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Vol. 32 No. 34 • FRIDAY, August 31, 2018 Published Weekly from Houston
28th Janmashtami celebrations light up Convention Center by Manu Shah
B
ollywood actor Anupam Kher treated Houstonians to the entire array of his onscreen avatars – serious, comic, patriotic, profound, candid, strong and yet vulnerable in his address at the 28th Janmashtami celebrations held at George Brown Convention Center on 25 April Considered one of the finest actors in Bollywood with a soon-to-be-seen debut in Hollywood, the actor who was the Chief Guest of the evening, lived up to every bit of his reputation and spoke for a full hour only broken by applause and appreciative laughter. The well attended event which brings all the communities of Houston under one roof to celebrate Lord Krish-
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Indian American political figures mourn death of Arizona Senator John McCain
T
he American political landscape changed Aug. 25 when Vietnam War veteran and longtime U.S. Republican senator from Arizona John McCain passed away after battling brain cancer for just over a year. The political community, both Democrats and Republicans, including the contingent of Indian American members of Congress, responded to the loss of the senator, whose family announced they would take him off treatment for the cancer Aug. 24.
Anupam Kher was the Chief Guest for the Janmashtami celebrations (Photos credit: Bijay Dixit)
Former governor of South Carolina and current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, R-S.C., passed along her thoughts on McCain, which included an image of her and McCain having a one-onone conversation. “Tonight we say goodbye to a true hero. A man who never sought accolades. A patriot who fought every day for American freedom and dignity. A warrior of strength, a patriot of heart, and a man of conviction. There will never be another John McCain. May he rest in peace,” she tweeted.
Kids and parents alike reveled in the costume contest! na’s birth, honors outstanding achievements by members of the community and has a lively session of dandiya to round up
FRIDAY, August In Section 231, 2018
the evening is organized by the Hindus of Greater Houston.
the gathering. With self- deprecating humor, he explained
Kher, who arrived on the dot, took seconds to connect with
Continued on page 8
Sen. John McCain tor John McCain. A man who devoted his life to serving this country, Senator McCain had an unwavering commitment to our democracy, even in his final days,” she started in a series of tweets.
House of Representatives, Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., said in a tweet: “(Aug. 25) is a very sad day. This nation has lost a true American hero. Please keep the McCain family in your prayers.”
“When the worst of our politics tried – and continue to try – to pull us apart, he showed courage. His north star as a legislator and leader were always his morals and his convictions, never partisan ideologies,” she added.
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said that “a grateful nation thanks you for a life of service,” in a tweet. “My thoughts are with your family and loved ones.”
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., kept his comments succinct in honoring the memory of McCain.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said that the Capitol Building will not be the same without McCain’s presence.
“Throughout his entire life, @SenJohnMcCain displayed a love of country as a public servant. His presence will be missed,” he tweeted.
“The halls of Congress will never be same without Sena-
The longest tenured Indian American member of the
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First-term member of the Senate Kamala Harris, D-Calif., also issued her condolences. “My colleague John McCain will be remembered as a devoted father and husband, war hero and a conscience of the Senate,” she tweeted. “Sending my condolences and prayers to his friends and family, and to the American people who have lost a true patriot.” Continued on page 8
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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
VOICE OF ASIA 2
by Daniel L. Davis
VOICE OF ASIA Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Marketing Director: Office Manager:
A
Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Susan Pothanikat Priyan Mathew
Contributors: Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Mala Sharma
VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Editor Online:
Shobana Muratee
All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-7745143. 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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mid the chaos of the president’s engagement strategy with North Korea, one thing remains crystal clear: So long as the Administration believes they can get Kim Jong-un to denuclearize without giving anything in return, the talks will go nowhere. That’s not as dire as it may sound, however.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Peace in Korea is more likely — and important — than denuclearization
On Thursday afternoon, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced he and new envoy Stephen Biegun would be headed to Pyongyang next week. Friday afternoon, Trump quashed their departure via Twitter, saying he felt there had not been “sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” Since the much-ballyhooed summit between Trump and Kim in June, relations between Pyongyang and Washington have been quiet. Pompeo went back to Pyongyang for a follow-up meeting in July, but Kim refused to meet him. North Korea returned 55 sets of remains of presumed U.S. war dead—the first in nine years—from the Korean War last month. Aside from the vaguely worded joint statement following the Singapore summit, there have been no implementation agreements or firm declarations of deliverables and timelines agreed to by either side. Washington seeks the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization (CVID) while Pyongyang seeks an amorphous, phased approach to “denuclearization” of the peninsula. Part of the reason for the lack of actions may have been that the administration is trying to compel Kim to completely give us his nuclear arsenal before receiving anything in return—something Kim is almost certain to refuse. On July 25th, Pompeo told U.S. senators that until “North Korea eliminates its weapons of mass destruction, our sanctions, and those at the United Nations, will remain in effect,” implying Pyongyang must give up all its weapons and missiles before it gets anything in return. That is certainly the impression North Korea came away with, as a spokesman for their Foreign Ministry reiterated their view that taking “phased” and “synchronous” steps by both the United States and North Korea are the only way to settle the complex matter. Pompeo
apparently
Getty Images North Korean negotiators that the United States required full disarmament before giving anything in return during his early July visit to Pyongyang. The response from North Korea was swift and blunt. Their Foreign Ministry released a statement following Pompeo’s visit, saying: “the attitude and demands from the U.S. side during the high-level talks were nothing short of deeply regrettable,” and reflected “gangster-like” demands. Negotiations and diplomacy are still the best route for the administration, but if we are to have any chance of success, we are going to have to accept that in order to get something major, we’re going to have to give something major. Our objective should be peace and diplomacy, not a hard-line call for denuclearization. If we’re not willing to give anything, the negotiations are not likely to produce the full CVID the president seeks. It is critical to point out, however, that while definitely preferable, CVID is not a requirement. Preventing war is.
top objectives. Those aims are realistic, within our power to accomplish, and can be attained in cost-effective ways. Reagan’s classic “peace through strength” is the vehicle through which American interests can best be maintained with North Korea. It’s time to consider that “peace through strength” doesn’t mean the perpetual deployment of the Armed Forces, but rather a rational, cost-effective standard of strength that, once reached, allows the U.S. to avoid unnecessary, costly, and counterproductive wars of choice. The fact is that right now, Regan’s goals have largely been accomplished.
Because of our overwhelming superiority of nuclear and conventional military power in relation to the world, let alone North Korea, the president can keep the country safe, literally indefinitely. Our nuclear arsenal is orders of magnitude stronger and more reliable than anything Kim Jong-un will ever possess. No one recognizes this fact more than Kim, and thus he is deterred from using his nuclear Preserving American security weapons in an offensive way and protecting U.S. economic because he knows he would be interests in the Asia-Pacific re- obliterated minutes later. gion are our vital, strategic interOur conventional force— ests—and they must be Trump’s while admittedly overstretched
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and overused on nation building, counterinsurgency, and small wars in the years since 9/11—is substantially stronger than even the million-man army Kim commands, and he likewise would never risk conducting ground, air, or sea operations that would result in clashes with the U.S. military. This is the reason we fund a world-class Armed Forces, so we can deter potential adversaries like North Korea, enjoying the peace that results from our strength. Talks and diplomacy are the best path to bringing peace to the Korean peninsula and seeking CVID is a worthy longterm goal. If we are to have a realistic chance to achieve it, Washington must accept that to get something major, it must give something major. The good news for all Americans, however, is that the economic power that serves as the foundation of our military power will keep us safe, indefinitely, regardless of how negotiations eventually play out. Daniel L. Davis is a Senior Fellow for Defense Priorities and a former Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army who retired in 2015 after 21 years, including four combat deployments.
