Voice of Asia E-paper August 17, 2018 by VoiceOf Asia

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VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

In Section 2

The Largest Asian-American Newsweekly in Texas

l HEALTHLINE What do you need to know about your new Medicare card?

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BUSINESS

‘Steel sector’s growth trend to continue’ - Tata Steel CEO

Serving Harris, Fort Bend and Surrounding Counties for 30 years Vol. 32 No. 32 • FRIDAY, August 17, 2018 Published Weekly from Houston

24 Pages (2 sections)

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Flood toll in India's tourist hotspot Kerala jumps to 67

IACCGH Gala focus on IndiaTexas ties for Houston

OCHI, India | AFP | 8/15/2018 - The flood toll in India's southern tourist hotspot of Kerala jumped to 67 after another 25 deaths were reported Wednesday, with more than 50,000 people seeking shelter in relief camps, a state official told AFP. Kerala, famed for its pristine palm-lined beaches and tea plantations, is battered by the monsoon every year but the rains have been particularly severe this season, flooding hundreds of villages and prompting the authorities to suspend flights in and out of the region. "Twenty five deaths were confirmed earlier in the evening. The situation is bad in many parts of the state and the number (of deaths) will likely increase," a senior official from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority told AFP.

Hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed by floods that have ravaged Kerala during the monsoon. (Photo: AFP).

TAGH holds grand Bonalu, popular Telugu festival in Houston India's Consul General, Dr. Anupam Ray presenting 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award to Chitranjan Aku Patel, President of Karat 22 as IACCGH President Swapan Dhairyawan(far left), Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia look on. Photo credit: Bijay Dixit. by Manu Shah

Unconfirmed local media reports mentioned a much higher toll and cited ongoing efforts to reach many flooded areas. The official added that authorities had issued a "red-alert"

Women dressed in rich silks carry Bonam a new brass or earthen pot containing offerings to the Goddess Mahankali. Read report on Page 11.

Continued on Page 12

OUSTON - "Think India, Think Texas – Leverage Houston,” IACCGH’s theme for the year was spotlighted at their 19th annual gala held on August 11th at the Hilton Americas downtown. The event saw a cross section of over 800 plus business leaders, top tier professionals and elected officials. The Keynote Speaker was Texas Governor Greg Abbott while Guests of Honor were Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray, Judge Ed Emmett and Mayor Sylvester Turner. Continued on Page 10

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COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

VOICE OF ASIA 2

by Bhamy V. Shenoy

VOICE OF ASIA Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Marketing Director: Office Manager:

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

Contributors: Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Mala Sharma

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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: 713-7745143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol. com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com

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

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his is not the usual kind of article written to support a candidate. This is written at a time when US history may take a different turn if we the people abdicate our responsibility of living in a democracy and do not bring change in governance by electing candidates to neutralize the current occupant of the white house. It discusses just two strategic reasons to support the candidacy of Sri Preston Kulkarni for Congress by all Houstonians - Democrats or Republicans

I am a Houstonian since 1968 when Sharpstown Mall was the largest. I have worked and lived in different parts of the world while working for Conoco and USAID. I had the rare opportunities to learn about the devastating impact of communism, awe inspiring democratic socialism of Scandinavian countries, super liberal economies of west European countries, and struggling developing countries trying to get out of grinding poverty. I am sure that like me many other Americans also had even richer experiences because of the inclusive, progressive and visionary policies of all the presidents irrespective of whether they were from republican or democratic party. However the current resident of the White House who himself did not believe that he would be elected (for any doubt-

EW DELHI, Aug 14 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind asserted on Tuesday that contentious issues and extraneous debates should not be allowed to distract us at a "pivotal moment" when the country is at the cusp of achieving many long-awaited goals In his televised address to the nation on the eve of India's 72nd Independence Day, Kovind recalled Mahatma Gandhi's "most noble mantra" on the power of 'ahinsa'(non-violence) being far greater than the power of 'hinsa' (violence), remarks that come against the backdrop of incidents of lynching and mob violence in some parts of the country

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Kulkarni for Congress: To make history all Houstonians - Democrats and Republicans should support him ers, please read “Fire and Fury” by Michael Wolff) has changed every thing not only for new immigrants like myself, but also for several generations of earlier immigrants like the mother of Kulkarni. We have yet to digest the aftermath of the tragedy of Charlottesville where Trump found “good” people on both the sides. What a shocking but revealing statement from the President! If this is creating hostility between different groups of people in the US, his Irrational and dictatorial policies of dealing with the friendly countries will have far reaching impact lasting for decades to come. Yes, we need to reduce trade deficit. Yes, other rich countries in NATO should bear costs, Yes, Iran should be prevented from having nuclear weapons. However, much rational policies based on sound advice from experts could have been tried without creating hostilities towards the US. Yes, we need to uphold the rule of law by punishing illegal immigrants. But can we be so uncivilized and inhuman to separate babies from their parents? Just one example to show

ibility and freedom from the US threats. This will lead to dethroning dollar as the only world currency. It will have devastating impact on the US economy. One sure way of stopping this devastation is to put democrats in charge of the house of representatives. It is for that important reason Sri Kulkarni should be supported by all. A red state electing some one like Kulkarni who has exposure to different cultures and talk six languages by unseating a republican will create history. Another equally important reason to elect Kulkarni is for his super educational and work qualifications - degree in liberal Plan II honors from UT and Public administration from Harvard. He has worked in war torn and conflict ridden countries and was an advisor to a senator. Who will leave a cushy job of working abroad with all perks to take up social service? This clearly shows the desire on the part of Kulkarni to serve his country. For all of the reasons discussed in this article, Houstonians should create history by electing an outstanding leader like Kulkarni as Congressman.

Sri Preston Kulkarni

how Trump policies will set the US on downward slope of development. Implementing policy of zero oil export by Iran is one sided and opposed by all friendly countries. Trump is getting ready to implement such a draconian policy by threatening to put strict sanctions against any country which will not comply with the US. US has threatened that it will not allow access to financial transactions. More than likely most countries will comply. However it is likely to force them to start the process of developing financial system which will give greater flex-

Let contentious issues, extraneous debates not distract us India's President's I-Day message to the nation cerns over their privacy and safety "We are at a juncture in our history that is very different from any period we have so far experienced. We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals

Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extra-

neous debates not distract us," Kovind said The president said that every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead Continued on Page 6

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VOICE OF ASIA 3

Section 1

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Tel: 713-774-5140

Enlivening Bharatanatyam performance by Meera Vashisht

Meera Vashisht performing Bharatanatyam By Sanchali Basu rangetram is the first formal solo performance of a student in the Indian classical Bharatanatyam style of dance. Meera Vashisht, the pride and joy of parents Sunanda and Ashu Vashisht created a memorable evening on August 4, at the Kaplan Theater with her Arangetram performance. The presence of several dignitaries made the evening more special. Guests were greeted with unique appetizers catered by Sunil Srivastava of Verandah by W’kana during the social hour. The program started with brief introductory remarks by mother Sunanda, introducing emcee Vasundhara Kambhampati. Meera made an immediate connection with the audience with Gajanana Gajamukham when she paid obeisance to the God of auspicious beginnings, elephant-faced Lord Ganesha. She showed her prowess in execution of complex rhythmic sequences set to varying patterns with her next dance, Jatiswaram.

Congressman, Pete Olson praised Meera for upholding Indian culture and art through her dance. Varnam, the longest, most important and demanding dance of the repertoire, was a Sri Rama Vandana performed effortlessly with tremendous poise and grace, reflecting her long hours of practice. Her mastery of Abhinaya (expression through hand, face, body gestures and mime) brought the entire story of the destruction of the demons, Rama’s marriage to Seeta and the victory over Ravana to life. CGI Dr. Anupam Ray congratulated Meera for achieving this milestone and lauded Guru Rathna Kumar for her untiring, relentless work in training and producing dancers of the highest quality over a long period of 43 years. Madhav Madan Murari, the next item was dedicated to Lord Krishna, where his playful and all merciful nature were depicted through enacting several key incidents of his life. Gale Bhujang, followed, praising the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, with a

Meera Vashisht in another graceful pose. gratitude towards Rathna, and all her friends who helped out in every way possible. In Jaya Durge, Meera demonstrated skillfully the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffaloheaded Mahishasura. The Tillana that ensued was a

beautifully descriptive unusual composition about Krishna and the Gopis. The concluding Mangalam was an offering of grateful homage to God, Mother Earth, the Guru and the musicians. The recital was followed by a sumptuous dinner for the guests.

Meera Vashisht, student of Guru Rathna Kumar performing at her Arangetram on August 3, 2018. Photos by Murali Santhana. snake around his neck, the moon and Ganga adorning his matted locks, trident held aloft in one hand and his beloved consort Parvati by his side. Vedantist Joseph Emmett complimented Meera on her accomplishment. Two of Meera’s friends spoke very highly of Meera’s passion and dedication towards dance. Guru Rathna Ku-

mar emotionally expressed her satisfaction, joy and fulfillment in training the exceptionally talented, sincere Meera. She applauded that despite her roots being in Northern India, Meera had no difficulty in mastering the South Indian dance form. She awarded Meera her graduation certificate. The musicians, vocalist N. N. Sivaprasad, flautist B. Muthukumar, mridangam player N. K.

Kesavan, Guru Rathna Kumar, teacher Venugopal Josyula, lighting director Seetha Ratnakar, makeup artist Beth Hardin were given tokens of appreciation. Meera thanked her parents, Guru, family members who had traveled long distances, the emcee, helpers and well-wishers. Sunanda was also very emotional in expressing her

Meera Vashisht's captivating Abhinaya!

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VOICE OF ASIA 4

CULTURE

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Incredible India: Cultural Connections

Anuj and Kantika Mishra and Neha Singh. Below:Sandip Mallick

OUSTON - Samskriti, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Houston, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India, and the Battery Dance Company, New York, will be presenting INCREDIBLE INDIA: CULTURAL CONNECTIONS at the Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, on Saturday, August 18, 2018, to mark the 72nd Anniversary of In-dia’s Independence. The unique feature of this year’s program is the Houston debut of a group of brilliant Kathak dancers and musicians from Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata. Dancers par excelence Sandip Mallick, Anuj Mishra, Piyush Chauhan, Preeti Sharma, Neha Singh and Kantika Mishra will be joined by musicians Subhasis Acharya (vocals), Biplab Bhattacharya (Tabla) and Sunando Mukherjee (Sarod). The cultural connections will be provided by Egyptian Tanoura dancer Sal Maktoub, Flamenco dancer Ana Maria Barcelo and the Anjali Dance Company. This program not only shows the dynamism and virtuosity of the Kathak dance form but also proves, beyond any doubt, that it shares common features with dance forms from other parts of the world, such as the spinning and turning movements of the Whirling Dervishes of Egypt and the rhythmic footwork of Flamenco from Spain. A stunning finale will feature a dance ‘debate’ be-tween Flamenco and Kathak dancers and musicians. You will not want to miss this unique op-portunity to witness such an extraordinary coming together of East and West in dance. INCREDIBLE INDIA is FREE to the public and will take place at 8.15 pm. It has been funded in part by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Consulate General of India in Houston.

n a country as diverse and complex as India, it is not surprising to find that people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian. From the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the cultivated peninsula of far South, from the deserts of the West to the humid deltas of the East, from the dry heat and cold of the Central Plateau to the cool forest foothills, Indian lifestyles clearly glorify the geography. The beauty of the Indian people lies in the spirit of tolerance, give-and-take and a composition of cultures that can be compared to a garden of flowers of various colours and shades of which, while maintaining their own entity, lend harmony and beauty to the garden - India!

Above: Ana Maria Barcelo

Sal Maktoub

VOICE OF ASIA 5

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place Section 1

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Dr. Marvin D. Atkins Jr. joins Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates

Marvin D. Atkins Jr., M.D., cardiothoracic & vascular surgeon

UGAR LAND— (August 15, 2018) - Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates in Sugar Land is pleased to announce that Marvin D. Atkins Jr., M.D., is joining the practice, on Aug. 15.

Atkins, a native Texan from Corpus Christi, received his doctor of medicine degree with honors from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed a general surgery residency at Scott & White Hospital and Clinic in Temple, Texas, a cardiothoracic surgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, as well as a vascular surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Harvard Medical School’s first teaching hospital. Atkins completed fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery. The primary focus of his practice is management of

aortic aneurysms and dissection, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease. “The current management of valvular heart disease, as well as aortic and peripheral arterial disease, has shifted to minimally invasive repair when appropriate.” said Atkins. “This has provided patients with equivalent or better outcomes and an easier and faster recovery process. My goal is to bring such treatments to the Fort Bend area so that patients can get quality care closer to home. “ “Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has invested in people and technology to build an impressive cardiovascular service line that benefits the Fort Bend community,” Atkins said. “I am pleased to join the team at Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates and help continue the tradition of excellence that has been created.” Atkins joins Drs. Jean Bismuth and Charlie Cheng at Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates, which is located on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus in Medical Office Building 3, Suite 410. To make an appointment, call 713.352.1820. To learn more about the practice, visit houstonmethodist.org/spg. For the latest news, events and information visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland.

Tel: 713-774-5140

FBISD Board of Trustees call November 6 bond election $992.6 million includes funding for new construction, safety and security upgrades, campus renovations to address maintenance and adequacy, and technology and transportation needs

ORT BEND ISD (August 13, 2018) – During its August 13 meeting, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call a November 6 bond election to address capital needs related to new construction, safety and security, renovations to address maintenance and adequacy throughout the District, and transportation and technology. The development of the $992.6 million bond referendum follows an extensive Facilities Master Planning process that began in January of 2018 to ensure that the District is providing the best learning environments, valuable opportunities and access to programs in accordance with the Boardadopted Profile of a Graduate. This Facilities Master Planning process helped to identify construction projects and other life-cycle maintenance and adequacy needs essential for the next six years, and led to the development of an updated capital plan. This capital plan also includes additional funding for safety and security, technology, and transportation needs. The $992.6 million bond referendum will fund the first of a two-phase, six-year plan to address capital needs in the District, which is expected to serve more than 85,000 students by the year 2027. Phase one includes the $992.6 million bond referendum, followed by a projected $705.2 million bond plan in 2021. The $992.6 November 6,

Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees 2018 bond referendum includes: $403.4 million for new construction, rebuilds and additions, including the construction of three elementary campuses, design of one middle school, construction of one high school, the rebuild of Lakeview Elementary and Meadows Elementary, and additions at Madden Elementary and Neill Elementary. $396.5 million to address life-cycle deficiencies and educational adequacy across the

District. $14.9 million to fund safety and security upgrades and investments. $10.6 million for transportation. $142.6 million for technology. $19.7 million for future land purchases. While a successful bond election would not necessitate any immediate change in the tax rate of $1.32, a potential three penny increase may be

needed during the duration of the three-year program, with the earliest increase not until 2020. Even with a three-penny increase, at $1.35, Fort Bend ISD would still have one of the lowest projected tax rates compared to other districts nearby, and with a lower debt per student ratio. Note: Taxpayers who have established Over 65 or Disabled Persons exemptions would not be impacted by a potential tax increase, as they have established tax ceilings on their homesteads and those ceilings will not be impacted.

