prove to be very interesting. You may want to watch what you say, though. Your words could be misinterpreted. Your intuitive insights and healing energies can be used positively to help others. Take the time to let your others know how much you really care. You’ll be able to see the bigger picture and understand that you’ll be enjoying a change of venue, very soon.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Your intuition will communicate with you from the bottom of your heart. An intense conversation could be important to you. Reevaluate your past, try to bring out your best qualities, set aside your insecurities. Communications & understanding will increase greatly. Plan outings with family or friends with fun filled conversation. Your knowledge & good sense will help more than you expect. Competition could help your team, especially if you approach it in a positive manner.

You will be able to do much more than the rest of others. You’ll be able to tap into this part of your psyche with little effort. Your perspective will allow you to notice the big patterns that often may be lost in the shuffle of day-to-day life. Children & loved ones may be on your mind more. Try to get more involved in organizations that help children who are experiencing difficulties. You have much to offer & will gain greatly by the experience.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August The sense of getting back to basics will rule out. You need to have a conversation with one who wants to hang on to your generous hospitality, forever. Some uncertainty may cause you to take time to make decisions. Your ability to work through complex situations can come in very handy. You need to eliminate distractions and get straight to the heart of the matter. When you do something for yourself your energy flows more freely. By week’s end you’ll be ready to enjoy yourself.

It may be impossible to accomplish anything if you try to do it alone. Bring your leadership qualities to the surface & help organize your mutual efforts. Arguments with family or friends may really set you off. Try hard not to instigate unnecessary friction with anyone. It would be best for you to stay put & avoid conversations that are controversial to start with. Follow your basic instincts & you’ll do very well.

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

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Use valuable virtues to get you through others’ moods. Those around you may start the week with enthusiasm, then lose their way in the process. You can get others to do things for you if you use your charm. Dealing with “wishy-washy” people may test your patience. Try to keep your workload to a normal level, no more long hours. You need your rest, even if you see yourself as too tough to quit. Soothing music or easy reading can make you more comfortable. Enough to capture others attention.

Your work may get delayed if you are not going to use sweet approach. Your imagination can help you come up with some high profit ideas. Even you still have things to learn. Taking part in a class or workshop is one way to help this happen. Make sure all of your personal papers & data are in order. Pay close attention to detail & prioritize your work. don’t delay on serious issues. If you see the challenge as a puzzle, you’ll be able to put the pieces together. Doubt does not mean no, it simply means that you have to work harder to succeed.

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VOICE OF ASIA 23

CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

JOB POSTING - NON-LINEAR NEWS EDITOR KTRK-TV, and ABC owned station in Houston, TX has an opening for a part time Non-Linear News Editor. Candidates should have experience in editing on nonlinear systems as well as knowledge of the Digital Newsroom and understanding of the digital workflow for broadcast news, in a deadline intensive environment. Serious candidates should also have a working knowledge of a server based digital media workflow. Candidates should be able to edit in deadline situations, be creative, precise and be able to work fast. You must be able to take direction, and be a “Team Player” who is not afraid of an intense news environment. Hours will vary depending on the needs of the department, so flexibility to work a varied schedule is required. To be considered, candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job ID: 397323BR on all materials submitted. Equal Opportunity Employer - Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity No Telephone Calls Please

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FRIDAY, September 23, 2016

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