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VOICE OF ASIA 3
Section 1
Community Email: voiceasia@aol.com
23rd Brahman Samaj Convention in Houston attracts a global audience
T
he 23rd BSNA Convention and its Silver Jubilee Celebration, and 8th GBC convention were held in Houston from July 27 – 29, 2018. It was well attended by over 100 delegate families from all over the world.
enjoyed every moment of it. Saturday July 28th commenced with a power yoga session followed by Bhajans early morning. The convention formally commenced with Vedic Mantras, lamp lighting
BSNA President Dr. Keshav Shukla with organizing committee announcing commencement of the 25th convention. The program started with a grand Hasya Kavi Sammelan by specially invited Kavis from India – Dr. Suresh Awasthi and Dr. Kirti Kaley. Kavis entertained the members with their
and Brahm Vandana by senior BSNA patrons on Saturday morning. After announcement of commencement by Convention Di-
I
t’s that time of the year again - Bollywood Blast time! The signature event which was started 13 years ago, is the brainchild of the visionary Anil Kumar, who predicted that it will one day become the most popular Indian presentation at the Miller Outdoor Theatre. BOLLYWOOD BLAST has been imitated, cloned, copied, but still remains the first of its kind in Houston, and indeed a trailblazer, AND a trendsetter, in every sense of the word.
Agni Foundation for the Arts based in Austin, TX. His other theatrical works include Lanka, Strings of time, Disco Deewane and the Big Fat Indian Wedding. Prakash has also made a series of short and feature length films. BOLLYWOOD BLAST has been made possible by a
grant from the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, and will take place on Labor Day Sunday, September 2, 8.15 PM. Admission is FREE, as also Parking. For ‘free’ tickets to the reserved seating area, visit www.milleroutdoortheatre. com or call 832-275-9658.
This year, in a special tribute to Miller Outdoor Theatre’s 95th Anniversary, Samskriti will be presenting Agni Entertainment of Austin in “OM SHANTI”. Through colorful songs, sets, and characters, Om Shanti tells the story of Om, a court dancer madly in love with the princess, Shanti, in a land called Bollywood, whose soul was song and dance until everything changed. Director/producer Prakash Mohandas says of the production, “This grand musical will be unlike anything Texas has seen, a production infused with all the wonders of Bollywood—lights, costumes, dance, music and melodrama playfully revealing a saga on stage: of celebration, friendship, hope, love, life, after-life, revenge, and more.”
(From Left): BSNA President Dr. Shukla awarding Life Time Achievement award to Dr. Shrikant Mishra and Dr Sen Pathak. poetries of Hasya, Shringar, Bhakti and Veer Rasas. The Kavi Sammelan which lasted for around three hours, was attended by over 300 people who
Prakash Mohandas, founder and CEO of Agni Entertainment, is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, actor, dancer, and musician and is also the founder of Agni Dance Company and
Continued on next page
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BOLLYWOOD BLAST 2018 - “OM SHANTI”
Agni Entertainment's prime focus is the production, promotion and distribution of independent film and theatre projects. Agni also aims to spread its wings into the arenas of media management and entertainment news. Its goal is to establish the missing links in the south Asian arts industry outside of Asia and eventually create a thriving, stand-alone industry in countries outside the Asian sub-continent.
rector Abha Dwivedi, the President of the BSNA Dr. Keshav Shukla delivered Welcome
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
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RESTAURANT REVIEW
Kumar's South Indian Village Cuisine – A Treat for the Senses
H
OUSTON - August 19, 2018. Kumar's South Indian Village Cuisine, located at 8383 Westheimer Rd, Ste #168, Houston, TX, 77063, is a welcomed treat for the senses to all Houstonians. This is the third location which has opened up in Texas. The original location started in Plano, Texas. They also have a location in Austin, Texas and plan to franchise more locations all over the USA.
Obviously, the food is really good. Kumar's brings you the most authentic Indian food recipes straight from the roots of south Indian villages. You won't find any pre-packaged spices, food color or MSG. Everything is
Swami Mukundananda bestows two weeks of spiritual bliss to Houstonians oustonians braved the traffic 17 sponsored by Shri Sita Ram Founand adjusted their summer dation, USA. The focus this time was schedules to attend Swami on The Ram Katha Rahasya. Swamiji Mukundananda’s programs at India is a master story-teller; delving into House and at the Hindu Worship Tem- the depths to reveal the spiritual gems ple. Swamiji as he is affectionately hidden within the Ramayan. The audicalled by his followers is a world-renowned teacher of Spirituality, Yoga & Meditation. His academic background includes degrees in Engineering and Management from prestigious institutes in India; The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and The Indian Institute of Management (IIM). However, his spiritual calling was so intense that he renounced his promising professional career to take Sanyas at the young age of 23. Swamiji is a senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and the founder of JKYog - a non-profit organization dedicated Swami Mukundananda to the spiritual, mental ence were led on an enchanted journey and physical wellness of humankind. by Swamiji’s narration of the divine During the first week-long pro- pastimes of Lord Ram. Swamiji easily gram at India House from Aug. 4-10, held the attention of a diverse audiSwamiji presented a Life transforma-
H
by Susan Pothanikat
The Houston location is in a strip center, with plenty of free parking. As you enter, you won't be bombarded by common South Indian themes. Rather, you will find yourself in a modern, casual environment, with upbeat South Indian music, where you are welcomed by the best hospitality. It seems like every day there is a new South Asian restaurant opening up along Westheimer, but there are plenty of reasons why Kumar's is a rare gem.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Mubeen and his wife Mahera Merchant, owners of Kumar's Houston. (Photos: Susan Pothanikat) are from the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Kumar's actually encourages you to eat the traditional way--with your hands. In order to re-
limited meals. It comes with sambar, kaara kolambu, rasam, fish, chicken kolambu, mutton kolambu, 2 poriyals (vegetables), koottu, dessert, curd, ap-
Kumar's Houston serves a wonderful dosa and vadai (with chutneys), fish fry and both veg and non-veg thalis. made fresh daily. You have so many authentic dishes to try, all made by chefs from India. Kumar's is known for having all dishes served on a banana leaf plate. This gives you a real South Indian home style feeling. All of their dishes have the authentic South Indian village flavors, which
ally enjoy all the flavors, one has to savor each bite with their fingers. They serve both veg and non-veg thalis—each which are delicious in their own respect. On the weekends, from 12 pm to 3:30 pm, Kumar's serves vaazha ilai virundhu or un-
palam, buttermilk and pickle. Make sure you bring a big appetite because they will continue to serve you until you’ve had your full. Some of their other famous dishes include: boneless crab, fried fish, kari dosai, uthappam, and classics like chicken tikka with naan. Watch out for new weekend specials and don't forget to try something from their fresh fruit juice bar. Kumar's also has a separate area where you can host your own event for up to 30 people that you can reserve in advance. No time to go in person? They take catering orders and deliveries as well.
Events took place at Hindu Worship Society (photo, above) and India House (pictured below)
Owners, Mubeen and his wife Mahera, are not new to the food industry. They have had other businesses before, but this is their first time in Houston. Despite being new to the area, they are very welcoming and hospitable. They get to know each customer and are open to their comments and feedback to better the experience at Kumar's. Whether you like Indian food or haven't really tried much of it, this is definitely a restaurant that should be on your must try list. Mention “Voice of Asia” for a 10% weekday discount next time you visit Kumar's Houston. For more details, please visit: kumarmesshouston.com or call 832767-5223.