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Eid 2018: When is Eid Al Adha? How and when is Eid celebrated? ID AL-ADHA is an Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide

id al-Adha 2018 will begin in the evening of August 21 and end in the evening of August 25.

The dates changes every year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

However, the date also depends on the sighting of the Crescent Moon. The visibility depends on the weather conditions, so the exact date can never be predicted with certainty. The Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia first announced the exact date of Eid Al Adha as August 21 after the Zul Hijjah moon was sighted on Saturday evening. Bakra Eid, another word for Eid al-Adha or Eid ul Adha, is a public holiday in Muslim countries. How and when is Eid celebrated?

Eid al-Adha 2018: Eid al-Adha will being in the evening of 21 August (Photo: Getty Images)

- praising him for his obedience.

fortunate people can afford to celebrate as well.

Today, those who can afford it sacrifice a sheep or a goat to celebrate Eid Al Adha as a reminder of the story.

Bakra Eid also marks the end Hajj, a pilgrimage that takes Muslims to the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Eid al-Adha usually starts with prayers at the Mosque, thanking Allah for the blessings they have received.

Approximately two million Muslims makes the five-day religion journey every year.

Here, they also exchange the greeting “Eid Mubarak” which means “blessed Eid”. It is also mandatory for people with money to give an amount to charity, so less

The event expects Muslims to pray, dress in their best clothes and give gifts to others, but it is first and foremost a special occasion to celebrate with friends and family. -Express.co.uk

Eid al-Adha isl known as the festival of sacrifice and the special occasion includes prayers, greetings and gifts of various kinds.

Continued from page 2 in the line lives up to the principles of the country's freedom struggle

Highlighting the role of farmers in providing food security to fellow citizens and the contribution by the country's armed and police forces in battling terrorism and ensuring law and order, he said every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment is upholding the principles of our freedom struggle He said the decisions the country takes today, the foundations we lay, the projects we undertake, the social and economic investments we make today ? whether for the immediate future or for the medium term ? will determine where we stand "The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate," the president noted Stressing that women have a special role in the society, he said the expansion of freedom in our country in many senses amounts to the expansion of freedom for women in our country. "This is true whether we see them as mothers, sisters, daughters or simply as women who are entitled to a life of their choosing ? and deserving of the opportunity and the security to fulfil their potential"

The holiday celebrates the occasion when Allah came to Ibrahim in a dream, and asked him to sacrifice his son Isma’il as an act of obedience to God. Ibrahim was tempted by the devil, saying he should spare his son. But as he was about to sacrifice Isma’il, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb instead

India's Prez's I-Day message to the nation

"It's a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it," Kovind said

The event takes place on different dates every year, as it follows the Islamic lunar calendar and not the international Gregorian calendar.

Last year, the start of the festival began on September 1 and next year it will most likely fall on August 10.

Let contentious issues, extraneous debates not distract us

Muslims pray during Eid al-Fitr 2017 at Jama Masjid mosque in New Dehli (Photo: AFP/Getty)

The president said women could do this as sheet-anchors

India's President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the nation on the eve of 72nd Independence Day. of families or as absolutely critical entrants to institutions of higher learning and India's workforce "The choice is theirs; as a nation and as a society we must ensure that they have the right and the ability to exercise that choice," the president said Kovind said the reality is that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctor's ethic, the nurse's ethic, the teacher's ethic, the public servant's ethic, the factory worker's ethic, the business-person's ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents who brought them up with love and sacrifice ?-each of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom He said Independence Day is always special, but this year there is an unusual significance attached to it as in a few weeks, on October 2, India will begin the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi "Mahatma Gandhi Everywhere, across continents,

Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India," the president said Kovind said Gandhi spoke of swadeshi with an uncommon zeal and to him Indian civilisation was defined by open windows and not closed doors "This was his concept of swadeshi and it is still relevant to us as we engage with the world ? whether for our economy, our health, education and social aspirations, or our policy choices," the president said, and asked all to adapt Gandhi's ideas and maxim to everyday's work to celebrate our freedom and Indianness He said this Indianness is not for us alone. "It is part of what our country and our civilisation bring to the global stage." Kovind said the outcome of education is not merely a degree or a diploma, but the commitment to help improve the life of another in a way that is sustainable "This is empathy and fraternity in action. This is the Indian spirit. This is India, because India belongs to the people of India ? not just to the government," he added.

VOICE OF ASIA 7

Eid Special

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

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FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Aadi Sukravara Deepa Pooja Sensational Singing Duo at Sri Meenakshi Temple Samir and Dipalee Live in Concert in Houston A Mousumi Banerjee Entertainment Presentation

Devotees partaking in the Deepa Pooja with thier offering. by Nachal Sethuraman adi Sukravara Deepa Pooja was celebrated with great divinity on August 10th 2018,Friday at Sri Meenakshi Temple. The Fridays of Aadi, the tamil month is considered very sacred for Shakthi and Lakshmi worship. Symbollically the Deepam (oil lamps) are considered to be the place where Lakshmi resides. Ladies invoke Goddess Lakshmi in the lamps and do Pooja to the lamp, following Preist’s instructions. Preists Sri Sridharan Raghavan, Sri Pawan Kumar, Sri Sriman Narayana and Sri Satish conducted a wonderful Deepa Pooja by decorating the Altar with Urchava murthis of Sri Venkateshwara, Bhoodevi and Sree Devi along with a Kalasam and 8 lamps considered to be the Ashtalakshmi Devata . Many ladies took part in the pooja and simple Dinner and Prasadam was served after the Pooja. The event was co ordinated by Nachal Sethuraman and Saro Alagappan

OUSTON - The Entertainment Company is launching its first show: Samir and Dipalee Live in Concert on Sept. 22nd with the award winning Bollywood playback singer couple Samir Date and their musical ensemble at the Stafford Civic Center. Samir has worked with acclaimed singers, music directors and film directors like Yash Chopra, Asha Bhosle, Shiv-Hari, Raam Laxman, Sooraj Barjatya, Bappi Lahiri, Suresh Wadkar, Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurty, Ekta Kapoor and others. Dipalee stormed the citadel of music when she was only nine years. The couple have toured the world with over 300 international shows to their credit. Their 30 concert

Diesties, Sri Venkateshwara, Bhoodevi and Sree Devi adored for the pooja along with a Kalasam and 8 lamps.

Samir and Dipalee tour in 2016 covered Jamaica, Canada, Holland, United Kingdom and West Indies. Samir has sung playback for Hindi films like Jazbaat, Parampara and Fauj has also hosted TV shows while Dipalee is a SAREGAMA Star and 4 times govt. award winner. She has twice been honored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her singing achievements. She is the 3- time recipient of the Gujarat State Award for the Best Playback Singer for the years: 2004, 2008 and 2009. She has also sung many Marathi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi and Rajasthani songs. Her recently released solo for the film Chooriyan has been very well received. Major sponsors of the event include: Amiralli Dodhiya, Agent, New York Life, Ashar Jafri of Tara Energy, Embassy Suites Energy Corridor, Umang Mehta of Deep Foods Inc., and a few others including local media. “I am very enthusiastic hosting this concert on the behalf of my Entertainment Company. It

is challenging but exciting. It is my request to the community to please support and be a part of the concert. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Indo American Charity Foundation.” urges Mousumi Banerjee, Promoter and CEO. Mousumi Banerjee Entertainment Company was established in 2018 as an entertainment company specializing in Concert, Promotion, Talent Promotion and Cultural Event Promotion. Mousumi Banerjee, CEO has years of event hosting experience from working relentlessly helping Houston’s non-profit organizations like India House, CRY, SEWA International and currently a Director of Indo American Charity Foundation in their fundraising efforts. She has promoted both large and smallscale events all over Houston. For more information about Mousumi Banerjee Entertainment visit: https://www. facebook.com/Mousumi-Banerjee-2046130342332317/, email mousumib@yahoo.com orcall 832-841-5727.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

IACCGH Gala focus on IndiaTexas ties for Houston

Award recipients L to R: Standing: Dr. Alan Lumsden, Michael Hess, Carlecia Wright, Amar Naga, Rustom Mody Sitting: Jewel Smith, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Aruna Viswanathan

Pumps and Pipes Society Award recipients: IACCGH President Swapan Dhairyawan, Michael Hess, Rustom Mody, Dr. Anupam Ray, Dr. William Kline, Dr. Alan Lumsden, Judge Ed Emmett and IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia. Photos credit: Bijay Dixit.

Continued from Page 1 Megha Chandna, Serene Kaggal and Ishya Kachru rendered the American, Indian National Anthems and the State Song of Texas respectively. Past President and Director Sanjay Ramabhadran, who served as Emcee, set the tone for the evening by highlighting Governor Greg Abbott’s recent trade mission to India. He stated that the visit, which was covered by abc13, not only brought “Incredible India” to living rooms of Texans but went a long way in deepening economic and cultural ties between Texas and India. Describing the Chamber as a “community dream in 1999 and now a significant reality” – Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia emphasized the Chamber’s efforts in collaborating with over 30 Chambers of Commerce and economic agencies in promoting economic activity in Houston, many of whom were present in the room. He thanked the City of Hempstead for choosing IACCGH to introduce itself to the Indo American community in its drive to attract investment in Hempstead. A “household name” in Harris County, Judge Ed Emmett lauded the “ordinary people who did extraordinary things” during Hurricane Harvey and stated that the evening was celebrating not just the

achievements of the Chamber but also those individuals who are “truly making a difference.”

ducing Keynote Speaker Governor Greg Abbott who he described as “a remarkable man on an extraordinary journey.”

Mayor Turner referred to his upcoming delegation in October to build a stronger relationship between Houston and India and the $12 billion trade that currently exists between the two. The diversity of its people, he stressed, has helped Houston overcome many challenges and pledged to build a city that will be “a shining example of diversity and inclusion.”

In a nod to the Chamber’s mission of impacting economic advancement in Houston, Governor Abbott appreciated the vital role of the Chamber in the economic success of not only Houston but for “elevating the Texas economy.” He also spoke at length about his successful trade mission to India in March this year. The first Governor in the country to do so, he described India’s economy as “dynamic” and the “tremendous sense in aligning economically” with India. Governor Abbott held meetings with business leaders like Anand Mahindra of Mahindra and Mahindra, Sajjan Jindal of JSW Steel and Azim Premji of Wipro who all have sizable investments in Texas. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a rare honor, for over an hour to discuss future possibilities between India and Texas.

President Swapan Dhairyawan offered an update on the year’s events and highlighted the Chamber’s Outreach efforts to help small businesses affected by Hurricane Harvey rebuild. A recent decision by the Chamber Board to make the Presidency a two year term was put into effect this year making him the first President to continue serving the Chamber in 2019. He expressed his willingness and stated that this decision would “allow for greater continuity” in initiatives and programs. “India brings everyone together” was Consul General Dr. Anupam’s Ray’s opening remark. India, he noted, is on an upward trajectory, an emerging power, the fastest growing economy in the world and the fastest growing market for companies like Amazon, Walmart and Netflix. Dr. Ray also did the honors of intro-

The evening also recognized accomplishments in innovation, economic impact and entrepreneurship. The award for Innovation was presented to the Pumps and Pipes Society, technology giant Wipro was awarded the Inbound Investment award and the Entrepreneur of the Year award went to President of Karat 22, Chitranjan Aku Patel. The Women in Business: Making a Difference award was presented to Carlecia Wright, Director of

IACCGH Board of Directors and guests with Governor Greg Abbott.

Consul General Dr. Ray and IACCGH members present the souvenir to Governor Abbott. the City of Houston – Office of Business Opportunity, Jewel Smith, Supplier Diversity Manager at CenterPoint Energy and Aruna Viswanathan, Chief Operating Manager at Alphax Decision Sciences.

A special supplement highlighting the Chamber achievements over the past 19 years was released by Houston Business Journal’s publisher Bob Charlet. A fusion dance performance from Frank Sinatra, Beatles to Bollywood by

Infused Performing Arts provided the entertainment for the evening. The program ended with many accolades from the attendees. For more information visit www.iaccgh.com

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 11

by Rajender Aparasu

OUSTON: The Telangana Association of Greater Houston (TAGH) successfully organized “Thanksgiving” festival of Bonalu for the fourth year at Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir on August 5. The rainy weather did not dampen the fervor and gaiety of over 600 participants.

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

TAGH holds grand Bonalu, popular Telugu festival in Houston

Finally, the program ended with delicious festive cuisine exclusively prepared by Biryani Pot Restaurant. The families enjoyed the traditional dinner served by TAGH volunteers. This year’s event was led by Padma Kothakonda (Chair) and Kavitha Ganta (Co-chair) with strong support from the organizing committee, volunteers, media sponsors, and local organizations. Vijay Devireddy, President of TAGH, thanked the volunteers for various activities ranging from stage set-up, food, and other services. The TAGH Board also thanked the donors and Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir. TAGH is reaching out to the communities for their next signature event, Bathukamma, to be held in at the India House on October 13, 2018.

Bonalu started in the 1800s during a major outbreak of plague in twin cities of Hyderabad and Seconderabad. People offered prayers to Goddess Mahankali to prevent the spread of the disease and to save lives. Bonalu has now become the annual “Thanksgiving” festival in greater Hyderabad and many parts of Telangana for Goddess Mahankali, the savior for good health and prosperity. Bonam means Bhojanam in Telugu, a meal, which is an offering to Goddess Mahankali. Women prepare rice cooked with milk, jaggery in a new brass or earthen pot adorned with neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion and a lighted diya on the top of the pot. Women carry the pots on their heads and make offering of Bonam along with turmeric, vermilion, bangles and saree to the Mother Goddess across the temples. Bonalu is also referred to as Ashada Jatra Utsavalu as it falls in the month of Ashada Masam or around July/August. The festivities are celebrated by people of Telangana at temples of Mahankali or her other various forms such as Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleram-

ma, Maremma, Nookalamma etc. Bonalu was declared as a state festival by the Telangana government because of its importance to the people of the newly formed state. TAGH has been organizing Boonalu for the past few years to preserve Telangana’s rich culture and tradition. This year’s Bonalu festivi-

ties started with puja at 6:30 pm by Sri Suresh and Madhusudhan Shastry, resident priests of Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, by invoking the Goddess Mahakali to drive out evil and rein in prosperity. A beautifully decorated stage was created inside the temple for Bonalu with alankaram, the decoration where people gath-

IACF 2018 Annual Gala to celebrate 30 Years in Charity Saturday, October 6, 2018 Image: IACF Directors with over 30 representatives of partnering Charites in Houston that received grants from IACF in 2017.

OUSTON, TEXAS — Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF) will hold its annual gala featuring Bhavesh V. ‘Bob’ Patel, CEO of LyndollBasell as the Keynote Speaker on Saturday, October 6, 2018, at Stafford Centre on Cash Road. Themed as, ‘Thirty in Charity’, the event will commemorate its 30 years of philanthropic, health, education and general welfare service supporting charities, individuals and organizations that share its mission to serve communities in the Greater Houston areas.

of Houstonians. IACF’s motto: “We live here, we give here” embodies its initiatives in the areas Education, Healthcare, Family welfare and Charity.

The gala funds raised will support IACF’s 2018 programs and services and will support thousands of Houstonians. IACF gave $200,000 to Mayor’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to support hurricane Harvey victims last year. Our sponsors will be joined by other supporters in recognizing individuals and groups as “Angles of Charity’ and “Friends of Charity” on the IACF has for the last 30 years occasion. been raising funds to help supABOUT IACF port local organizations that Indo-American Charare new and/or in need of aid to provide services to thousands ity Foundation is a non-profit

charitable organization that helps the underprivileged and needy with monetary and volunteer work contributions through established and emerging organizations [501(c)3] in the Greater Houston Area. Indo-American Charity Foundation was founded in 1988 by a group of Houstonians of Indian origin (Indo- American) compelled by an altruistic desire to give back to their local community. Their mission to help the underprivileged originated with the effort to fight hunger, and has now developed into a multi-faceted philanthropic endeavor to help those in need of health, education and human services in the Greater Houston Area. For more details visit www.iacfhouston.com/

Free Yoga for Diabetes Houston Camp Sewa in association with VYASA is conducting 10day yoga camps as part of Stop Diabetes Movement (SDM). This camp is free for Diabetics, however there is a deposit required to attend which is completely refunded once you complete the 10 day

the experience more enjoyable. The procession ended indoors with ladies and girls dancing around Bonalu. The energy and enthusiasm for the dance and music showed the devotion to the Goddess Mahashakthi and her various forms. For many, this year’s festivities reminded them of their childhood Bonalu in their native land.

camp. The next set of SDM camps will be held from September 14th till 23rd. These camps will be held at various locations around Houston - Katy, Sugarland & West Oaks Mall and will be held for 10 con-

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ered to receive the blessings of the Goddess. Decoration team, led by Padma Kothakonda, spent endless hours to create a perfect stage for Bonalu. The participants brought over 30 Bonams to this stage and the procession started following the puja, the signature activity of Bonalu festival. Jay Reddy from Washington, DC, led the

procession as Pothraju, brother of Goddess Mahankali. Ladies wearing colorful festival sarees carried Bonam on their heads and men danced to the dole and music. The drum beats and pulsating folk songs were captivating and energizing the participants. The fireworks during the procession made

TAGH, a USA registered non-profit organization, was formed in 2014 by the Telangana Non Resident Indians in greater Houston Area to provide a platform for literary, cultural, educational, social and developmental activities in Houston and in Telangana. For future TAGH events and volunteering, please contact the organizers at taghgroup@ gmail.com or visit www.tagh. org/

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

UH Nursing Leadership, Nursing Council NRIs can’t get tricolor shipped to them of India create exchange opportunities by Shailesh Menon

UMBAI:It’s Independence Day. You are, say, an NRI in the US, and you want to hoist the Indian tricolour in your yard. You have ordered a madein-India national flag several weeks ago but August 15 comes and goes, the flag doesn’t arrive. So, the NRI flies a Chinamade Indian national flag. What happened? Did the courier company mess up? No. Courier companies don’t want to send the tricolour across Indian borders.

he University of Houston College of Nursing and the Indian Nursing Council began a new chapter in academic exchange following the signing of a memorandum of understanding and a trip to New Delhi, India. Kathryn Tart, professor and founding dean of the college, together with Associate Professor Shainy Varghese, participated in a two-day conference with the Indian Nursing Council, June 27 -28. Fifty nursing programs from around India were in attendance, selected to create the Nurse Practitioner Critical Care program (NPCC). The selection process was based on recommendations from the Indian Nursing Council and a willingness from the nursing programs themselves to participate. “India has begun the process for advanced practice nursing care and have many obstacles to overcome, not least of which is the current salary of nurses, and what those salaries would look like with Nurse Practitioner or Doctorate of Nursing Practice degrees,” Tart said. The Nurse Practitioner Critical Care programs in India will be of support to hospitals to increase the number of higher educated nurses that will be trained to care for critically ill patients. The nurse practitioners will work closely with physicians to provide treatment and care for patients in intensive care units. Of those programs participating in the conference, four expressed interest in creating a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Graduates of the Nurse Practitioner Critical Care program will be eligible to pursue the doctoral program. The DNP is a professional graduate degree which focuses on the clinical aspects

Flood toll in India's .. Continued from Page 1 warning in all 14 districts of the flood-ravaged state, with heavy downpours expected over the next 24 hours in many of the worst affected areas. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office announced on Twitter that Kochi International Airport -- the main gateway to the region -would be closed until Saturday "due to heavy rains and resultant flooding". Vijayan held emergency meetings with rescue officials in the state late Wednesday and discussed the situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The chief minister has requested the deployment of additional personnel from the Indian army, navy and other emergency forces who are already working across the state, which is home to around 33 million people. Authorities have opened the gates of 34 reservoirs as water reached dangerous levels. Vijayan's office on Wednesday said that the authorities were also worried about rising water levels in the massive Mullaperiyar dam, and urged officials in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu to release water from the reservoir. Hundreds of villages have been flooded, more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of roads and thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged across the state, officials said. "We have asked all airlines, domestic and foreign, to reschedule their Cochin flights either from Trivandrum or from Calicut," Suresh Prabhu, India's civil aviation minister said on Twitter. "For international flights, this will require special dispensation which has been granted considering the emergency DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) is coordinating," he added. The US embassy last week advised Americans to avoid Kerala, which drew more than one million foreign tourists last year, according to official data.

Most international courier companies —FedEx, TNT, UPS or DHL — do not accept the tricolour as a consignment to be shipped overseas. Nobody quite knows why. Even home ministry officials ET spoke to are puzzled. They said the flag code doesn’t specifically prohibit this.

Kathryn Tart, professor and founding dean of the college with Associate Professor Shainy Varghese, uring a two-day conference with the Indian Nursing Council, in India Photo credit: UH, College of Nursing, Sugar Land. of a disease process and uses evidenced-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Nurses in India with a DNP will have completed the highest level of training in nursing practice. Conference attendees learned about programs at the UH College of Nursing, and about nursing leadership, advocacy and philanthropy in a presentation by Tart on “Nurses at the Table.” Varghese gave a presentation on “Nurse Practi-

tioner and Doctorate of Nursing Practice Programs in the USA.” The UH Nursing officials met with nursing leadership from two New Delhi hospitals, Apollo and AIMS, and toured both facilities. “The hospital tours and meetings with nursing leadership helped us to understand the Indian aspects of patient care and how the NPCC nurses could be utilized in the intensive care

units of the hospitals,” Varghese said. Officials at the college and the Indian Nursing Council will further this new relationship by developing opportunities for nursing education in India and the University of Houston College of Nursing through academic and leadership exchange. For more information on the UH College of Nursing, visit http://www.uh.edu/nursing/

But flag makers in India say something else. “None of the foreign couriers accept the tricolour… They don’t tell you why they’re not accepting it. They simply return the package to us saying: the tricolour

can’t be transported or delivered abroad,” said Gyan Shah, owner of The Flag Corporation, a Mumbai-based flag maker. The courier companies were wary of speaking on the record on the issue. An UPS spokesperson said: “Certain items have strict compliance procedures or guidelines for export… Shipping of such items is subject to conditions and restrictions”. Off record, people familiar with the issue say courier companies are reluctant to send national flags across borders because they feel such flags are a “restricted item”. Another person said that one way round this is for an Indian manufacturer to ship out a bunch of national flags by marking the consignment as “sample fabric”. Congress leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who argued the famous national flag case for Naveen Jindal in the SC, told ET there should not be any blanket ban on transporting the tricolour across borders.

NRIs not allowed to file RTIs: Government "Non-Resident Indians are not eligible to file RTI applications," Jitendra Singh said.

EW DELHI - PTI|Aug 10, 2018- Non-Resident Indians are not eligible to file Right to Information applications, the Lok Sabha was informed. In a written response on Wednesday, Minister of State

for Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh said only citizens of India have the right to seek information under the provisions of RTI Act, 2005. "Non-Resident Indians are not eligible to file RTI applications," he said.

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US stocks fall on worries about Turkey, slowing China

EW DEHLI - Tata Steel Ltd. CEO and MD T.V. Narendran on Wednesday said the steel sector had been witnessing a positive growth and this trend would continue with improving economic activities across the world.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.5 percent to 25,162.41.

Turkey hiked tariffs on imports of several key US products in retaliation for American sanctions against Ankara, the latest sign of uncertainty in a key emerging economy. Jack Ablin of Cresset Wealth Advisors said selling in stocks and buying of “safe” assets like the dollar and yen suggested a “general risk aversion” among investors.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) ties,” Cruz said. Cruz also pointed to rising uncertainty over China following recent weak macroeconomic data and disappointing China tech sector earnings that also rattled investors in US tech issues. Amazon, Facebook and Netflix all fell.

The dollar was further boosted by strong US retail sales data, which dragged on shares of US exporters, said Shawn Cruz, manager of trader strategy, TD Ameritrade.

Tesla Motors dropped 2.6 following reports US securities regulators have subpoenaed the electric car maker’s Chief Executive Elon Musk over his statements about taking the company private.

“It certainly bodes well for the US consumer” but a “lot of movement into the dollar is maybe what clipped US equi-

Macy’s dived 16.0 percent amid disappointment over the department store chain’s forecast. The retailer projected

overall annual sales ranging from flat to a 0.7 percent increase compared with fiscal 2017. Other department store chains including Nordstrom and Kohl’s also fell sharply. Constellation Brands dropped 6.1 percent after announcing a $4 billion deal to significantly boost its stake in Canopy Growth, a Canadian cannabis company. US-traded shares of Canopy Growth shot up 30.6 percent. Petroleum-linked shares such as Chevron, Apache and Halliburton fell steeply on a drop in oil prices.

Indonesia’s richest man going for gold at Asian Games

AKARTA, Indonesia | AFP | 8/15/2018 - Billionaire tobacco tycoon Michael Bambang Hartono may not be the oldest competitor at the Asian Games, but he is the richest. The 78-year-old head of cigarette giant Djarum Group is set to represent host Indonesia on its bridge team at the world’s second-biggest multi-sport event, which kicks off Saturday in Jakarta and co-host city Palembang. Hartono was narrowly beaten in the age category by 81-yearold Malaysian bridge player Lee Hung Fong -- who is seven decades older than the youngest athlete, nine-year-old Indonesian skateboarder Aliqqa Novvery Kayyisa. But unlike his octogenarian bridge rival, Hartono, along with brother Robert, has been named Indonesia’s richest man by Forbes magazine which also ranked him the 75th wealthiest in the world.

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‘Steel sector’s growth trend to continue’

EW YORK | AFP | 8/15/2018 - Wall Street stocks fell Wednesday, with technology and energy shares among the biggest losers, on worries about Turkey and a slowing Chinese economy.

The broad-based S&P 500 shed 0.8 percent to 2,818.37, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled 1.2 percent to 7,774.12.

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

‘Auto, construction spurring demand’

Talking to reporters after hoisting the Tricolour on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day at Tata Steel works here, he said the current demand for steel in the country was more than expected, buoyed by robust performance of the automobile and construction sectors. The demand for steel was projected to grow by 5-6%, but it had been 8%, Mr. Narendran said. He hailed the initiatives taken by the State and the Union government for the betterment of the steel sector. On the stock market consistently hitting new highs, Narendran said it was primarily because of the inflow of domestic savings through mutual funds. - The Hindu

Tata Steel Ltd. CEO and MD T.V. Narendran

China blasts US solar tariffs, takes WTO action US President Donald Trump approved steep tariffs on solar panel imports in January to protect US producers, triggering an outcry from China, South Korea and even protests from US solar industry

EIJING | AFP | 8/14/2018 - China has blasted US tariffs on solar panel imports, filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization in the latest salvo of the trade battle between the world’s two economic giants. US President Donald Trump approved steep tariffs on solar panel imports in January to protect US producers, triggering an outcry from China, South Korea and even protests from the US solar industry.

78-year-old billionaire tobacco baron Michael Bambang Hartono is set to represent host Indonesia on its bridge team at the world’s second-biggest multi-sport event. (Photo: AFP/Rifkianto Nugroho) Hartono is estimated to have a net worth of some $16.7 billion from his interests in tobacco, banking and communications. Talk about business -- especially his tobacco fortune -- wasn’t on the table when Hartono gave a rare media interview this week, however. “I play bridge to keep my

memory sharp. My other hobby is tai chi, which helps me stay focused,” he told domestic news agency Antara. Hartono -- who reportedly started playing bridge at age six -- was instrumental in convincing a sceptical Olympic Council of Asia to give the card game its first spot at the Asian Games.

China’s commerce ministry accused Washington of erecting trade barriers while subsidising its domestic industry. “While taking protectionist measures against imported photovoltaic products, the US provided subsidies to domestically produced photovoltaics and other renewable energy products,” the ministry said in a statement. China lodged its challenge at the WTO on Tuesday, the statement said. The US subsidies have given an unfair advantage to domestic companies and “damaged

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Beijing said the US measures are suspected of violating trade rules and that it would turn to the WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism to protect its interests. Trump’s tariffs were not popular with the US solar industry, which claimed the rising cost of imports would cause the loss of thousands of jobs. Imports of cheap Chinese panels helped triple US annual solar electricity generation between 2012 and 2016. But they also drove prices down by 60

percent, causing most US producers to stop production or declare bankruptcy, the US Trade Representative said in January. The USTR accused China of using state incentives, subsidies and tariffs to increase production and said manufacturers had evaded US tariffs by repeatedly shifting production to new countries. The United States and China have slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on tens of billions of dollars worth of goods from each country, with another round of levies scheduled to being next week.

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Here’s Liu Yifei as Mulan!

Here’s why Prabhas turned down Padmaavat

admaavat was one of the biggest hits of Bollywood in 2018. The makers faced an uphill battle for its release as the film was surrounded by many controversies. However, Padmaavat emerged victorious at the box-office when it released on 25 January this year.

Image: Disney by Lauren Evans

ast year, Disney conducted an exhaustive search for a star for its forthcoming live-action version of Mulan. It eventually settled on Chinese actress Liu Yifei, and now, the first images of her in character have been released. According to Variety, production began on Monday, and will take place in China and New Zealand. Jet Li will be there!: Jet Li will play the emperor of China, Gong Li will portray a powerful witch, and Donnie Yen will be Mulan’s mentor, Commander Tung. Yoson An will play Chen Honghui, a confident and ambitious recruit who becomes Mu-

lan’s ally and eventual love interest. The cast also includes Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee, and Chum Ehelepola. Casting directors reportedly trekked across five continents searching for an actor with both English and martial arts skills to fill the titular role. Yifei, known in China as the “Fairy Sister,” has appeared primarily in Chinese productions, but has done some American-Chinese movies like 2014’s Outcast and The Forbidden Kingdom. The film is due out March 27, 2020. So that you may truly feel old, I’ll remind you that the original animated version came out in 1998.