23rd Brahman Samaj Convention Continued from page 3 Speech which was followed by the Keynote Speech from Dr. Shri Kant Mishra, President of the GBC. After the key note speech, Youth chair Abhay Dubey presented the Importance of Janeu, followed by Dr. Sen Pathak’s emphatic presentation on Healthy Ageing leading to lunch time. Pre-lunch session, several learned and experienced senior BSNA members participated in panel discussions on Brahmanic values and relevance in today’s context. Discussion on Stress/ Anger Reduction & Management in Youth/Adults via Spirituality, Yoga, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine was well attended and participated by Youth. Panel discussions were followed by a discourse by His Holiness Shri Roopchandra ji Maharaj (special chief guest) and concluding presentations for the night by Dr. Sukrit Mukherjee on Scientific Interpretation of Some Religious Practices. On Saturday evening, BSNA and GBC Officers’ meeting was called in session by Dr. Keshav Shukla, President of BSNA. The Executive Committee Members of BSNA present were Dr. Lakshmi Shankar Dube, Dr. Sanjay Pandey, Dr. Ashok Saraswat, Dr. Sukrit Mukherjee, Dr. Ajay Pandey, Mr. Shiv Pathak, Convention Director Mrs. Abha Dwivedi, Mr. Shri
Gaur and Mr. Gyanesh Dadhich, chapter presidents. The BSNA BOT members present were Dr. Vinod Mishra, Dr. Sen Pathak, Dr. Akkaraju Sarma, Mr. Praveen Sharma and Dr. Shrikant Mishra. The GBC officers present were Mr. Subhash Tiwary and Mr. Virendra Dubey, among others. Morning on July 29th started with power Yoga and Bhajans. Dr. Keshav Shukla welcomed and thanked the delegates of both BSNA and GBC, and presented a brief account of the current and future planned activities of BSNA including its newly signed MOU between BSI and BSNA, approved PVSA awards, matrimonial initiative, youth networking, new website format, and other details. The new BSNA Website prototype was launched in General Body meeting by BSNA Chief Technology Officer Dr. Sukrit Mukherjee with a new special feature of BSNA Virtual Networking. The award ceremony and youth recognition were the highlights of Sunday morning session wherein contributions of all the volunteers were acknowledged and recognized
with plaques and certificates. Special efforts of Food Committee led by Suman Pathak, Vibha Goswami and Chetna Upadhyay in providing fabulous food were appreciated by all attendees and recognized by patrons. The most notable recognitions were Life Time Achievement awards to Dr. Sen Pathak, Mr. Akkaraju Sarma, Dr. Shrikant Mishra, Yoga sessions by Yogi Arun Tiwari, discourse by Swami Roopchandra ji Maharaj, Bhajans and cultural programs by Vandana Dadhich, etc. The Convention provided an excellent opportunity for all to network, remember their roots and exchange ideas on various topics, such as education, spirituality, scriptures, culture, yoga, healthcare, business, entrepreneurship, social and many more.
tion program (LTP) for the holistic well-being of body, mind and soul. This program is a combination of yoga, meditation and intellectual discourses by Swami Mukundananda. Swamiji explained the 7 Divine Laws for Happiness and Fulfillment in great detail covering one Divine Law each day. The participants at the program described Swamiji’s explanations as profound, powerful, lucid, simple, ac-
ence ranging from children to elderly; evoking laughter as well as tears from his listeners. Throughout the 7-day program, the listeners were taught the essence of spirituality covered in the nectar of the Ram Katha. The audience appreciated the uniqueness of Swamiji’s Ram Katha and were saddened when the program concluded on the last day.
Yoga session at India House, and below, the community at Hindu Worship Society
The convention was adjourned Sunday July 29th noon with Luncheon and the vote of thanks by President Dr. Keshav Shukla. Pictures, videos and more details from the convention will be posted on www.bsna.org website and more to follow.
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curate, humorous and practical. Many participants declared that the 7 Divine Laws inspired and motivated them towards self-transformation. Swamiji treated Houstonians to a second week of spiritual joy at The Hindu Worship Temple from Aug 11-
Houstonians were grateful for Swamiji’s wonderful programs and eagerly await Swami Mukundananda’s next visit to Houston on Sept 21 and Sept 22. For more details visit JKYog.org/events or call 281-6305982 or 832-377-6070.
VOICE OF ASIA 5
Fort Bend View
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place Section 1
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Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital offers advanced MRI technology
S
UGAR LAND - (August 28, 2018) – Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has new technology in its 3T wide bore MRI, providing a new level of patient comfort.
Tel: 713-774-5140
Kroger presents Fort Bend ISD with $65,000 worth of school supplies
The new technology has adaptable coil designs and acceleration techniques that minimize scan times and improve image quality. This new MRI, the SIGNA™ Architect, is a versatile and adaptable system from GE Healthcare. The hospital’s 3T wide bore MRI features a wider cylinder that accommodates patients who are larger, claustrophobic, elderly or young patients, or those who are in pain, by providing a roomier machine. The hospital’s wide-bore MRI is 10 centimeters larger in diameter than the standard MRI providing more headroom, legroom and elbowroom. “Combining the power and highdefinition imaging of our 3T machine with our wide-bore cylinder and Silent Scan technology will enable us to continue to provide the best possible diagnostics along with the most comfortable patient experience,” said Janet Leatherwood, chief nursing officer. “This is another example of Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s commitment to providing patients with the latest in diagnostic imaging technology.” MRI technology -- which uses strong magnetic fields rather than X-rays to produce detailed, crosssectional images of the body -- has a variety of diagnostic uses. Houston Methodist Sugar Land radiologists have specialized training in the areas of neuroradiology, musculoskeletal radiology, breast radiology, gastrointestinal radiology and interventional radiology. “The 3T MRI is the gold standard in
Pictured (l-r): Bagster the Kroger Mascot, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Anthony Indelicato, Collaborative Communities Coordinator Tyenise Blackmon, Shared Dreams Facilitator Bobbie Anderson, Kroger Company Corporate Affairs Manager Sparkle Anderson and Collaborative Communities Director Pamela Shaw.
F
with traditional MRI scans and make it possible for patients to stay relaxed and calm throughout the procedure.”
ORT BEND – Thanks to Kroger shoppers, Fort Bend ISD is the recipient of $65,000 worth of school supplies. FBISD is among four Houston-area school districts to receive a share of $259,681 worth of school supply kits that customers purchased through Kroger’s Backpack Boosters Initiative this year.
To schedule an appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org/imaging or call 281.274.7170. For more information about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.
During a two-week period, July 25 through Aug. 7, Kroger invited its customers across the region to purchase low-cost school supply kits to donate to children in need. As a result, FBISD received 45 large pallets of supply kits containing notebooks, paper, pencils, markers, folders, rulers and other loose items (such as
3T MRI machine (Photo courtesy HMSLH) imaging, and our capabilities enable us to quickly and accurately diagnose conditions across a wide range of specialties,” said Eric Longo, M.D., board-certified radiologist and medical director of radiology at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. “But being able to do so in the best possible environment for our patients has always been a priority. When combined with a wide bore machine, we can eliminate much of the anxiety involved
backpacks and lunch boxes). “I am thrilled that Kroger shoppers had a desire to support this initiative and help equip our FBISD students for success,” said FBISD Collaborative Communities Director Pamela Shaw. “We appreciate Kroger, their associates, shoppers and partners for supporting our school district. This donation will make a huge impact in the lives of our students and teachers.” Our collaborative community is vital to the success of our students and Fort Bend ISD. Become a mentor. Be a volunteer. We encourage everyone to become involved with FBISD. - FBISD
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VOICE OF ASIA 6
The Seven Conferences at 2nd World Hindu Congress by Manu Shah
I
n a little over a week from now, the windy city of Chicago will welcome some of the most influential global voices for the 2nd World Hindu Congress (WHC) – a three day conference from Sept. 7-9, to connect, confer and deliberate how Hindus around the world can raise their profile, find their voice and create a consequential positive impact on the world stage.