Gregory Peck’s grandson to play Spock in new ‘Star Trek’

In Padmaavat, Shahid Kapoor played the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh. But according to a report in a leading daily, Baahubali star Prabhas was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first choice. The report claims that Bhansali was so impressed by his performance in Baahubali that he felt Prabhas would have been the perfect fit for his character.

Rumours suggest the role and the story of the film didn’t impress him enough to come on board. (Photo: Twitter) At the time, Prabhas was preparing for the sequel of Baahubali. Although, he was interested in collaborating with a director of Bhansali’s stature, rumours suggest the role and the story of the film didn’t impress him enough to come on board.

is why Prabhas wasn’t too keen on the film. The actor reportedly wanted a role that was nothing less than Deepika’s in Padmaavat. After getting turned down by Prabhas, the makers approached Shahid who accepted the part.

Shahid Kapoor’s role in the film was secondary compared to Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s which

Prabhas will next be seen in Saaho where he is paired opposite Shraddha Kapoor. -Filmfare

We still discourage individual thought: Kalki Koechlin on mob mentality by Radhika Sharma

EW DELHI, Aug 15 (PTI) Kalki Koechlin says mob mentality continues to thrive in India as independent thought is not given an environment to flourish in, something that can only change with education. With incidents of lynching and vandalism on the rise, the actor feels there is no state of “social security” in the country. “We have no social security. There is no system that’s protecting us actually. Everybody is each to their own here. No government force is going to come and help you... There’s so much population that it’s difficult to provide services to all.

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for GQ

OS ANGELES - Actor Ethan Peck -- whose grandfather was Hollywood legend Gregory Peck -- has been cast as iconic half-Vulcan science officer Spock in CBS’s “Star Trek: Discovery.” The hiring sees the relatively obscure 32-year-old boldly go where stars Zachary Quinto and -- most famously -- Leonard Nimoy have gone before. “Through 52 years of television and film, a parallel universe and a mirror universe, Mr. Spock remains the only member of the original bridge crew to span every era of ‘Star Trek,’” executive producer Alex Kurtzman said in a statement. “The great Leonard Nimoy, then the brilliant Zachary Quinto, brought incomparable humanity to a character forever torn between logic and emotion.” The show launched in 1966 with a five-year mission “to boldly go where no man has gone before,” and became a multi-billion-dollar cultural phenomenon, adored by fans the world over. Nimoy was introduced as Spock in the original series, as the first officer to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), and both Nimoy and Quinto took on the role in the 2009-16 rebooted

trilogy. “We searched for months for an actor who would, like them, bring his own interpretation to the role,” Kurtzman added. “An actor who would, like them, effortlessly embody Spock’s greatest qualities, beyond obvious logic: empathy, intuition, compassion, confusion, and yearning.” Peck -- known for ABC sitcom “10 Things I Hate About You” -- will be unveiled in the second season of “Star Trek: Discovery,” due for release in early 2019 on the CBS All Access streaming service. Known for his quiet dignity, Peck’s grandfather was one of the great stars of Hollywood’s golden era, starring in such classic movies as “Roman Holiday” and “Cape Fear.” He picked up five Oscar nominations, winning for “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and died in June 2003 at the age of 87. The announcement comes days after British star Patrick Stewart, 78, revealed he would be reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard in a new CBS Star Trek series centering on the character’s life post “Star Trek: Next Generation,” which ran from 1987 until 1994.

“I think that makes people communal. We still discourage the individual (thought). It’s still hard to find that individual voice. Take education for that matter - we still mug up, rather than thinking for ourselves. There’s also this ignorance of ‘the other’. We are fine within our groups. That’s something that can only change with education,” Koechlin told PTI in an interview. The 34-year-old actor has explored the life of young Indian adults in the 21st century in the new BBC World Services podcast, “Kalki Presents: My Indian Life”. Bringing stories about “young Indians for young Indians” together, she says taking up the project was an eyeopening experience for her and helped her find different realities that make the country beautiful. She firmly believes that the youth will have to lead by example to change things for the better. “This was the first time I was doing a podcast. I got to know a lot about different people. I used to think I’m very knowledgeable and liberated. But even on social media, you follow the people you want to follow... So you kind of live in your bubble. When I see where these people come from...

“No government force is going to come and help you...” backgrounds starkly different from my thinking... “When we listen to those stories, we realise we are not alone and that person who might have the opposite view might actually have a very similar personal point of view...” she says. Known for speaking her mind, the actor-activist believes one’s political outlook stems from their personal experiences and a change in the point of view overtime is natural progression.

them are immediately slotted for their views. Even they feel a responsibility to stick to ‘this political spectrum’. They are unable to speak up as there is so much backlash and vehemence. They fear if they change their stand, they will be called fickle.” Koechlin, however, believes that today the country’s youth is more independent and does not lead a “double life”, unlike the earlier generations.

“Whatever strong political opinion we have ultimately come from some experience, upbringing... where something was lacking, dissatisfying has made us feel this way...

“They no longer feel the need to hide things from their parents. We are quite open about our choices. Our future depends a lot on how we are going to express ourselves... We are finally ready to take the responsibility of our independence.

“There’s a thing about opinions... They are formulated over time. They tend to change with time and you are going to change your mind many times. (In student politics), so many of

“We haven’t been doing that too much. We have been like ‘This is freedom, we have it but now what do we do with it for our country?” she says.

LEGAL

VOICE OF ASIA 15

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Family Law and Personal Injury

Mala Sharma Commercial trucks can become dangerous weapons on the road to smaller vehicles and pedestrians, weighing up to 80,000 pounds. Thus, it is extremely important for all truck drivers to be properly trained and have the ability to drive these trucks for long periods of time on the road. Unfortunately, many truck drivers become fatigued, distracted, are inexperienced or reckless drivers, suffer from lack of sleep or sleep apnea, or fall asleep on the road causing serious or even fatal accidents. If you were involved in a trucking accident, you have a right to recover all your damages and more from the at-fault party! Even if you were a family member of one in a fatal accident, you also have a right to be compensated. It is extremely important to begin the claims process immediately by an experienced attorney. All trucking companies and truckers must follow the regulations and policies controlled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FMCSA states that any per-

emotional and mental distress, and more. In order to protect your or a significant other’s interest and recover all damages caused by a negligent, careless, reckless truck driver on the road, the claim must be filed immediately. Even if you lost a family member in a trucking accident, you are also entitled to recover damages for the loss. Do not delay!

About Mala Sharma Additionally, even if a driver does not have a medical condition, truck drivers may become fatigued or distracted while driving as commercial truck drivers are required to drive many hours at a time. Although, there are regulations, drivers still may also become distracted by a phone call, text, email, eating, drinking, trying to give commands through the smart phone or searching on smart phone or tablet, or even conversations in the vehicle. Of all these, the most dangerous one is texting and driving which is a leading cause of accidents. The best ways to prove distracted or fatigued driving is to get a written statement from the at fault driver at the scene, witness’ statements, police report, etc. Those injured from a trucking accident will have tremendous amounts of economic damages including medical bills, lost wages, property damage,

Mala Sharma has been practicing family law and personal injury with her family at the Law Offices of Sharma & Associates, founded in 1997. Mala is President Emeritus of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, Board member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and South Asian Bar Association. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association. Disclaimer: This material is available for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. If you require advice on any particular legal question, you may contact Sharma & Associates at 281-893-8644 or by email at mala@sharmalaws.net to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Read previous articles on LEGAL issues by our columnist Visit us online : www. voiceofasiaonline.com To contribute articles, email voiceasia@aol.com

Texas investigates migrant child’s death after US detention

IAMI | AFP - Texas officials are investigating the reported death of a migrant child who had been held recently at a US detention center under allegedly “unsanitary conditions.” State health and human services officials told AFP they had opened an investigation into the allegations, which first surfaced earlier this month. The probe began Thursday after representatives for the family shared the child’s name -- which remains confidential -- to the authorities. The mother’s attorneys said they disclosed information about “a small child who tragically died after being detained by (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE) in unsanitary conditions.”

A “zero tolerance” policy implemented earlier this year by President Donald Trump’s administration, and since reversed, greatly increased detentions of people arrested on the US-Mexico border (AFP Photo/Brendan Smialowski)

“We currently are assessing the case and have no further comments,” the Arnold & Porter law firm added in a statement.

It caused at one point more than 2,300 children to be de-

ICE said it was cooperating with the investigation. Neither authorities nor attorneys provided details such as the child’s gender, nationality or cause of death. The firm only indicated that the child had been detained at a facility in Dilley, southern Texas -- one of three ICE centers that house families. Controversy over the rumored death erupted this week after The Dallas Morning News first reported the allegations on August 1. Family centers house children only if they are part of a family unit. In July, the three detention centers of this type held a total of 1,437 detainees. The total number of immigrants detained in all ICE facilities in the United States amounted to 44,210 on July 16. A “zero tolerance” policy implemented earlier this year by President Donald Trump’s administration, and since re-

versed, greatly increased arrests on the US-Mexico border.

tained without their parents, who were prosecuted for crossing the border even if they did so to seek asylum.

Hair transplant and weight loss can’t stop Mexican narco’s arrest Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | 8/9/2018 - A Mexican drug lord underwent a hair transplant and gastric bypass in an attempt to change his appearance and evade authorities but still got caught, the government said on Thursday. Despite having lost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and gained a full head of hair, Roberto Moyado was arrested by antinarcotics police in Mexico City on Wednesday. “The detainee had undergone a surgical intervention... to change his appearance with the aim of avoiding identification and detention,” national security commissioner Renato Sales said in a press conference. The 37-year-old Moyado was wanted for “drug dealing,

extorsion, looting, kidnapping, money-laundering... and also for several murders,” Sales added. He is believed to be the leader of the “Tepito Union” gang, the biggest criminal organization operating in Mexico City and with links to the notorious Jalisco New Generation cartel, according to authorities and analysts. It’s not the first time a narcotics kingpin has taken the dramatic measure of attempting to change his appearance through surgery. In 1997, Amado Carrillo, known for his fleet of 727 airplanes used to fly drugs into the United States, died during an operation to change his appearance.

Tel: 713-774-5140

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

FATIGUE: A DANGEROUS FACTOR IN TRUCKING ACCIDENTS son with a medical condition that prevents them from driving safely is restricted from driving unless with proper medical treatment. Further, if a person has sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops or is irregular which may cause sleep deprivation, he/she should not operate a vehicle, especially a commercial truck. This condition may cause the driver to not get a good night’s sleep, be over worked, or fatigued which can create the worst nightmare for all others on the road.

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer Email at srichardslaw@aol.com

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT DELAYS IN IMMIGRATION PROCESSING Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Q: I attended my adjustment interview about 6 months ago and my work card and advance parole combo card is about to expire. What do I have to do? A: You will need to file a new I-765 Application for Employment Authorization and also a new I-131 Application for Travel Document to request for advance parole. You will request for renewal of your expiring EAD and advance parole. There is no Filing Fee required for this kind of renewal. You will need to also explain to USCIS that your adjustment application is still pending. Do include a copy of the I-485 receipt as reference and also a copy of the expiring EAD/advance parole combo card. Q: My wife’s I-130 and I-485 have been processing for a long time. I do not know what we should do to find out about why about case. A: There are several things you can do. First, you can check the case status online at www.uscis. gov. Under Check Case Status, you can enter the receipt numbers for the I-130 and also the I-485 and there will be a summary of information about the status of the case. If the information is insufficient, then scroll down the page to Check Processing Time for your application. In your case, you will check the processing time for your I-485. You will have to enter the USCIS office where you case is processing and when you click on Check Case Processing Time and you will see the respective processing times for each category of I-485. There will also be separate information as to when you may call USCIS to report your case as being outside normal processing times. If you think your case is outside normal processing time, call USCIS at 1-800-37505283 to do a service request for USCIS to check what is happening with your case. USCIS will write to you to let you know the status of the case under the Service Request. Alternatively, you may

make an Infopass appointment to talk to a USCIS officer face to face about your case, especially if you feel that your case has been processing for too long and you need information about how long more you will need to wait. To make the Infopass appointment, go to www. uscis.gov and click Schedule Infopass Appointment. Q: My wife is applying for an Immigrant Visa at the US Consulate. She already submitted everything to the National Visa Center (NVC) and we received a letter from them explaining that her case is at the US Consulate and to wait for the case to be scheduled for an interview. The letter does not say how long my wife will have to wait for the interview. What do we have to do as it has been more than 4 months now since we received that letter from NVC? A: You may write to the NVC or contact them by phone to ask about the status for the interview scheduling. The phone number for NVC is 603-334-0700 (Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m to 12.00 a.m Eastern Standard Time – EST). The address to write to is National Visa Center, Attn: WC, 31 Rochester Avenue, Suite 200, Portsmouth, NH 038012909, USA. If you choose to write to the NVC, do not forget to include pertinent information for the case such as the NVC Case number, the name and date of birth of the Immigrant Visa Applicant and the name and date of birth of the Petitioner. Q: My fiancé was approved for the K-1 visa and has already attended his interview at the US Consulate in Afghanistan three months ago. They took his Passport and said that everything was alright but told him to fill in a form which required lots of information about his biodata such as family, employment, social media information etc. They gave my fiancé a letter which says case is under something called ‘administrative processing’. I do not know why they are taking this long to process his visa and I need for them to expedite this because we have already planned for

our wedding here in the US for October 2018. In addition to our wedding arrangements, we have many relatives and friends who have purchased tickets to travel from abroad and other special circumstances which require that my fiancé be here in time for our wedding in October 2018. What can we do to expedite this? A: U n f o r t u n a t e l y, when a case is placed under administrative processing, it means that background checks are being conducted and there is really no timeframe as to when these will be completed. I do suggest that you or your fiancé contact the US consulate to explain your situation and any special circumstances that exists so that they are aware of the reasons as to why you need to have them speed up the processing for the case. If may be possible that the consulate will try to accommodate your request especially if there is some humanitarian need or if conditions are very dangerous in your fiance’s home country, but also be prepared that they do not, which is a high possibility. Disclaimer: Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case. My Bio Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court. You may contact her at telephone number 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@ aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

How ready is your child for the new school year?

Reducing depressive symptoms in teens could also reduce depression for parents

ew US research suggests that the bond between parents and children could affect their symptoms of depression, finding that when adolescents’ symptoms improved with treatment, parents’ symptoms also showed improvement. The long-term study by researchers at Northwestern University looked at 325 teens who had been diagnosed with depression, and 325 of their parents or caregivers. The teens were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups for a one-year period -- those who received cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients identify and resolve negative thoughts and behavior, those who took an antidepressant, and those who used a combination of both. The treatments were not family-based, although some parts did include the parent. Before the treatment began, a quarter of the parents reported moderate to severe levels of depression. When the teens had completed the treatment, and after an additional year of follow-up visits, the researchers found that despite the treatment process focusing on the children and not the parents, when the severity of an adolescent’s depression lessened, so did similar symptoms in the parent, regardless of what treatment was used. “Depression is a massive

Treating depression in teens could also help improve depressive symptoms experienced by their parents, according to new research. (Photo: Martin Dimitrov/Istock.com) public health concern that will take a variety of approaches to better manage. We believe our study is among the first to evaluate how the emotional health of a child can impact that of the parent,” said study co-author Mark A. Reinecke, PhD. Study co-author Kelsey R. Howard also noted that the new findings could be useful for healthcare providers, as they could consider assessing a parent’s level of depression when treating their child. “More young people today are reporting persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and suicidal thoughts,” said Howard. “At the same time, suicide rates have climbed in

nearly all U.S. states. This research may help health care providers as we grapple as a nation with how to address these alarming trends.” “The concept of emotions being ‘contagious’ and spreading from person to person is wellknown by psychologists,” she added. “This work opens up a range of possibilities for future research on the family-wide effects of treatment for adolescent depression.” The findings were presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, which ran August 9-12 in San Francisco. -Relaxnews

How texting and sexting can impact our romantic relationships

Photo Source: (c) Jenner / stock.Adobe.com

ackpack and supplies -- check! So, what’s left to do before going back to school? How about finding out how well your child has learned foundational skills that they need to succeed in the next grade? Ninety percent of K-8 parents believe their child performs at or above grade-level in reading and math, according to Learning Heroes’ research. However, the National Assessment of Educational Progress finds that only a little more than a third of students are achieving at that level. What’s more, the “summer slide” puts students at risk of losing up to two months of reading skills and two and a half months of math skills over a single summer. To get a better feel for how prepared your child is for the next grade and how to support their learning at home, check out these tips from Learning Heroes’ “Super 5 Back-toSchool Power Moves.” 1. Get a gut check: Use the Readiness Check to see how prepared your child is for their new grade. Designed by leading experts in reading and math, the Readiness Check instantly

New research found that people who had a similar texting style as their partners reported greater relationship satisfaction. (Photo: Martin Dimitrov/Istock.com)

ew US research reveals some of the ways that texting, as well as sexting, can bring couples closer together. But there may be a downside to these more recent forms of communication too, which can lead us to feeling more isolated from partners and others. The research, carried out by investigators at Pace University and Purdue University Fort Wayne, involved a series of studies looking at different ways texting can impact our relationships.

ages of 18 to 29, finding that besides texting each other for practical reasons, people also text to escape their present situation, because they are bored, or because they prefer expressing themselves via text than talking on the phone or in person. “We text to check in with our spouse during the work day and to stay connected with friends far away, but we also text to avoid dealing with relatives at the family party and to break up with someone,” said Leora Trub, Ph.D., of Pace University.

Texting can become a crutch

In the first study, the researchers surveyed 205 adults in romantic relationships between the ages of 18 and 29 about their texting habits and relationship satisfaction.

They found that participants who described their partner as having a similar texting style to themselves reported greater relationship satisfaction. It didn’t seem to matter whether the messages sent were loving or complaints about a problem in the relationship, as couples were in sync about the kind of texts they sent to each other. Although the second study also found that texting can bring people closer, it also revealed that it drive people apart, depending on what motivates people to text. Here the researchers surveyed 982 adults between the

“Texting can become a crutch and eventually become a barrier to creating meaningful interactions,” added Trub. “Texting all the time can also come from being lonely or bored, and that can lead to isolation and alienation.” The third study focused on sexting, surveying 615 adults who were in committed relationships. The team found that the majority of participants did not sext with their partner, and although non-sexters were just as happy in their relationship as people who did sext, sexters did report more sexual satisfaction than the non-sexters. “Sexting may help couples with intimacy and to spice things up, but we definitely did see the negative side of too much of a good thing,” said coauthor Michelle Drouin, Ph.D. -Relaxnews

provides important information about your child’s grade-level progress with reading and math skills after your child answers just three to five questions in each of the two subject areas. The free tool, which is available in both English and Spanish, also connects you to information, videos and activities to help build grade-level skills at home. To access this tool and other resources, visit bealearninghero.org. Other ways to assess how ready your child is for the new grade include paying attention to how easy or hard it is for them to do grade-level tasks and looking at their annual state test results from last year. If you haven’t received the results yet, ask your child’s teacher.

the expert on your child and can make learning exciting. Read together, choosing topics that interest your child. Find math in everyday life and turn it into a game. These small learning moments add up to a lot.

2. Partner up: At your first teacher meeting, bring your child’s state test results and ask what they mean for this year. Find out what’s expected of your child and how you can provide support at home. Help the teacher get to know your child by sharing their interests and strengths as well. You can also share what you learned from the Readiness Check.

“Learning happens everywhere -- at home, in the community and in the classroom,” says Bibb Hubbard, founder and president of Learning Heroes. “The Super 5 Back-toSchool Power Moves can help you use the summer and beginning of the school year to get a more complete picture of where your child is on track, and where more attention and focus may be needed.”

3. Make learning fun: You are

4. Celebrate effort: Help your child see that hard work is what leads to success. Focus on effort and what your child is learning. This will help your child feel less nervous about new tasks or subjects. 5. Support life skills: Strengths such as communication, problem-solving, and confidence will help your child in school and life. Talk openly with your child about how they feel and handle situations, especially tough ones.

-StatePoint

Working for a change: Breaking free from the traditional work culture in Japan

OKYO, Japan | AFP | Friday 8/10/2018 Michiyo Arai is like many young Japanese women today. She believes flexible working patterns can help her move along a viable career path. But she is also anxious about job hunting in a country where practices, like teleworking, are relatively new. Last year, the 28-year-old enrolled in a basic programming course that included a telework internship. It was with a company that supports “Youth UP”. Also known as the “Utilizing IT to Support the Employment of Youth”, this project is conducted by a Tokyo non-profit organization, SODATEAGENET with the cooperation of Microsoft Japan. After taking on more courses to improve her computer skills, Arai was hired by an IT-related company in Chiba City, outside of Tokyo. Her telework internship was based on using Skype. This remote experience, she recalls, gave her confidence. “While taking part in it, they would tell me, ‘Let’s get through this together one step at a time.’ Instead of having to come face-to-face with someone, Skype acted like a buffer and helped me relax,” Arai said.

The Youth UP program gives young Japanese women such as Michiyo Arai an opportunity to break free from the traditional work culture in Japan.

form program. Aiming to broaden youth’s working styles, the “Youth UP” project provides “telework internship” opportunities using Skype and cloud services with the aim of giving job seekers much needed digital skills.

Expanding the window of employment opportunities

SODATEAGE-NET President Kei Kudo said the organization found that nearly 70% of the 15 to 39-year-olds that SODATEAGE-NET supports couldn’t use Word and Excel “at all.” Meanwhile, there are very few job postings that don’t require Word and Excel skills.

Telework uses information and communications technology so employees can work flexibly, without limitations on time and location. The Japanese government has recognized the value of that and has included it in its work-style re-

“Companies assume that most people can operate a computer and use Word and Excel, but there are individuals who never had the opportunity to use them. There is a gap between what companies assume a person can do and what that

person can actually do,” Kudo points out. Official statistics show that approximately 600,000 young people are unemployed in Japan. To tackle this, the government’s new work-style reforms require companies to adopt flexible working practices and better working environments. The wider aim is to create a society in which more women and youth actively join the labor market. “Youth UP” is born “Youth UP” project was launched in response to this situation. Under it, Microsoft sends instructors to nonprofit organizations where they help people build their IT skills and provide training for support group staff so they can become IT instructors themselves. This is a sustainable system,

in which the support group will have the necessary know-how to conduct lectures even after the project ends. Less than two years after the project’s launch, 41 nonprofit organizations have joined across Japan. In addition to taking part in the project, SODATEAGE-NET, based in Tachikawa City in Tokyo, also acts as the organizer, and similar efforts are now being conducted on a nationwide scale. Through telework internships, interns communicate with their employers through Skype, without having to physically visit the company, wherever it might be. Arai is now undergoing training at her new company and is studying more about computer science as a way of building her career.

VOICE OF VOICE OF ASIA ASIA17 17

FRIDAY, FRIDAY,August August17, 17,2018 2018

August is Immunization Awareness Month

Section 2

Tel: 713-774-5140

What do you need to know about your new Medicare card?

Drive to curb salt intake should focus on China: study

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is mailing new Medicare cards to all 57.7 million Medicare beneficiaries (starting back in April 2018) and will continue through April 2019. As noted by CMS, “[t]he new [Medicare] cards will use a unique, randomly-assigned 11-[character] number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), to replace the Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) currently used on the Medicare card.” CMS also noted that the new Medicare card initiative “will prevent fraud, fight identity theft and protect essential program funding and the private healthcare and financial information of our Medicare beneficiaries.” Here are a few key points about your new Medicare card from CMS: • New Medicare Card, Same Medicare Benefits. Individuals with a daily salt intake of at least 12/5 grammes (about two-and-a-half teaspoons) have been associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of stroke

ARIS, France | AFP | 8/9/2018 - Salt consumption exceeds national and World Health Organization guidelines in most countries, but only the highestsodium diets, such as in China, are linked to clear health risks, researchers said Friday. Only individuals with a daily salt intake of at least 12.5 grammes -about two-and-a-half teaspoons -were associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of stroke, they reported in The Lancet, a medical journal. WHO recommends capping salt consumption at five grammes per day, but this target is not known to have been achieved at a national level anywhere in the world, the survey of more than 90,000 people spread across 300 distinct communities in 18 countries found. “We should be far more concerned about targeting communities and countries with high average sodium intake -- above five grammes (equivalent to 12.5 grammes of salt), such as China -- and bringing them down to the moderate range” of 7.5 to 12.5 grammes of salt, said lead author Andre Mente, a professor in the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Canada. One gramme of sodium equals 2.5 grammes of salt. Four-fifths of the groups examined in China had average daily salt intake of 12.5 grammes, whereas in other countries 84 percent ingested between 7.5 and 12.5 grammes. “Our study adds to growing evidence that, at moderate intake, sodium may have a beneficial role in cardiovascular heath, but a potentially more harmful role when intake is very high or very low,” he said in a statement.

The Human body needs essential nutrients such as sodium and many vitamins, but the ideal amount remains subject to debate. The study, which stopped short of calling for WHO recommendations to be relaxed, examined urine and blood samples, along with health records, for 95,767 women and men monitored over an eight-year period. Nearly 3,700 of the participants died during that time and 3,543 had “major cardiovascular events”. Experts not involved in the study were sharply critical of its methodology, and said its findings should be taken with more than a few grains of salt. The technique for collecting urine samples in notoriously unreliable,

they noted. And the fact that it was an observational study -- as opposed to clinical trials -- means that no firm conclusions can be drawn as to cause-and-effect. Most controversial was the suggestion that low sodium intake may, in fact, provoke heart disease. “There are no known mechanisms that could explain this observation,” commented Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London. “Sodium is an essential nutrient but the requirement is very low at about 0.5 grammes (1.25 grammes of salt) per day.” Ageing populations, he added, should still be advised to restrict the addition of salt to food.

WHO worried Ebola can ‘transmit freely’ in DR Congo, as death toll hits 41

As the death toll in the outbreak declared on August 1 in DRC’s violencewracked North Kivu province hit 41, the World Health Organization chief also called for the rapid roll-out of an unlicenced drug being used for the

• The 11-charecter Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). Your new Medicare card is printed on paper, the size of a credit card, and will have a new 11-character Medicare “Number” or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). You will notice that your new MBI “number” is actually alphanumeric or having both upper-case letters and numbers (from the sample graphic above you can see “1EG4TE5-MK72”) - to avoid confusion, the MBI will exclude the letters: “S, L, O, I, B, Z” (since these letters are easily mistaken for numbers). • Your Unique and Random Number. Your new Medicare card will have a number that is unique to you - but, there is no meaning to the number. Remember, you will have a different number than your spouse. • New Medicare Cards May Have QR Codes

New experimental Ebola vaccine raises hope ENEVA, Switzerland | AFP | Tuesday 8/14/2018 - Raging conflict is hampering efforts to rein in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the WHO chief warned Tuesday, urging a ceasefire to stop the virus from transmitting freely.

Your new Medicare card will not affect or change your Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B benefits. Your Medicare Part A and Part B effective dates printed on the new Medicare card (“Coverage Starts”) will not change.

first time to treat Ebola patients. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva he feared conditions on the ground in the eastern province had created “a conducive environment for the transmission of Ebola.” Tedros, who travelled to the epicentres of the outbreak in Beni and Mangina in recent days, said he had been very worried before his trip, but that after the visit “I am actually more Continued on page 18

New Medicare cards may have a square code, also referred to as a QR code (a type of machine-readable code). The QR codes on Medicare cards allow the contractor who prints the cards to ensure the right card goes to the right person with Medicare or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits. Providers cannot use it for any other purpose. The RRB issued cards may have a QR code on the front of the card while all other Medicare patients may get a new card with a QR code on the back of the cards. These are legitimate (official) Medicare cards. (updated: 2018-06-21)

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900 • No more Social Security numbers. Medicare is removing the 9-digit Social Security Number from these new Medicare cards (from the sample original Medicare card graphic above we had the Social Security Number “000-00-0000”). • No more gender, no more signature. The new Medicare cards will no longer include your gender and your new Medicare cards will not have a signature line. • Helping you to fight against identity theft and more. The new Medicare card will help protect your identity (prevent identity theft) and, as noted above, fights fraud, protects “essential program funding and the private healthcare and financial information of our Medicare beneficiaries”. • Important: mailing address.

Confirm your

Please make sure that your mailing address is up-to-date by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users 1-800325-0778) (Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) or visit https:// ssa.gov/myaccount. • Look for your new Medicare card in the mail. CMS will automatically mail you a new Medicare card - you do not need to take any action. Below is the CMS Medicare card mailing schedule and, as you can imagine, mailing new Medicare cards to 57.7 million people will take some time, so be sure to have some patience. CMS has started mailing new Medicare cards from April 2018 and continue through April 2019. To select right Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Prescription drug plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-7712900.

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HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Monsanto known for controversial chemicals US sees spike in pregnant women addicted to painkillers

AN FRANCISCO | AFP | 8/11/2018 - From “Agent Orange” and DDT to genetically modified crops, Monsanto has long been associated with controversial chemicals, but a US court order for it to pay damages because one of its herbicides may cause cancer could open the door to thousands more claims against the company.