Dr. Meena Chandavarkar, Dr. Vindya Vasini, Prof. Madhu Kishwar, Ms. Alaka Inamdhar, Dr. Uma Vaidya, and Padmshri Shital Mahajan. Coordinators Manju Tiwari and Rama Rathna anticipate that the conference will broaden the network of Hindu women across the globe and help start a dialogue about the way forward. Political Conference: The Political Conference will pro-
Cultivating Political Leadership, Collective Strategies to Address Adverse and Complex Political Environments, Strategy for Protecting Hindu Human Rights and Empowering the Next Generation of Political Leaders. Notable panelists include Vice President of Suriname Ashwin Adhin, National Federation Party of Fiji member Biman Prasad and Member National Assembly SA Santosh Kalyan. Media Conference: The power of the pen will be discussed by journalists, bloggers, authors, media executives and faculty. Various aspects of the media landscape from print to social media’s unprecedented reach, accurate presentation about Hindus, media analysis,
BAPS charities supports the environment, provides 300,000 trees
B
APS Charitiescelebrates a three-year partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) through itsWalk Green initiative,a series of walkathons hosted by BAPS Charities across North America. Beginning in 2016, BAPS Charities coordinated efforts with TNC to raise funds for the Plant a Billion Trees initiative, and on August 24, 2018, presented the final gift of $166,000 to TNC executives and program leadership in Chino Hills, California. BAPS Charities volunteers and donors provided a total of 300,000 trees to TNC, made possible by $431,000 in total funds raised over three years
Anupam Kher, Editor, Columnist, Anchor Rohit Sardana, Founder of Shaktitva Project Neha Srivastava and writer and columnist Sunanda Vashisht.
Program Coordinators and volunteers at a meeting in Chicago. The globally focused event will draw 250 thought leaders and 2200 delegates from over 50 countries. A brainchild of IITian Swami Vigyananand, the landmark event is considered the “largest gathering of Hindu leaders to date.” Registrations were closed two months ago due to the phenomenal response. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a message in the inaugural session. The three day event will feature Plenary and Valedictory sessions and seven parallel conferences on Economy, Education, Media, Women participation, Hindu organizations, Youth and Politics. The end goal is to understand the challenges facing Hindus globally and collaborate on possible solutions. Economic Conference: CSuite business leaders, economists, successful entrepreneurs, and innovators will come together to inspire and encourage greater wealth creation and wealth surplus – the only way, as Program Coordinator Mukesh Aghi puts it, to empower people and overcome problems such as poverty, malnutrition and illiteracy. Eminent speakers like CEO Emerson Electric Ed Monser, CMO FedEx Raj Subramaniam, VP Walmart Dan Bryant and Columbia University Professor Arvind Panagariya, will hold forth on India’s economic trajectory, business potential in India and entrepreneurship. Sessions will also showcase top tier corporate leaders and encourage interaction with them to ignite ideas, innovation and knowledge growth. Delegates can discuss policy and trade issues and how these can be resolved by the business community. Youth Conference: Strengthening Hindu identity, encouraging young Hindu entrepreneurship, addressing professions where Hindus are underrepresented, changing media narratives about Hindu Dharma and Hindu Human Rights and Political Representation are the five core issues that will form the crux of the Youth conference. Coordinators Parth Parihar and Amruta Houde believe this conference has tremendous opportunities for global engagement between young Hindus and the opportunity to reflect on the perspectives of renowned Hindus around the world, perspectives that people “would not normally have access to.” Prominent speakers include Trinidad Archery champion Prashaanta Singh, Member of Parliament of Norway Himanshu Gulati, founder and CEO of 3one4Capital Siddarth Pai and founder and CEO of Biomenta Research Nisha Holla. Womens’ Conference: "Increasing the Role of Women in Hindu Resurgence and Renaissance" is the stated goal of this conference. Inspiring case studies, the Role of Women in Shaping Society, Entrepreneurship and Micro Savings, Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Value based Education and Policy Making, Redefining the Role of Hindu Women, Socio Cultural issues and Contemporary Challenges are some of the topics that will take center stage. Accelerating the conversation are prominent women speakers like Chandrika Tandon, Dr. Anuradha Gokhale,
vide a connecting platform for the global Hindu diaspora that is politically active and allow political aspirants among the younger generation to interface with seniors leaders and in the process find mentors. Panelists will spearhead discussions on: Reasserting a strong Hindu Political Voice, Expanding and
its responsibilities and technology will also be highlighted. According to Coordinators Vikas Deshpande and Sushil Pandit, this is vital as the “Hindu community gets branded because of how we are portrayed in the media either intentionally or unintentionally.” Key speakers include noted actor
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Educational conference: Organized by the Hindu Education Board and Coordinator Nachiketa Tiwari, the fundamental goal is to bring together educationists, academicians, publishers, students and policy makers to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field of education including access to quality, innovative, affordable education, the academic study of Hindu Dharma, society and dharmic values based education. Speakers include
The check presentation. by 23,000 walkers at 76 cities across the nation. TNC staff and leaders attended several of
USCD Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran, Chancellor VIT University G. Viswanathan, Swami Mitrananda from Chinmaya University and Ram Subramanian from IIT Mumbai. Prominent speakers include Bharat Seva Ashram Sangh President Swami Purnatmananda, Art of Living Foundation Head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Chinmaya Mission Worldwide Head Swami Swaroopananda and All World Gayatri Pariwar Head Dr. Pranav Pandya. Poster Presentations: A new element is the Hindu GPS (Global Poster Session) which will display over 55 Poster Pre-
these walks, educating walkers about the importance of environmental protection and the urgent need for all people to become active stewards of the environment.BAPS Charities volunteers and Board members presented The Nature Conservancy’s ChrisTopik, Director of Plant a Billion Trees; Maria Fisher, Donor Stewardship Officer; and Erin Daly, Donor Relations Manager with the check which wasfollowedby a treeplanting ceremony.catastrophic storms, but only 3% of this once common forest-type remains.
sentations during the conference. To learn more about the 2018 World Hindu Congress, visit http:// whc.2018worldhinducongress. org
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 7
Introducing the Jaipur Literary Festival in Houston at Asia Society
BOOK REVIEW Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India by Shashi Tharoor
JLF debuts at Houston from September 14 - 15
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eamwork Arts, producers of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, often dubbed ‘the greatest literary show on Earth’, bring to Houston an iconic event where ideas and perspectives jostle with intellectual vigour. Houston, where skyscrapers and bayous meet, will welcome JLF at Houston for the first time in Texas.
Reviewed by Dr. Krishna Dronamraju, President, Foundation for Genetic Research, Houston, and Visiting Professor, University of Paris, Honorary Professor, University of London.
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hashi Tharoor is a distinguished author of several books, a Member of the Indian Parliament, a former Minister of State for External Affairs in the Indian Government, and a former Under Secretary – General of the United Nations.
The Festival opens on Friday evening, September 14 with events running all day on Saturday, September 15. With internationally acclaimed authors and thinkers taking part in a range of provocative panels and debates, at the core of the programming are thoughts and issues that resonate with our times. JLF at Houston will be held in association with Asia Society Texas Center, an educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the West, and Inprint, a literary arts nonprofit organization, supporting and engaging readers and writers of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. “We’re so excited to be collaborating on the first JLF at Houston for the first time in Texas,” says Bonna Kol, president of Asia Society Texas Center. "Engaging our diverse city in an array of international topics and speakers aligns perfectly with our deep commitment to promoting cultural understanding.” “As this inaugural edition of JLF at Houston makes clear, Houston is a city of brilliant writers and passionate readers, and Inprint is proud to be at the epicenter of Houston literary life,” says Rich Levy, executive director of Inprint. “What an honor and a joy to work with JLF on making JLF at Houston a reality.”