A California jury on Friday ordered the US agrochemicals giant -- which was taken over by Germany’s Bayer in June -- to pay nearly $290 million in compensation to a groundskeeper diagnosed with cancer after he repeatedly used Monsanto’s weed killer, Roundup. Credit: CC0 Public Domain

AMPA | AFP | 8/9/2018 - Over the past 15 years, the United States has seen a fourfold increase in pregnant women addicted to painkillers, the latest troubling statistic in an ongoing epidemic of opioid abuse, officials said Thursday. The report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the first major national study of its kind and revealed “significant increases in the 28 states with available data” from 1999 to 2014. “These findings illustrate the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on families across the US, including on the very youngest,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield. “Untreated opioid use disorder during pregnancy can lead to heartbreaking results.” Women who abuse opioids while pregnant risk maternal death, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Their babies, if born alive, are often addicted to the potent drugs themselves and must

go through a period of painful withdrawal known as neonatal abstinence syndrome. “Opioid use by pregnant women represents a significant public health concern,” said the CDC report. Nationwide, the rate of women with “opioid use disorder” arriving at hospitals to deliver their babies “increased from 1.5 per 1,000 delivery hospitalizations in 1999 to 6.5 in 2014,” it said. The report did not specify what kinds of opioids the women were using. The United States is grappling with a surging epidemic of opioid abuse -including painkillers like OxyContin and street drugs like heroin -- which took more than 42,000 lives in 2016.

- Artificially sweet -

to describe a range of homoeopathic therapies that can be used to remedy this “symptom”, with different methods recommended for boys and girls. Contacted by Swiss public broadcaster RTS Tuesday, he appeared to double down on that interpretation.

Regional health minister Mauro Poggia asked a commission overseeing health professionals and patient rights in the canton to open an investigation into the practice of Dr JeanYves Henry, he told the Le Courrier daily in an interview. “For him, it would seem that homosexuality is an illness to cure. This element is enough to justify opening an investigation,” Poggia was quoted as saying. The decision came after comments began flourishing on social media and then on mainstream media about the doctor and an article he authored in 2009 about homosexuality, which he says is “not a pathology but a special symptom” seen in “border-line” and other patients. Henry, who is a licenced general practitioner in Geneva and who also has a homoeopathic practice in the neighbouring canton of Vaud, goes on

Ebola kills 41... Continued from page 17 worried.” The outbreak in North Kivu’s Beni region, which shares borders with Uganda and Rwanda, was declared a week after WHO and the Kinshasa government hailed the end of an Ebola flareup in northwestern Equateur province, which killed 33 people. The latest outbreak, which now counts 57 probable and confirmed cases of the deadly virus, is the country’s 10th since 1976, when the disease was first identified in the DRC near the Ebola River. - ‘Red zones’ DRC health authorities said Tuesday that for the first time since the outbreak was announced, one fatality was recorded outside of North Kivu -- in the neighbouring province of Ituri.

“Homosexuality is a symptom like any other, like having a headache or hay fever. I don’t understand what the problem is,” he said. An undated addendum on the www. medecine-integree.com website where his article was published meanwhile appeared to take issue with the media coverage in recent days, pointing out that homosexuality is one of 64,000 symptoms that Henry and his colleagues evaluate in their work. The note stressed that the page on homosexuality had first and foremost been aimed at “making our students think about the relationship between medical remedies and behavioural symptoms.” The Geneva commission has been tasked with examining if opinions expressed by Henry are independent of his medical activity, and whether he has endangered his patients or practised illegal medicine, according to Poggia.

The new outbreak poses the same problems as past cases in the DRC, including major logistical hurdles in a volatile country with weak health infrastructure. But in North Kivu, health workers are being forced to navigate their response among more than 100 armed groups, and Tedros said that there have been 120 violent incidents since January alone. He said the region was sprinkled with so-called “red zones”, or inaccessible areas. “That environment is really conducive for Ebola ... to transmit freely.” “We call on the warring parties for cessation of hostilities, because the virus is dangerous to all. It doesn’t choose between this group or that group,” he said. Ebola causes serious illness including vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases internal and external bleeding. It is often fatal if untreated.

There was a dramatic jump after the introduction in 1996 of genetically engineered “Roundup Ready” crops, such as soybean and maize, that survive glyphosate while it kills weeds. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, produced by an array of companies since Monsanto’s exclusive patent expired in the year 2000.

In 2012, Monsanto negotiated a $93 million settlement to settle a case with the West Virginia town of Nitro, where a plant making a main Agent Orange ingredient once operated. The municipality accused the plant of being behind health problems faced by people in the community. A French court in 2012 found Monsanto to be liable in the case of a farmer who said he suffered neurological problems after inhaling the company’s Lasso weed killer. Monsanto has appealed the finding on points of law. Meanwhile, Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds have triggered concerns and legal challenges in Europe and the United States.

The herbicide has been accused of damaging the environment, contributing to the disappearance of bees and being an endocrine disruptor.

Last year, a citizen court consisting of a panel of professional judges in The Hague (Netherlands) found Monsanto guilty at a mock trial of human rights violations for harm caused by chemicals.

Monsanto was one of the companies which produced a defoliant dubbed “Agent Orange,” which has been linked to cancer and other diseases, for use by US forces in Vietnam but denies responsibility for how the military used it. The company also made insecticide DDT.

German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer acquired Monsanto in June for $63 billion. And it said it would get rid of the Monsanto company name following the merger, while brand names on products would remain.

After it was introduced in the United States as Roundup in the mid-1970s, the use of the glyphosate -- which is

against the company to make it to trial.

It is the subject of conflicting scientific studies as to whether it causes cancer.

The chemical has also been used as a pesticide for decades, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency website. - ‘Ecocide’ -

The San Francisco trial of Roundup and its possible carcinogenic effects was the first litigation of its kind

What became referred to as the “Monsanto Tribunal,” in a purely advisory opinion, called for stronger laws protecting people and the environment from corporations, and a prosecutable crime of “ecocide.” Monsanto has always denied any link between disease and glyphosate, a substance classified as carcinogenic in the US state of California. Monsanto now employs 20,000 people around the world and generates $15 billion in annual revenue.

Indian Americans have lowest rate of SUID deaths: Study

OUSTON: PTI |A ug 08, 2018, Indian-Americans have the highest percentage of sleeping with their babies among the ethnic groups in the US state of New Jersey, but the lowest rate of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) which can be caused by bed-sharing, according to the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences study. The American Academy of Paediatrics usually consider bed-sharing to be a high risk factor in SUID, which includes sudden infant death syndrome, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and ill-defined and unknown causes in children under one year old. The researchers attributed this paradoxical finding to a variety of compensatory factors, including IndianAmericans’ practice of placing their infants on their backs to sleep.

Photo: AFP/File

The company began genetically modifying plants, making some resistant to Roundup.

Founded in 1901 in St. Louis, Missouri, Monsanto early on made the artificial sweetener saccharin. The company began producing agrochemicals in the 1940s.

The CDC said excessive prescribing practices by doctors could be a factor in opioid abuse, and called for increased efforts to prevent women from becoming addicted and help them get treatment.

French doctor offering ‘homosexuality’ cure faces Swiss probe ENEVA, Switzerland | AFP | 8/15/2018 -A French doctor claiming he can treat homosexuality using alternative therapies like homoeopathy was on Wednesday placed under investigation by the Swiss canton of Geneva where he has been practising.

The lawsuit built on 2015 findings by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the UN World Health Organization, which classified Roundup’s main ingredient glyphosate as a probable carcinogen.

sprayed on food crops but also widely used outside of agriculture, such as on public lawns and in forestry -- soared across the globe.

“Conditions that substantially increase the risk of SUID while bedsharing include smoking, alcohol use and maternal fatigue,” said lead author Barbara Ostfeld, a professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He said: “Indian-Americans smoke and use alcohol less than other populations. In addition, grandparents tend to be very active in childcare, which reduces maternal fatigue. Apart from bed-sharing, poverty also increases the risk of SUID, and Indian-Americans have higher incomes.” The study appeared in the journal New Jersey Pediatrics. During the study, the researchers looked at the mortality rates of 83,000 New Jersey-born infants of AsianIndian heritage over a 15-year period and safe sleep practices in a sampling of this population. Results showed that 97 per cent of the surveyed American-born mothers of Asian-Indian heritage reported using a crib, compared to 69 per cent of those who were foreign-born. Although infants of the foreign-born mothers now residing in the United States had a higher SUID rate compared to infants of U.S.born mothers of Asian-Indian heritage, for whom no SUID was recorded, the rate was still lower than that of other populations. From 2000 to 2015, infants of foreign-born mothers of Asian-Indian heritage had a

Authorites consider bed-sharing to be a high risk factor in SUID, which includes sudden infant death syndrome, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and ill-defined and unknown causes in children under one year old. (Photo: Masalamommas.com) SUID rate of 0.14 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 0.4 in white, 0.5 in Hispanic and 1.6 in black populations. “Our study shows that improved compliance with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on supine sleep and avoiding bed-sharing is associated with a lower rate of SUID even in already low-risk groups,” said Ostfeld. “Larger studies are needed to better understand the complex variables that affect risk in sharing a bed with an infant.” “Our intent was to discover more about this little-researched demographic breakdown, so we can better understand the risk factors for SUID in all groups and create culturally sensitive health messaging.”

- SIDS vs. SUID In the last several years, the terms connoting sudden infant death have become confusing, not only to parents, but also to professionals and researchers. CDC (Centers for Disease Control), in an attempt to clarify the issue, suggested that SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) be used as a broad term that encompasses all sudden infant deaths. This would include SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), accidental deaths (such as suffocation and strangulation), sudden natural deaths (such as those caused from infections, cardiac or metabolic disorders, and neurological conditions), and homicides.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

VOICE OF ASIA 19

NASA launches Parker Solar Probe in first mission to ‘touch Sun’

Tech companies earn White House praise for committing to easier health data access by Ali Breland

by Kerry Sheridan

ASHINGTON - Major technology companies on Monday announced their commitment to making it easier to share data across the healthcare sector, in a move backed by the White House.

AMPA, Florida | AFP - NASA on Sunday blasted off its first-ever spaceship to explore the Sun, the $1.5 billion Parker Solar Probe, on a strategic mission to protect the Earth by unveiling the mysteries of dangerous solar storms.

The companies said that they’re pushing to make data more accessible for the healthcare industry and providers, with the intention of reducing costs by improving ease of access.

The launch of the car-sized probe aboard a massive Delta IV-Heavy rocket lit the night sky at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 3:31 am (0731 GMT). The unmanned spacecraft’s mission is to get closer than any human-made object ever to the center of our solar system, plunging into the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, during a seven-year mission. The probe is guarded by an ultra-powerful heat shield that can endure unprecedented levels of heat, and radiation 500 times that experienced on Earth. When it nears the Sun, the probe will travel at some 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour). That will make it the fastest ever human-made object, speedy enough to travel from New York to Tokyo in one minute. “This mission truly marks humanity’s first visit to a star,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “We’ve accomplished something that decades ago, lived solely in the realm of science fiction,” he added, describing the probe as one of NASA’s “strategically important” missions. - Strange veil NASA has billed the mission as the first spacecraft to “touch the Sun.” In reality, it should come within 3.83 million miles (6.16 million kilometers) of the Sun’s surface, close enough to study the curious phenomenon of the solar wind and the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, which is 300 times hotter than its surface. Scientists hope this close encounter will give them a better understanding of solar wind

The Sun contains 99.8 percent of the mass in our solar system. Its gravitational pull is what keeps everything here, from tiny Mercury to the gas giants to the Oort Cloud, 186 billion miles away (Graphic: YouTube/NASA) and geomagnetic storms that risk wreaking chaos on Earth by knocking out the power grid. These poorly understood solar outbursts could potentially wipe out power to millions of people. A worst-case scenario would cost up to two trillion dollars in the first year alone and take a decade for full recovery, experts say. “The Parker Solar Probe will help us do a much better job of predicting when a disturbance in the solar wind could hit Earth,” said Justin Kasper, a project scientist and professor at the University of Michigan. Knowing more about the solar wind and space storms will also help protect future deep space explorers as they journey toward the Moon or Mars. - Heat shield A highly advanced heat shield just 4.5 inches (11.43 centimeters) thick was devised to keep the probe from melting. The sunlight is expected to heat the shield to just around 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,371 degrees Celsius). Yet the inside of the spacecraft will stay at just 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The probe is set to make 24 passes through the corona, collecting data. “The sun is full of mysteries,” said Nicky Fox, project scientist at the Johns Hopkins

University Applied Lab.

Physics

“We are ready. We have the perfect payload. We know the questions we want to answer.” - ‘All I have to say is “Wow”’ The spacecraft is the only NASA probe in history to be named after a living person -- 91-year-old solar physicist Eugene Parker, who first described the solar wind in 1958. Parker watched the launch at Cape Canaveral, and said it was his first time seeing a rocket blast off in person. “All I have to say is wow, here we go. We are in for some learning over the next several years,” Parker told NASA television. Scientists have wanted to build a spacecraft like this for more than 60 years, but only recently did the heat shield technology capable of protecting sensitive instruments become available. Tools on board will measure high-energy particles associated with flares and coronal mass ejections, as well as the changing magnetic field around the Sun. The first launch attempt on Saturday was postponed at the last minute due to technical problem related to a helium gas sensor on the rocket. But Sunday’s bid “went off like clockwork,” said NASA launch manager Omar Baez.

200-million year old Pterosaur ‘built for flying’ by Marlowe Hood ARIS, France | AFP | Monday 8/13/2018 - Scientists on Monday unveiled a previously unknown species of giant pterosaur, the first creatures with a backbone to fly under their own power.

Neither dino nor bird, pterosaurs -- more commonly known as pterodactyls -- emerged during the late Triassic period more than 200 million years ago and lorded over primeval skies until a massive space rock slammed into Earth, wiping out the dinosaurs and most other forms of life some 65 million years ago.

The wings are in fact skin membranes largely held up by the fourth “finger”, or digit, of their forelimbs. Huge sockets suggest C. hanseni had “fantastic eyesight”, said Britt. - Saints & Sinners When not soaring in search of a meal, it walked on all fours with its wings folded vertically. The fossil remains are still encased in sandstone, but sci-

numbers of animals -- including pterosaurs, predatory dinosaurs and crocodylomorphs -- were drawn to the pond in the middle of the oasis, where they died as water dried up,” said Britt. The result was a treasure trove of more than 18,000 bones and fragments from dozens of water-starved animals. C. hanseni is not the biggest pterosaur ever found, but was

“They are delicately framed animals that are built for flying,” said Brooks Britt, a paleontologist at Brigham Young University in Utah and lead author of a study in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Caelestiventus hanseni -roughly, “heavenly wind” -- is probably the most complete skeletal remains of a pterosaur ever found. “Most pterosaurs bones look like road-kill,” Britt told AFP, noting that there are only 30odd specimens worldwide from the Triassic period which lasted some 51 million years. By contrast, the new specimen comprises dozens of intact bones and teeth, along with an entire brain casing.

Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce and Oracle, along with the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), all pledged their support to improving healthcare data interoperability. The pledges came during Monday’s Blue Button 2.0 Developer Conference. “Today’s announcements represent a watershed moment toward fostering more innovation in America’s healthcare systems,” White House senior advisor Matt Lira said in a statement to The Hill. Experts say medical data is often splintered across databases and hard to access for patients and healthcare providers. Greg Moore, an MD and Vice President of Healthcare at Google Cloud, told The Hill that a lot of healthcare data has been digitized over the past decade, but “unfortunately it’s in silos.