Hurst & Company, London, 2017, $27.29, ISBN No: 9781849048088
Tharoor’s latest book is, to some extent, written as a response to those who wrote in support of the British colonialism in India, apologists of the Empire, both Indian and British. It is one of his best books, both in content and style. The subject matter covered is indicated by the list of contents. Some of the chapters have titles
JLF at Houston is a part of the larger umbrella of JLF in the USA, which also includes JLF at New York on September 19-20 and ZEE JLF at Boulder on September 21-23. The Houston event will present a rich showcase of South Asia's literary and oral heritage while also featuring authors from around the world as well as local literary figures from Houston. Participating writers include : Jay Aiyer, Omar El Akkad, Robin Davidson, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Namita Gokhale, Kurt Heinzelman, Lacy M. Johnson, McKenna Jordan, Rich Levy, Rubén Martinez, Sonal Mansingh, Jovan Mays, Jasminne Mendez, Marcus Moench, Rajesh Parameswaran, Sharad Paul, Daniel Peña, Shobha Rao, Kathy Reichs, Navtej Sarna,
Anis Shivani, Mimi Swartz, Shashi Tharoor, Marina Tristán, Roberto Tejada, , Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, and Milan Vaishnav. Program highlights include an opening and closing night musical performance and vigorous panel discussions. The audience will also have the opportunity to listen in on conversations about relevant topics such as the continuities of Mexican and American experiences and narratives, of the violence of cross-border realities and of pluralism and diversity; Indian myths and their impact on the collective faith of the people; forensic anthropology, genetics and health; a crucial session on water, climate change, and social issues; readings and conversations on poetry and the sources, inspirations, contexts, and philosophy of the poetic imagination; and
Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest religions, discussing its essence and its vital contribution to a plural and secular democracy. Asia Society Texas Center is located in the heart of Houston's Museum District: 1370 Southmore Blvd, Houston, TX 77004. General admission for Asia Society members and Inprint patrons is $10.00, non-members $20.00, students, $5.00. Tickets and registration are required. Program and panel details, speaker's bios, and registration at: http://asi.as/JLFHouston For further information about Asia Society Texas Center: Contact Joy Partain, JPartain@asiasociety.org For
further
information
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
such as: “The Looting of India” and “The Myth of Enlightened Despotism”. It presents an excellent historical outline of how the British started their early association with India, their motives and economic exploitation, and India’s independence movement leading to the British Exit from India in 1947. In the 17th century when the British arrived in India, there was a great deal of poverty and filth in Britain and India was one of the wealthy countries. By the time India succeeded in getting rid of the British tyranny in 1947, it was transformed into one of the poorest countries while Britain became one of the richer countries. Tharoor’s book begins with the British Royal Charter which formed the East India Company in 1600, the beginning of the subjugation of India under British rule. The book is based on a lecture by Tharoor which he delivered at Oxford where the author raised the question of reparations by the British, just a symbolic one pound per year, a moral debt Britain owed her former colonies. The author suggests that the best form of atonement by the British might be to start teaching unromanticized colonial history in British schools.
about Inprint: Contact Krupa Parikh, Krupa@inprinthouston.org For over 25 years, Teamwork Arts has taken India to the world and brought the world to India. In countries such as Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA, Teamwork Arts produces over 25 highly acclaimed performing arts, visual arts and literary festivals across more than 40 cities. Teamwork Arts produces one of the world’s largest free literary gatherings, the annual ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, international festivals Shared History in South Africa, Eye on India in the United States of America, India by the Bay in Hong Kong, and many more.
The British people are woefully ignorant of the realities of the British empire. In particular, Tharoor emphasizes that there is a great need to correct the false romantic picture generated by such popular programs as the Indian Summers, The Far Pavilions, and The Jewel in the Crown. British children should be educated in the realities of the Empire and the great suffering it caused just as German children are taken to visit the holocaust sites and concentration camps which organized by the Nazi regime. Tharoor wrote: “In power, the British were, in a word, ruthless. They stopped paying for textiles and silk in pounds brought from Britain, preferring to pay from revenues extracted from Bengal, and pushing prices still lower. They squeezed out other foreign buyers and instituted a company monopoly. They cut off the export markets for Indian textiles, interrupting long-standing independent trading links. …They went further. Indian textiles were remarkably cheap – the British cloth manufacturers, unable to compete, wanted them eliminated. The soldiers of the East India Company obliged, systematically smashing the looms of some Bengali weavers and breaking their thumbs so they could not ply the craft. (It was rumored that Queen Victoria herself ordered their bones broken so that they were unable to continue their craft).” Other sophisticated methods Continued on page 8
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John McCain... Continued from front page Though not a member of Congress, Hiral Tipirneni is running for a spot in Congress in McCain’s state of Arizona. The candidate expressed her condolences for the fallen hero. “For over 30 yrs, @SenJohnMcCain served Arizona in Congress with great courage and poise. He served America even longer and redefined ‘maverick.’ More than a politician, he was a hero. My heart goes out to his loved ones as we all mourn this loss,” she tweeted. Former President Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 presidential election, provided a heartfelt message on the passing of the Republican senator. “John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher – the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed,” Obama wrote. - Staff report
Indian American professor Reeta Rao honored for excellence in teaching, mentoring
A
n Indian American professor at the Massachusetts-based Worcester Polytechnic Institute has been named a recipient of the 2018 SIMB Waksman Outstanding Teaching Award by the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. Reeta Rao, who was nominated by former WPI students, was honored at the SIMB Annual Conference in Chicago this month. The Waksman Outstanding Teacher Award is given annually to one professor who demonstrates particular excellence in and dedication to teaching, mentoring and research. The award acknowledges the Continued on page play 8 in important role educators sustaining the fields of industrial microbiology and biotechnology; it is dedicated to Nobel prize laureate Selman Waksman, who was an outstanding teacher of microbiology at Rutgers University. “I love teaching and mentoring—it’s the best part of my
Reeta Rao, a professor at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, was named the recipient of the SIMB Waksman Outstanding Teaching Award. (wpi.edu photo) job,” said Rao in a statement. “Mentoring is really about helping students plan the rest of their professional lives— helping them figure out who they are, what they want to do, and how to get there. I have been lucky to have been surrounded by positive role models and mentors throughout my own professional career. I am committed to paying it forward.”
Janmashtami celebration...
This invaluable lesson was driven home when his parents and grandfather celebrated his academic failures instead of putting him down. Raised in a family that was poor in monetary terms but rich in affection and encouragement, he stated that life’s experiences are the best teachers and his many “encounters with failure” took away the fear of failure. He advised the parents in the gathering to teach their children to be strong, to have the “hunger” to succeed, and challenge them without overprotecting them from the realities of life. He added that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the same “hunger” to take the country forward which is why he has always espoused the Prime Minister’s cause. While dispensing some inspirational advice for the youth he said “Mera gyan meri zindagi ke anubhavo se juda hai. (My wisdom comes from life’s experiences). Judging from the audience’s reaction to his speech, the message of learning from our failures and “living life” clearly touched a chord. When the applause died down, prominent industrialist Jugal Malani draped a shawl
Rao was nominated by several of her students including Charu Jain, her first doctoral student, who completed her doctorate in 2012 and is now head of biotechnology at L.J. Institute of Applied Sciences in India. In addition to developing and teaching undergraduate and graduate classes, Rao has advised more than 50 undergraduates completing MQPs, master’s students and doctorate students. She has also served as the graduate program coordinator for WPI’s Department of Biology and Biotechnology
Book review: Shashi Tharoor...
Continued from front page why he came to the event in a formal suit and tie. The kurta he had ordered was three sizes too big! After taking off his jacket and tie and looking visibly more comfortable, he launched into a one hour “conversation” with the gathering using his brilliant storytelling skills, snippets of poetry, anecdotes and rich wit to deliver his serious message - that “failure is an event, not a person.”