Pterosaurs are often referred to in the popular media and by the general public as “flying dinosaurs”, but this is scientifically incorrect. The term “dinosaur” is restricted to just those reptiles descended from the last common ancestor of the groups Saurischia and Ornithischia, and current scientific consensus is that this group excludes the pterosaurs. (Illustration: Elenarts/Getty Images) entists generated accurate 3-D images and models of each bone using CAT-scan technology. The site where C. hanseni was unearthed, known to fossil hunters as Saints & Sinners, reveals a dramatic story of survival and local extinction in the face of climate change, the researchers said. The rocks it was found in were part of an oasis in a two-million square kilometre (775,000 square mile) desert covered with giant sand dunes. “During

droughts,

large

likely the largest of its era, especially for a desert environment. It also predates other desertdwelling specimens by about 65 million years. Pterosaurs from the same period found so far came from ancient coastal areas in what is now Europe and Greenland. That the high-flying creatures were spread across much of the globe may have helped them survive the end-of-Triassic mass extinction, which wiped out half of the species on land and in the sea.

Experts say medical data is often splintered across databases and hard to access for patients and healthcare providers. (Photo: Bigstock) “We’ve collected and digitized all this data but it’s not communicating with another,” Moore explained. “If you go to one provider on one side of town, there is not an easy way in most cases for a provider to access that information.” The goal, Moore said, is to use systems like Google’s Cloud and other cloud computing and artificial intelligence services to help foster a“frictionless” exchange of x-ray data, lab data, medical claims and other types of healthcare data between patients, providers and other organizations. Moore said that having the White House’s Office of American Innovation backing the plan is helpful in building momentum towards improving healthcare interoperability.

Dean Garfield, president and CEO of ITI, also praised the White House’s work on the issue. “The Office of American Innovation has really stepped up here. These are multi-generational issues,” he said. “Rather than reinvent the wheel, they’ve done a lot of working building on things the Obama administration had done and they deserve credit for that.” President Obama had pushed for data interoperability during his presidency, but came up short. Former Vice President Joe Biden has criticized the Trump administration’s previous plans to improve data interoperability as to vague to make any real change. - The Hill

Threat from on high: race on to bolster drone defences by Guillaume Decamme and Katell Prigent

USTIN | AFP - From hand-held copters that zoom around the living room to high-speed craft offering the sensation of flying over the countryside, drones have won over legions of fans -- and are proving a growing challenge for security authorities. Experts say models readily available on the market can easily be turned into a “poor man’s weapon”, a remote-controlled bomb or a means of filming a site in preparation of an attack. “This is going to be the weapon of choice for those who feel that they are technically outmatched in other areas,” said Todd Humphreys, an engineering professor at the University of Austin in Texas who specialises in drone research. Already the list of worrying incidents and close calls is long. The latest was on August 4 when two explosive-laden drones were allegedly used in an attempt to kill Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro as he gave a speech in Caracas.

Fun science facts!

The newly discovered member of the family, identified through remains found in northeastern Utah, had a wingspan of 1.5 metres (five feet) and 112 teeth, including fanglike spikes sticking out near the snout. A jutting lower jaw suggests a pelican-like pouch, perhaps to scoop up fish and unsuspecting small reptiles.

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

• The human brain is over three times as big as the brain of other mammals that are of similar body size. • Your brain has around 100 billion nerve cells. • Your brain is more powerful, more complex and more clever than any computer ever built. • Did you know that the chance of your fingerprint being the same as someone else’s fingerprint is 1 in 64 billion? • Did you know the technique of fingerprinting is known as dactyloscopy? • Grizzly bears can run up to 30 miles an hour!! • Polar bears have no natural enemies. • Polar bears actually have black skin! • Did you know eating cheese at the end of a meal can help neutralise the acids in your mouth and reduce the chance of tooth decay.

On August 4 when two explosive-laden drones were allegedly used in an attempt to kill Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. (Photo: Bigstock.com) And last week, President Emmanuel Macron’s security services jammed a drone’s navigating signals as it flew near his vacation retreat, sending it crashing into the Mediterranean. An inquiry has been opened, with police divers trying to recover the craft. Other high-profile scares saw a drone crashing onto a stage near German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2013, and two years later, the White House went on lockdown after a drone foiled radar systems and landed on the lawn. “I believe that this is a trend, and heads of state will need to be very cautious about giving outdoor speeches or outdoor rallies unless they’re sure they can defend themselves against an attack of one or more drones,” Humphreys said. - Evolving risks Islamic State fighters have used civilian drones to track Iraqi army movements, while Russia reported in January that drones equipped with explosives had attacked its forces stationed in Syria. Environmental activists have launched them at nuclear power plants in France, and such threats have prompted the installation of drone-blocking capabilities at key US nuclear sites.

in place in France, including a ban on their use in cities, and an online map which shows all areas that are off limits -- including Macron’s holiday retreat at Bregancon. Starting next year, any drone weighing more than 800 grammes (1.8 pounds) must be registered with French authorities. But experts see shortcomings in the current defence strategies. “It is very difficult to hit a drone that is coming at high speed, at 100 km/h (70 mph), and it’s not hard to build drones that do that,” Humphreys said. “Even if you could hit one drone that came in at high speed, what if five or 10 of them attacked you all at once?” Other risks include an intercepted drone falling in an urban area, or crafts that are modified to ignore ground-based signals on the last stage of an attack, rendering jamming gear useless. - Eagles? Stationing sharpshooters at all sensitive sites could also prove impracticable -- and costly. Prisons, in particular, are taking seriously the use of drones to deliver illicit packages to inmates or to scout out a means of breaking people out.

A Japanese man was convicted in 2016 for landing a drone carrying a bottle of radioactive sand from the Fukushima disaster site on the roof of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office.

French officials believe this is how career criminal Redoine Faid was sprung so quickly from prison in July by armed accomplices using a helicopter -- he is still on the run.

Faced with such risks, officials are testing and deploying equipment including frequency jamming gear, nets and even intercepting eagles.

It was later revealed that no net had been stretched across the main courtyard at the prison to prevent airborne entry.

“We have a strategy of surveillance, inquiry and material testing,” said Colonel JeanFrancois Morel of France’s gendarme police force, who said 400,000 civilian drones were sold in the country last year. Strict operating rules are also

As for training eagles to snatch rogue drones, the French air force programme was inspired by a similar effort in The Netherlands. But Dutch officials said in December they were dropping the project after the birds were deemed too expensive and too unruly to be effective.

LEISURE / TRAVEL

VOICE OF ASIA 20

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Lombok quake sends shudders through tourist industry by Kiki Siregar

The number of visitors to Bali plummeted following the 2002 bombings, which targeted a nightclub and bar frequented by Western tourists. The attacks killed more than 200 people and shocked the world.

ENGGIGI, Indonesia | AFP - The powerful earthquakes that struck the Indonesian island of Lombok in recent weeks killing some 400 people have sent holidaymakers fleeing, raising questions about how its lucrative tourism sector will bounce back.

But the island soon regained its status as one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

Two deadly tremors a week apart -- accompanied by dozens of aftershocks -- wrought widespread damage on homes and livelihoods, striking during the crucial tourism season, when hotels, local businesses and seasonal workers earn the bulk of their annual revenue.

That is little comfort for people like Vina Kartika, who used to work on Gili Trawangan, where one of her friends was killed in the quake, and has currently lost her seasonal tourism job. “I will now have to stay at home, doing nothing,” she said.

In the Gili Islands, a popular backpacker and diving destination just off Lombok’s northern coast, thousands of terrified tourists jostled on powder-white beaches for departing boats.

On Gili Air island, some hotels were flattened but others survived. A diving school was barricaded with wood panels and furniture to keep intruders out. A supermarket in the middle of the island was completely empty, its windows broken.

Lombok’s airport was briefly crammed with holidaymakers rushing to get flights out, while the main tourist drag of Senggigi has been left deserted. Alfan Hasandi depended on peak season tourists to see his family through the rest of the year. He and his brothers ran a now shuttered business on one of the islands, Gili Air, offering boat tickets, snorkeling, trekking and vehicle rentals, usually earning five million rupiah ($350) a day during peak season. “We hope we can rebuild... but it’s impossible because people are still traumatised,” the 25-year-old told AFP. “Our homes have been completely destroyed... We don’t have money to rebuild, we need help.” Located in the one of the most tectonically active areas in the world, Indonesians are used to natural disasters and its tourism industry has bounced back from catastrophes in the past. But for Lombok, the quakes struck at an especially cruel time, when the island’s tourism industry was on the way up. - ‘A new Bali’ -

Hasandi said he is trying to remain upbeat, and he said lessons can be learned from the Bali’s recovery.

An injured Italian tourist (centre R) is shaded by another as they wait for an ambulance after locals and tourists were evacuated from the Gili islands north of Lombok, at a port in Bangsal on Indonesia’s Lombok island on August 6, 2018, the day after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the area. (Photo: Sonny Tumbekala / AFP) Dubbed “The Island of a Thousand Mosques”, Muslim-majority Lombok was always a path less travelled destination than its bigger neighbor Bali, the Hindu-majority island that forms the backbone of Indonesia’s $19.4 billion tourist sector.

been shuttered on its main drag and the usual stream of touts offering services has dried up.

But it had been earmarked as one of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s “10 new Balis” with the regional government hoping to develop it into a major destination, especially in the booming halal tourism sector.

Ketut Jaya, manager of the nearby Holiday Resort Lombok, said it might be a month before they could start taking guest bookings again. Just 19 of the resort’s 189 rooms were occupied by hardy tourists who decided not to leave after the quake.

Its residents now have to repair and rebuild, hoping that spooked tourists return. Senggigi would normally be bustling with visitors this time of year. Now boats lie idle along its main beach, restaurants and hotels have

“We don’t know whether we can operate again in September,” Susi Hayati, manager of the Asmara restaurant, told AFP.

Authorities estimate the damage unleashed by the two quakes on buildings and infrastructure on Lombok will exceed two trillion rupiah ($138 million). - ‘Temporary shock’ -

But while the post-quake images of destruction and departing tourists were dramatic, analysts predict tourism in the region will recover after short-term pain. Indonesia’s tourism sector has been robust in the face of major crises before, including natural disasters like the 2004 tsunami and terror attacks such as the 2002 Bali bombings. “The impact is not as big as a tsunami and the (Lombok) airport is still open,” Tedjo Iskandar, a Jakarta-based travel analyst with TTC Travel Mart, told AFP. Asnawi Bahar, chairman of Indonesia’s tour and travel agency association, described the earthquake as a “temporary shock” for the sector.

Hajj commission warns pilgrims against illegal tour agencies Saudia Arabia declares August 20 Arafah Day

BUJA, Nigeria - Natinal Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday warned intending pilgrims to patronise only licensed tour operators. It cautioned them to resist any attempt by their travel agency to process their documents in another country. Describing such act as illegal, he said NAHCON would not be responsible for any loss. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Fatima Usara, the commission said it approved 110 tour agencies for the 2018 hajj. She added that intending pilgrims were expected to have completed all travelling arrangements ahead of entry deadline. Although, Saudi Arabia is yet to officially peg date for final entry, Nigerian pilgrims were allowed late entry two days to Arafah last year. “Intending pilgrims should ensure that their payments are duly receipted and details of package on offer disclosed to them. “Pilgrims are strictly advised against accepting half-packaged visas, while all hajj-licensed companies should ensure that their Saudi partners provide services commensurate with the package the clients paid for. “Intending hajj pilgrims are equally warned not to patronise any tour operator/travel agency that will arrange passport or visa from another country for the purpose of travelling to the

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has declared Monday, August 20, as Arafah Day, equivalent to the ninth day of Dhul-hajj 1439 in the Islamic calendar.

However, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has tasked intending pilgrims from the state to

The plane, thought to currently be in Singapore, is the latest asset Malaysia is seeking to claw back that was allegedly bought by businessman Low Taek Jho with money looted from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Last week a $250 million superyacht allegedly owned by the financier, an adviser to 1MDB often referred to as Jho Low, was returned to Malaysia after being impounded by authorities in Indonesia.

“Jho Low’s jet will be brought here as soon as we can make it fly”, the 93-year-old told reporters at his office in administrative capital Putrajaya.

Arafah Day is special in Islam, as over two million pilgrims from across the world converge on Mount Arafat Nigerian pilgrims boarding a MaxAir aircraft to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. to offer special prayers as part of hajj rites.

About 55,000 pilgrims from Nigeria are expected to join others across the globe for the 2018 hajj at Makka and Medina.

UTRAJAYA, Malaysia | AFP | A $35 million private jet owned by a playboy financier at the centre of a Malaysian corruption mega-scandal will be returned to the country as soon as possible, the prime minister said Monday.

Tun Mahathir said that Mr Low’s Bombardier Global 5000 jet would be returned to Malaysia “as soon as possible”, but that it would need to be serviced first as it had been grounded for some time.

Traditionally, the second day of Arafah, which is Tuesday, August 21, marks eid-hadaya, the sallah festival when Muslims offer animals for sacrifice.

“By implication, hajj activities start 8th Dhul-hajj, 1439 (August 19) and Arafah 9th Dhul-hajj 1439. Also, eidalhaya follows on 10th,” stated Haramain.

Luxury jet linked to graft scandal to return to Malaysia: PM

Allegations that huge sums were plundered from 1MDB contributed to the shock election defeat in May of former premier Najib Razak, who set up and oversaw the fund.

holy land, as this is illegal,” NAHCON noted.

The Haramain, the supreme authority in charge of the two mosques in Makka and Medina, headed by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Sudais, declared that the moon was sighted on Saturday, which made yesterday first of Dhul-hajj 1439.

“People were scared back then but then came back,” he said. “This is a natural disaster, so it should be OK -- God willing.”

be good ambassadors. He told them to abide by the laws of their host country and shun conducts that could bring their names, the image of Ondo or Nigeria into disrepute. The governor, who gave the advice during a farewell ceremony organised for 119 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia at the premises of the State Muslims Welfare Board, Akure, yesterday, congratulated them on the opportunity God provided them to fulfil one of the five pillars of Islam. The governor added that his administration had provided the necessary support to ensure befitting accommodation, feeding and transport, both in Makkah and Medinah, for the pilgrims.

In a related development, a female pilgrim from Kano yesterday recovered her $700 from a Saudi hotelier in Medina. Hassana Aliyu from Gezawa Council of Kano reportedly misplaced the money, believed to be part of her Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA), in the hotel and it was found by one of the house-keepers. Reacting to the development, Head of Civic Enlightenment of NAHCON, Umar Bala, admonished pilgrims against careless handling of their valuables, as NAHCON or the Saudi authorities would not be held responsible for such negligence. - The Guardian

Authorities are seeking to arrest Mr Low - who had close ties to Najib’s family - but his current whereabouts are unknown. The financier has previously denied any wrongdoing over the multibillion-dollar scandal. A Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft at Singapore Airshow 2010. The Malaysian government is looking to bring home a Bombardier Global 5000 said to belong to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho. Najib, his family and cronies are accused of overseeing the plundering of 1MDB to buy everything from US real estate to artworks. The US Department of Justice, which is seeking to recover items allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB cash in America, estimates that US$4.5 billion in total was looted from the fund. Since his election loss, Najib has been charged with corruption and money laundering over the scandal.

VOICE OF ASIA 21

FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Home&Real Estate ‘Little Couple’ stars finally sell their Houston home for a tiny price — Here’s what went wrong

This sleek prefab can be built in just six weeks for under $22k by Kelly Dawson

ormed from the idea that extra space to call your own shouldn’t be a hassle to obtain, this tiny prefab can be placed anywhere you desire. The need for space is universal, yet the definition can be quite specific. Sure, we can get it from nature, but if that’s too far away at the time, then we can feel a sense of solitude from the shield of a closed door.

Not only was this home priced too high, but things went from bad to worse. (Photo credit: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images; realtor.com) by Libby Dutton

he “Little Couple” stars have, at long last, reportedly sold their Houston home—after nearly a year on the market and 10 (yep, 10!) price cuts—for a mere $899,000. The back story: In September 2017, Bill Klein and Jen Arnold, stars of the long-running TLC reality show, had put their five-bedroom, sixbath Houston mansion on the market, since they’d moved to St. Petersburg, FL, so that Dr. Arnold could start a new gig at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. At that point, they had high hopes on the price, set at $1,225,000. But as months passed and no buyer appeared, the house underwent a series of price cuts. According to Radar Online, the house finally landed a buyer—for $326,000 less than the original asking price. So why did the “Little Couple” home sale fall so short of expectations? For starters, in case you’re wondering if the home sat on the market because it was configured specifically for little people, rest assured, it had been renovated for people of standard height before hitting the market. This probably cost the couple a pretty penny— and may have tempted them to make the cardinal mistake of overpricing their home in an attempt to recoup those costs. “It was smart to redo the home for ‘normal’-size people,

but you can’t expect a buyer to pay for all of your work,” says Kathryn Bishop, a real estate agent at Keller Williams in Studio City, CA. “That’s probably what the sellers wanted.” Not only was this home priced too high, but things went from bad to worse once the area was hit by Hurricane Harvey. Even though the house wasn’t damaged in the storm, many others nearby were, and this had ripple effects on the whole market. The kitchen had been renovated to suit buyers or standard height. “This seemed like the bad combination of an overpriced home on the market and a major hurricane converging at the same time,” says Florida real estate agent Cara Ameer. “Once a major storm hits an area, it can put the brakes on people’s interest and ability to buy. Some pending home sales likely stalled or fell apart, thus causing a domino effect in the real estate pipeline.” Hurricane and pricing issues aside, the house itself had problems, too. For example, the swimming pool, while gorgeous, is an amenity many home buyers just don’t want because of its safety and maintenance issues. Plus the placement may have given buyers pause. The swimming pool may have been a liability. “I had a place where the owners had a pool in the center of the home, like this one,” says Bruce Ailion, a real estate

agent and attorney in Atlanta. “It took forever to sell and also had multiple price drops. The pool was surrounded by the home walls, so the sun only fell on the pool and patio for a short period of time. So water would stay on the patio longer and algae and mold would grow.” The ‘Little Couple’ real estate take-home lesson? If the “Little Couple” stars have learned anything from their home-selling struggles in Houston, it’s that you should never assume that star power alone can be enough to ratchet up a home’s price. “For a home like this, with a celebrity factor that was totally move-in ready, pricing on the higher side probably seemed like the right thing to do at the time they put it on the market,” concludes Ameer. “However, given the proximity to storms and such, you always have to think about pricing relative to the reality of that situation.” In fact, as it happened, the “Little Couple” stars’ new home in St. Petersburg was situated right in the path of Hurricane Irma, which forced them to evacuate their new home shortly after moving in. It prompted Arnold to joke, “It’s getting a little weird about hurricanes following me. My family calls me a hurricane magnet.”

Ryan Abernathy, Brandon Boorsma, and Matt Leitch considered all of the potential meanings when they tried to define that human itch for space within themselves, which is how they came up with DROP Structures. The Mono structure’s singleengineered truss frame makes it capable of withstanding harsh weather—from heavy snow, to downpours, to heat. It comes in three variations.&nbsp; “DROP Structures are created to complement and enhance your current situation,” Ryan says. “It’s more of a piece of art than a functional asset.” The men came up with the idea for a prefabricated, fixed, and stand-alone getaway for what they hope will solve the universal need for space. So often, they explain, people envision just an extra room beyond what they already own to solve this problem. It could be a place to work, to vacation, or to be that other uniquely human adjective of “creative.” But oftentimes, the solutions for getting that extra square footage are too involved. “Our structures are designed as a means of expanding ideas on how to improve one’s life-

Photo: Ryan Abernathy style beyond the traditional sense of, ‘I need more space, so I need to move to a new house or take on renovations.’” The Mono, their signature build, measures nine feet wide, 12 feet high, and 16 feet across, including a four-foot covered deck. These measurements are intentional, as they require no permits in most of North America. The compact size also makes it easier to transport the struc-

tures from the one-year-old company’s headquarters in Alberta, Canada. The base structure starts at $21,450, and there are three variations to choose. It’s a versatile, albeit simple site, and one answer to a need for space that we all seem to share. “My hope is that people simply get a sense of peace every time they retreat to their Mono,” Matt says. - Dwell

CENTERED LIVING

That may not be great for real estate, but maybe it could set the stage for a nail-biting new season of their TLC show. -Realtor.com

Houston home sales, prices rose in July

here has been a big increase in Houston home prices. They rose to another record high as buyers snapped up more properties in July. According to industry statistics, local real-estate agents sold 8,108 single-family homes last month, an increase of 9.1 percent from the same period last year. Home sales so far this year are running 3.4 percent ahead of a record-breaking 2017, according to the monthly report from the Houston Association of Realtors released Wednesday.

Median price for a local home sold last month rose 6 percent to $243,500, the highest figure ever for a July. (Photo: HAR)

The median price for a local home sold last month rose 6 percent to $243,500, a record highest figure ever for a July.

Sales of luxury homes priced from $750,000 and up rose 6.3 percent.

Average home prices are climbing as sales of homes in the $250,000-to-$499,999 range shot up 21 percent over the same period last month.

“Consumers are keeping the Houston housing market one of the most vibrant in the U.S., despite low inventory and concerns about affordabil-

ity,” HAR chairwoman Kenya Burrell-VanWormer said in a statement. “Much of that is reflective of a healthy job market that continues to draw new hires to Houston from across the country and around the world.” - HAR.com

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Don’t rush to sign deals or purchase upgraded gadgets. It might be better to bide your time. The week ahead can also be perfect for reading inspired fiction or watching great movies.

21 April to 20 May What do you love about being single? Try to focus on the positives instead of the negatives, Aries, because your situation might not be changing any time soon. It’s fun to have lively debates with dates and potential lovers.

21 May to 20 June Foreign ideas and concepts are suddenly much more appealing to you. If it has been your desire to work in a foreign country, now is your big chance to make a move toward that goal.

21 June to 22 July Aspects in your house of personal appearance and self-expression show that while you may be focusing on finding new work or a new position with your existing employer, the real money may be in upgrading your look.

23 July to 22 August Financial issues could play a part in your approach to health and healing. You might have an idea about how to afford a treatment that would benefit you or a loved one. This is a great time to brainstorm.

23 August to 22 Sept You might be far too generous for your own good. Make sure you’re paid a fair rate, and don’t let other people take advantage of your goodwill. An encounter could remind you of someone you once knew.

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Week of AUGUST 17, 2018 21 March to 20 April

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Astrology.com

23 September to 22 Oct Lighten up a little, Libra. You’re a very visual person, and you want everything to go perfectly, but one little mistake on a date isn’t going to ruin the whole thing. Besides, embarrassing moments and awkward situations make great stories to tell.

23 October to 21 Nov This is a strong time for employer/employee relationships. People should be more sympathetic and cooperative. Do your best to organize your workspace. This makes you calmer and boosts productivity.

22 November to 21 Dec Aspects affect your house of career and authority, showing that what you bring to the table is a deep-seated knowledge of your work, as well as a professional demeanor.

22 December to 20 Jan If you have to work late, don’t forget to look after your body. If you’re out socializing, drink more water than usual. It would help if you cut back on caffeine so you can sleep well in between your very active waking hours.

21 January to 19 Feb Aspects affect your house of career and authority, showing that what you bring to the table is a deep-seated knowledge of your work, as well as a professional demeanor. Your earning potential will be changing for the better now.

20 February to 20 Mar It’s time to change your thinking about health. Your underlying beliefs play a part in how well you are. Take time to reflect on whether you’re helping yourself on your journey to total wellness or holding yourself back.

ACROSS 1. Stopped from sleeping 6. Emergency responders 9. Much ado 13. Carl Jung’s inner self 14. Old French coin 15. Approximately 16. Castrated bull 17. “Swan Lake” step 18. Relating to pond scum 19. *Great Depression state 21. *”The Maltese Falcon” author 23. *____ Row 24. ____-de-camp 25. Churchill’s “so few” 28. *Subject of “Reefer Madness” 30. Herpes ____, a.k.a. shingles 35. Cain’s victim 37. *Johnny Vander Meer and Ernie Lombardi 39. Go “Boo!” 40. Shower with affection 41. *Now demoted planet identified in 1930 43. Antioxidant-rich berry 44. Insect, post-metamorphosis 46. Slang for heroin 47. College cadet program 48. Elongated shape 50. Shining armor 52. Fifth note 53. One less traveled 55. Loudness knob 57. *First FIFA World Cup location 61. *FDR’s brainchild 65. Linoleums, for short 66. Hole-in-one 68. Mr. Simpson to Marge 69. *Seabiscuit sound 70. QB exclamation 71. Imitating 72. *Johnny Hodges and Jimmy Dorsey played it 73. Group of exercises 74. In the Queen of Hearts’ oven?

DOWN 1. Yellowjacket 2. Cognizant of 3. Capital on the Dnieper 4. Mideast V.I.P. 5. Limited in scope 6. Sports award 7. Bygone bird 8. Uncooked seafood 9. *”The Mummy” or “City Lights” 10. Egg on 11. *Cab Calloway’s improvised singing 12. *Gandhi’s ____ March 15. Brooches with low relief carving 20. Pipsqueak 22. Wood-shaping tool 24. Cited as evidence 25. *Dominant mass media in the 1930s 26. Mushroom cloud maker 27. Prenatal 29. Snaky swimmers 31. Melee memento 32. Fiesta fare 33. One of the Muses 34. *Third ____ 36. Building block 38. Just for men 42. Nose of a missile 45. Military offensive 49. India’s smallest state 51. Disinterested response 54. Nursemaids in India 56. Parkinson’s disease drug 57. Arm bone 58. Cambodian currency 59. ____ of measurement 60. 1960s boots 61. Remaining after deductions 62. Another spelling for #4 Down 63. *”It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It ____ Got That Swing)” 64. *Colbert showed them in “It Happened One Night” 67. Pool shark’s weapon

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US/INDIA NEWS

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FRIDAY, August 17, 2018

Modi pledges Indian manned space mission, healthcare scheme dress of his five-year term, touting his economic credentials ahead of an election he is expected to call early next year.

by Bhuvan Bagga

EW DELHI, India | AFP | 8/15/2018 - India will send a manned mission to space by 2022 and introduce health insurance for half a billion of its citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged Wednesday in a keynote speech ahead of an expected election campaign.

“India is now the land of reform, perform and transform. We are poised for record economic growth,” the prime minister said.

Modi, speaking from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, told a crowd of supporters that “sleeping elephant” India had awakened and was ready to take its place in the global economy. In a marathon speech, the nationalist leader promised India would soon become only the fourth country -- after the United States, Russia and China -- to get someone beyond Earth’s atmosphere. “India will send into space -- a man or a woman -- by 2022, before that if possible,” Modi said adding that the chosen astronaut would be “carrying the national flag.” The prime minister also announced a huge health insurance scheme -- providing annual cover of about $7,000 for 500 million Indians -- would be rolled out next month. “It is high time we ensured that the poor of India get access to good quality and affordable healthcare,” he said, adding that the scheme would cover the equivalent of the population of the European Union. “It is essential to ensure that we free the poor of India from the clutches of poverty in which they cannot afford healthcare.” The scheme -- dubbed ‘Modicare’ -- has been described as the world’s biggest government health insurance initiative. - ‘Sleeping elephant’ Modi was speaking in the final Independence Day ad-

“India set example...”: US independence message on democracy, rule of law On behalf of the US government on the occasion of India’s 72nd Independence Day, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo lauded the contribution of the vibrant Indian-American diaspora

EW YORK | PTI | August 15, 2018 -India has set an example for South Asia and the world by supporting democracy, diversity and the rule of law, the US said today while greeting the country on its Independence Day. In his message on behalf of the US government on the occasion of India’s 72nd Independence Day, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo lauded the contribution of the vibrant Indian-American diaspora and young students in strengthening ties between America and

India. “On this Indian Independence Day, we congratulate India - a unique civilization, fellow democracy, and a friend - on taking its rightful place as a leading global power and continuing our shared efforts to sustain the rules-based order,” he said. Since gaining its independence, India has “set an example for South Asia and the world by supporting democracy, diversity, and the rule of law - values shared by the United States”, Mr Pompeo said.

“As members of the oldest and largest democracies, the people of the US and India have always enjoyed strong bonds of friendship. We are grateful for the vibrant Indian-American diaspora and the growing number of young people strengthening ties between our countries as exchange students,” he said. Mr Pompeo said that the values shared by the people of the two countries “contribute to inspiring collaboration in health, energy, environment, science, and high technology that will fuel the jobs and prosperity of the future”.

It is aiming to send an unmanned mission to the moon in January 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced last week. The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will aim to put a craft with a rover onto the moon’s surface to collect data.

“Today the world says that the sleeping elephant has woken up, is walking and has joined the race,” Modi added.

Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, orbited the moon and sent a probe to the surface, in a controlled crash landing.

India has seen annual economic growth of around seven percent since he took over -though the rupee is now under attack in the fallout from the Turkish lira crisis.

India also launched an orbiter to Mars in 2013 which is still operational and in 2017 launched a record 104 satellites in one blast-off.

India’s main opposition Congress party dubbed Modi’s address “hollow” and said that it had not answered questions about the the economy, relations with China and Pakistan, and corruption allegations. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation. (Photo credit: PTI)

with China.

“We wish that at least in his last speech, he would have spoken the truth,” Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told the Press Trust of India news agency. - Space race India has invested heavily in its space programme in the past decade, stepping up a rivalry

New Delhi is competing with other international players for a greater share of the satellite market, and is known for its low-cost space programme. The technologies to realise Modi’s space pledge had already been developed in India, said ISRO chairman K. Sivan. “We have already developed the technology like human crew module, environment control and life support system. Before undertaking the launch, we will have two unmanned missions,” Sivan told Press Trust of India after Modi’s speech.