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Continued from page 7
Anupam Kher addressing Janmashtami audience in Houston. (Photo credit: Bijay Dixit) around Anupam Kher while Sushma Pallod tied a rakhi to him to mark Raksha Bandhan. In a gesture that was touching, Anupam Kher reciprocated by giving her the traditional offering of money a brother gives his sister. Sanjay Jajoo served as a lively Emcee while HGH President Partha Krishnaswamy appealed for funds for Kerala flood relief. Sewa International has collected $250,000 from generous Houstonians for relief work. Two Houstonians were recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award - CEO of Star Pipes Ramesh Bhutada and Beth Kulkarni. Wellknown philanthropist, Ramesh Bhutada who has served the community unstintingly with his time, effort and resources stated that he was humbled to receive the award and reiterated Anupam Kher’s words on encouraging and “recognizing our children for trying.” In her acceptance speech, Beth, who has served many area organizations in leadership and advisory roles, hoped that the award would inspire other Hindus to serve the community in any way they can. The Akhil Chopra Unsung
Heroes Award was presented to Richa Dixit, Manish Khatri and Nisha Bhatia. Other highlights of the celebrations included the children’s costume contest where little children dressed as little Krishnas and Radhas, a cultural dance segment, food, apparel and organization booths. A 25 feet in diameter vibrant Rangoli by Sangita Bhutada with the theme of “makhan chor” welcomed visitors to the center. First time attendee and IMAGH Secretary Saeed Pathan said that the Janmashtami celebrations and the atmosphere brought back wonderful childhood memories of the festival in India. Members of the Young Hindus of Greater Houston (YHGH) also contributed substantially to the smooth execution of the event. YHGH President Raj Salhotra stated "The 2018 Janmashtami celebration showcased Houston's wonderful tradition of diversity. It was wonderful to witness the outpouring of support from Houston's youth. We are excited to work with youth from across the city to build an organization that represents Hindus from all backgrounds."
were used, such as the imposition of duties and tariffs of 70 to 80 per cent on whatever Indian textiles survived. Meanwhile, bales of cheap British fabric – cheaper even than poorly paid Bengali artisans could make – flooded the Indian market from the new steam mills of Britain. In the early 18th century India had enjoyed a 25 percent of the global trade in the textiles, but this was destroyed. The East India Company’s administrator Lord William Bentinck himself bragged that “the bones of the cotton weavers were bleaching the plains of India.” India’s share of world manufacturing exports was reduced to 2 per cent under British rule. Tharoor provides hard facts and figures. Taxation (and theft labeled as taxation) became a favorite British form of exaction. India was treated as a cash cow; the revenues poured into London’s treasury. The Earl of Chatham described it as ‘the redemption of a nation… a kind of gift from heaven.’ The British stole from India about 18 million Pounds each year between 1765 and 1815. The French ambassador to London wrote: “There are few kings in
since 2011 and was elected to a three-year term on the faculty Committee on Graduate Studies and Research, which she co-chairs this year. Rao has been involved in course development and helped revise doctorate requirements in biology and biotechnology in 2014; she has championed a skill-based master’s degree program designed to provide advanced coursework and laboratory techniques applicable to the biotechnology industry, WPI said. Rao’s mentoring extends beyond WPI: she launched a mentoring workshop through the American Society of Microbiologists annual international Conference on Candida and Candidiasis, according to the release. As noted in the SIMB award notification, Rao is an academic scientist who is “committed to the career development of scientists at all levels of training.” In her research, Rao studies the biology of fungal diseases, particularly those caused by Candida, a species of fungi prevalent in humans that are responsible for oral thrush, ear infections, and vaginitis. The microorganism can also cause systemic infections in immunocompromised individuals and is a leading cause of serious illnesses and death among hospitalized patients.
more than $1 billion annually, WPI said. Before joining WPI, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Whitehead Institute. She earned a B.S. in pharmacy at the Birla Institute of Science and Technology in Pilani, an M.S. in bioscience and biotechnology and an M.S. in environmental sciences at Drexel University, and a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology at Pennsylvania State University Medical College. Rao was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, in January 2018. Along with her appointment at WPI, Rao is a visiting scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and a member of the Institute for Drug Resistance at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Microbiology, the National Association of Inventors, the Genetic Society of America, the Medical Mycology Society of the Americas, the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, and the Indus Entrepreneurs, in addition to the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.
Treating the infections costs Europe richer than the Directors of the English East India Company.” Among the great wealth stolen From India were diamonds, gold and other precious minerals of great value. This went on until the last days of the Colonial period. It is an Englishman who wrote: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Tharoor answers those apologists for the empire who argue that certain good things came from that period. One of the benefits that is often mentioned is the national railway system; but you don’t need a whole empire for over 200 years to build a railroad. Other countries have achieved the same at much less cost and suffering. The railways were originally conceived by the British in India to transport their soldiers rapidly to suppress local rebellions or freedom fighters. Famines were common in India during the British rule. Madhusree Mukerjee's book, Churchill's Secret War, reveals a side of Churchill largely ignored in the West and considerably tarnishes his heroic image. In 1943, some 3 million Indians died in the Bengal famine, one of history's worst. Mukerjee delves into official documents and oral accounts of survivors to paint a horrifying portrait of how Churchill, as part of the Western war effort, ordered the diversion of food from starving Indians to already well-supplied British soldiers
- Staff reports and stockpiles in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, including Greece and Yugoslavia. Churchill's only response to a telegram from the government in Delhi about people perishing in the famine was to ask why Gandhi hadn't died yet. Although he was responsible for deliberately causing the famine, Churchill told the Secretary of State for India, Leopold Amery. "I hate Indians. They are a beastly people. The famine was their own fault, he declared at a war-cabinet meeting, for breeding like rabbits." Tharoor outlines many other evils of colonialism which persist even long after independence. There are political, economic, agricultural, health, and psychological consequences which go on forever. Precious pieces of statuary, which were stolen blatantly, sit in various British museums. One of the most obvious are the mangnificient Budhist sculptures from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh which confront anyone entering the British Museum in London. But there are others. There is the continuing vexed issue of the Kohinoor diamond in the Queen’s crown. The Kohinoor, weighing 793 carats or 158.6 grams, was mined near Guntur in the modern State of Andhra Pradesh. It should be returned to India. You will find many other interesting facts in Shashi Tharoor’s book. It is highly recommended reading.
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VOICE OF ASIA 9
US leads calls for Myanmar military to be held to account for Rohingya crackdown
Boeing forecasts that the Asia Pacific will need the greatest number of pilots, technicians and cabin crew over the next two decades. The region's economic growth will lead to rising wealth and increased travel, spurring a need for 240,000 more pilots and 317,000 cabin crew by 2037.
"The facts of the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya must be said, and they must be heard," said Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations. Haley and other ambassadors stopped short, however, of using the word "genocide" that was cited in a UN-backed report released the day before accusing Myanmar's top brass of a long list of atrocities in Rakhine state.
"The facts of the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya must be said, and they must be heard," said Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations. (Photo: YouTube screengrab)
"Here in the Security Council, we must hold those responsible for the violence to account," Haley said.
Several other Security Council members joined the call for the perpetrators to be brought before an international tribunal, including Britain, France, Kuwait, the Netherlands and Sweden. They also called for a mechanism to "collect and preserve proof" of abuses.
The crimes it cited after a long inquiry included murder, enforced disappearance, torture and sexual violence "perpetrated on a massive scale." Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh after Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown in August last year on insurgents amid accounts of arson, murder and rape at the
by Leisha Santorelli
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The UN-backed fact-finding mission said that Myanmar's "top military generals, including Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, must be investigated and prosecuted for genocide in the north of Rakhine State."
Boeing says Asia needs 240,000 pilots over next two decades f you need a job, you may want to consider training as an airline pilot and moving to China.
NITED NATIONS, United States | AFP - Several countries, including the United States, called Tuesday for Myanmar military leaders accused of orchestrating the repression of the country's Rohingya minority to be brought before international justice.
The report by UN investigators called on the Security Council to refer the Myanmar situation to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, or to create an ad hoc international criminal tribunal, as was done with the former Yugoslavia.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
hands of soldiers and vigilante mobs in the mainly Buddhist country.
But China and Russia, which as permanent members of the Security Council have veto powers, have said they prefer "dialogue" with the Myanmar leadership to resolve the conflict. For the past year, the Security Council has limited itself to statements condemning the violence and demanding access for humanitarian aid, and for the right of those who have fled to return to their homes. Myanmar has vehemently denied allegations of ethnic cleansing, insisting it was responding to attacks by Rohingya rebels. Faced with stonewalling from Myanmar, the UN only managed to nominate a special envoy to the country in April.
"It is clear that conditions are not yet met for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their places of origin or choice," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He said that in Rakhine state, "some 130,000 Rohingya remain confined in camps with severe restrictions on their freedom of movement. They have extremely limited access to health, education and other essential services, and to ways of making a living." Guterres did not weigh in on the issue of bringing the perpetrators before an international court, but said that "effective international cooperation will be critical to ensuring that accountability mechanisms are credible, transparent, impartial, independent and comply with Myanmar's obligations under international law." Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, Hau Do Suan, rejected the conclusions of the UN report and questioned the impartiality of investigators, saying: "I would like to reiterate that we did not accept the mandate of the mission because we have our concern about the mission's
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China will need half of these new personnel.
Commercial airlines pilots will be in high demand in China, South East Asia and India. (BBC photo)
The projections place pressure on an industry that is already struggling with a pilot shortage and training bottlenecks.
will be delivered to airlines in the Asia Pacific over the coming years.
Older pilots are set to retire over the next decade and there is increasing demand for business aviation services, such as helicopter tourism and private luxury jets. Boeing estimates China will need 128,500 pilots, Southeast Asia 48,500 and South Asia 42,750 pilots. Boeing's outlook to create projections airplane deliveries. prisingly, the Asia will also lead global for new planes.
is used for new UnsurPacific demand
The US aerospace and defence giant projects that 40% of all new passenger planes
impartiality." Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group called on the international community to prevent those responsible for abuses in Myanmar from escaping justice, with the latter organization saying the UN General Assembly was better able to create a judicial mechanism due to divisions within the Security Council.
- Tighten seatbelts Boeing has an accelerated pilot development programme but their pipeline will not be enough to meet the growing industry de-
In countries where there are strong labour unions, such as the UK and France, demands for increased pay and benefits have led to debilitating strikes. The aviation industry also faces turbulence in the form of global trade wars.
Asia needs more pilots. But airlines in the region haven't been doing much to train locals for the job. mand. "Strong demand for pilots in the region continues, and we expect that this will continue for the next several years," said Keith Cooper, vice president of Training and Professional Services for Boeing Global Services. Analysts warn the shortage of pilots puts the aviation industry's growth at risk. Without pilots, planes are sitting idle. Pilots' demand for higher salaries will also cut into profits. - 'Intricate network' -
Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg has warned that the growing USChina trade row could push up costs for aircraft manufacturers "Aerospace thrives on free and open trade," Mr Muilenburg said. "We are concerned it could affect supply chain costs - but those supply chains are flowing in both directions [between China and the US], it is an intricate network around the world." -BBC News
US/WORLD
VOICE OF ASIA 10
Texan begins selling 3Dprinted gun plans despite judge's order
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ALLAS | AFP | Tuesday 8/28/2018 - A Texas man on Tuesday began selling digital gunmaking blueprints, including for a 3D-printed plastic handgun, despite a judge's order barring the distribution of the material.
The September 11-15 manoeuvres will involve almost 300,000 troops, more than 1,000 military aircraft, two of Russia's naval fleets and all its airborne units, Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement on Tuesday. Shoigu said the drills "are on an unprecedented scale both in terms of the area covered and in terms of the numbers" of military forces. "Imagine 36,000 pieces of military equipment moving together at the same time - tanks, armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles. And all of this, of course, in conditions as close to combat as possible," he said.
Multiple states filed a joint lawsuit claiming Wilson endangered public safety. One of the homemade weapons could evade metal detectors and all lacked traceable serial numbers.
Visitors to his online marketplace, which was once again active Tuesday, could name their own price for the information. "Everyone in America who wants these files will get them," Wilson said. "I'm happy now to become the iTunes of downloadable guns, if I can't be the Napster." Wilson insisted that the digital files had already been available elsewhere online for years, and that barring him from distributing the content was akin to free speech censorship. "What's at stake in the courts is simply the government is trying to tell you what you can and can't have, what you can and can't download online," he said. Seattle-based US District Judge Robert Lasnik said in his Monday ruling that free
NATO to monitor Russia's September drill of 300,000 troops, 1,000 aircraft, two naval fleets and all its airborne units.
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Wilson's actions caused a political firestorm, and even prompted Trump to tweet that making gun blueprints easily available online "doesn't seem to make much sense!"
Wilson told a news conference Tuesday that he interpreted the judge's ruling as only barring the free online distribution of the blueprints. He instead began to offer the files for sale, and promised to send physical copies on flash drives or by email.
Russia to hold biggest war games since Cold War OSCOW - Russia will hold its biggest war games in nearly four decades next month, a massive military exercise that will also involve the Chinese and Mongolian armies.
Cody Wilson had initially published the downloadable files on his website four weeks ago, after a deal struck with the Donald Trump administration that ended the federal government's efforts to block him.
A federal judge issued a temporary order on July 31 barring the distribution of the digital blueprints, and on Monday extended that order until the states' lawsuit is adjudicated.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
small firearms that poses a unique danger."
The exercises in central and eastern Russia, dubbed Vostok-2018, will take place at a time of heightened tensions between the West and Russia, which is concerned about what it says is an unjustified build-up of forces by the NATO alliance on its western flank.
The Washington state attorney general, who is leading the multi-state lawsuit, responded to Wilson's latest move by reiterating that it was "again illegal to post downloadable gun files to the internet."
NATO says it has beefed up its forces in Eastern Europe to deter potential Russian military action after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and backed a pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine.
"I trust the federal government will hold Cody Wilson, a self-described 'crypto-anarchist,' accountable to that law," Bob Ferguson said.
The war games are also likely to displease Japan, which has complained about what it says is a Russian military build-up
Cody Wilson had initially published the downloadable files on his website four weeks ago. (AFP file photo) speech rights were "dwarfed" by the harm that Wilson's actions could cause. "The very purpose for which the private defendants seek to release this technical data is to arm every citizen outside of the government's traditional control mechanisms of licenses, serial numbers, and registration," Lasnik wrote in his ruling. "It is the untraceable and undetectable nature of these
[Filephoto: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters] in the Asia-Pacific. China's state Xinhua news agency has reported Beijing plans to send 3,200 troops and about 900 weapons units for the exercises. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend a forum in Vladivostok over the same period. A foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that Tokyo always pays attention to shifts in Russian-Chinese military cooperation. When asked if the cost of holding such a massive military exercise was justified at a time when Russia is faced with higher social spending demands, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such war games were essential. "The country's ability to defend itself in the current international situation, which is often aggressive and unfriendly towards our country, means [it] is justified," Peskov told reporters on a conference call. - 'More assertive Russia' -
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Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was upbeat in Washington after meeting US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, saying that "detailed" discussions to salvage
the North American Free Trade Agreement as a three-nation deal would begin the following day.
it's good for Canada and good for middle class Canadians," Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday.
After months of intense talks, the United States and Mexico announced an agreement Monday to thoroughly overhaul the 25-year-old free trade pact, but President Donald Trump suggested he could cut out Ottawa.
Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador both said NAFTA should remain a trilateral deal.
"We will engage in a positive way and look forward to ultimately signing a deal as long as
The outlines of a NAFTA 2.0 are now on paper, including new provisions on auto trade with higher percentage of locally-produced components,
NATO spokesman Dylan White said Russia had briefed the alliance on the planned exercise in May and NATO planned to monitor it. Russia invited military attaches from NATO countries based in Moscow to observe the war games, an offer he said was under consideration. "All nations have the right to exercise their armed forces, but it is essential that this is done in a transparent and predictable manner," White said. "Vostok demonstrates Russia's focus on exercising largescale conflict. It fits into a pattern we have seen over some time: a more assertive Russia, significantly increasing its defence budget and its military presence." - Al Jazeera
When asked if China's in-
Trudeau stands firm on US demands as NAFTA talks set to resume ASHINGTON | AFP - As Washington and Ottawa resumed trade talks Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would only sign a new trade pact that was good for his country.
volvement meant Moscow and Beijing were moving towards an alliance, Peskov said it showed the two were cooperating in all areas. China and Russia have taken part in joint military drills before, but not on such a large scale.
tougher worker protections and a provision to review the deal every six years. But sticking points remain with Canada, including its dairy market and how to handle some disputes among NAFTA partners. Freeland told reporters that "tough decisions" taken by Mexico, which agreed to wage hikes for some auto workers and tougher labor protections, among other matters, had
eased matters for Canada and the United States. Mexico's effort "clears the way for us to have some significant, substantive, and, I think, productive conversations with the US this week," Freeland said. Canadian and Mexican officials were also due to meet on Tuesday evening, Freeland said. Negotiators have worked for a year to update and rewrite NAFTA but in the last five weeks Washington and Mexico City held talks to resolve their bilateral issues, especially on the auto industry rules, without Ottawa.
VOICE OF ASIA 11
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Indian American Nurses Nightingale Award Night The Beginning of Indian Nurses Immigrating in the US Until 1965, immigrants who came to the US were from European countries. In 1965, the president relaxed the immigration rule and allowed for the first time, people from non-European countries. Along with the relaxation of immigration laws they introduced health care, Health Insurance and Medicare. At that time, there were not enough registered nurses or technicians available in the US. This scarcity of professional nurses opened the way for our nurses to come as immigrants in large numbers. Indian Nurses were among the first wave of immigrants since President Johnson relaxed the immigration law and allowed Nurses from India to come to the US in thousands. Though they had an easy entry to US, they had to face many hardships and discrimination. They were mostly middle-aged women who traveled thousands of miles leaving their children, the family and husband back in India. The purpose of the Indian American Nurses Nightingale Award is to give them their due recognition and respect they deserve and to get their story published for the information of the next generation people to know that the rich life they enjoy now as the result of their sufferings. Koshy Thomas Publisher and CEO of Voice of Asia Group You can reach me at 832-419-7537 or email:koshyvoa@aol.com
Be proud of your Profession, the Service to the family, community and the country. Be a part of it. Join the Celebration. Celebrating and honoring the services of the First generation Indian immigrant nurses who came to the United States of America till 1975.
Indian American Nurses Nightingale Award Join the celebration by participating in the
commemorative publication
With One full page of Life Experience in the United States
Free event, First time in the USA, to be held in October 2019
Please forward this form to All your friends, whether in service, retired, living or deceased, to register. Do not miss this great opportunity to get Recognized We request every Nurse who came till the end of 1975 to register. Please complete the form and forward to: nursesawards@gmail.com For more information, please call: 713-774-5140. Submit form by November 1, 2018. Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________________Phone_No:________________________ Place_of_Arrival:______________________________________________Date_of_Arrival:_____________________ Voice of Asia address: 8303 Southwest Freeway, Suite 325, Houston, TX 77074
VOICE OF ASIA 12
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
VOICE OF ASIA 13
www.voiceasiaonline.com
Business Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Toyota pours $500 mn into driverless car tieup with Uber
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AN FRANCISCO, California AFP - Toyota will pump about $500 million into Uber as part of a deal to work together on mass-producing self-driving vehicles, the Japanese car giant said on Tuesday.
“The deal is the first of its kind for Uber and signals our commitment to bringing worldclass technologies to the Uber network,” said CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. The agreement came as the smartphone-summoned ride service is throttling back its solo effort to develop autonomous vehicle technology. Uber suspended its self-driving car program after a crash killed a woman pushing a bi-
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AN DIEGO, California - The end of Elon Musk’s go-private-ornot saga with Tesla Inc. leaves investors back where the drama began: waiting to see if he can make more Model 3 sedans. Signs of progress on this front may have softened the blow of the chief executive officer electing to stay public after all. Production of the allimportant Model 3 sedan might have steadily exceeded 5,000 a week for much of this month, according to Bloomberg’s tracker of Tesla-registered and owner-reported vehicle identification numbers.
Rupee plunges to all-time closing low against Dollar: 10 things to know
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Technology from both companies will be integrated into purposebuilt Toyota vehicles (Photo: Toyota) cycle in a street in Arizona in March.
develop more accurate mapping for the vehicles.
Last month, the San-Francisco-based firm took a tentative step toward restarting the program, putting self-driving cars back on the road in “manual mode,” with a driver at the wheel at all times.
Uber is among a number of technology and car companies racing toward what some say is an inevitable future in which vehicles drive themselves.
The testing will enable Uber to gather data on different scenarios that will be recreated in computer simulations, and also
The statement said the “mass-produced autonomous vehicles” would be owned and operated by “mutually agreedupon third-party autonomous fleet operators.”
Musk’s leadership and Tesla’s precarious cash position. “This was a big distraction over the past two weeks for all stakeholders, and now it’s time to make cars, deliver cars that make people happy, build a good product, and generate some cash flow,” Ben Kallo, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co., said Monday on Bloomberg Television. He rates Tesla the equivalent of a buy with a $411 price target.
nature of the VIN data makes weekly figures more volatile. In the case of a sudden surge or slowdown, the model will be slow to react. While the tracker’s weekly estimates shouldn’t be relied on to judge any single week’s production against Musk’s milestones, it does show with some confidence that, so far in the third quarter, Tesla has been consistently making between 4,000 to 6,000 Model
Estimates from the experimental tool -- which can fluctuate from week to week based on the company submitting new VINs in batches -- suggests the carmaker may even have cleared the 6,000-a-week target set for late August. Tesla shares traded down 1.6 percent to $317.77 as of 3:45 p.m. Monday, paring a decline of as much as 4.3 percent earlier. Musk faces huge pressure to show progress with the Model 3 after his 17-day dalliance with buying out some shareholders drew regulatory scrutiny and investor lawsuits. Ramping up production to the levels the company has forecast is pivotal to generating the profit and cash flow that the CEO has projected for this quarter. It also would ease concerns about
Tel: 713-774-5140
he rupee gave up early gains against the US dollar to close at an all-time closing low of 70.16 on Monday. During Monday’s session, the rupee had gained as much as 21 paise against the greenback to hit an intraday high of 69.65, but failed to sustain those advances.
Musk drama obscures hints of progress on Tesla’s crucial Model 3 by Dana Hull
Section 2
The rupee had last registered an all-time closing low on August 16, when it had settled at 70.15 against the US currency.
The deal, which reportedly values Uber at about $72 billion, aims at “advancing and bringing to market autonomous ride-sharing as a mobility service at scale,” Toyota said in a statement. Technology from both companies will be integrated into purpose-built Toyota vehicles and deployed on Uber’s ridesharing platform, with the first pilot rollout set for 2021.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Tesla Model 3 being delivered at facility. (Photo: Forbes) The Bloomberg Model 3 Tracker underestimated Tesla’s reported production for the first quarter by about 5 percent and was roughly 2 percent below second-quarter results. The
3s a week. That suggests the company could be on its way to meeting its third-quarter forecast for output of 50,000 to 55,000 units, or roughly 4,200 a week at the higher end of the
More Business News at www. voiceofasiaonline.com
The rupee had last registered an all-time closing low less than two weeks ago. Weakness in the rupee came amid strengthening in the dollar, after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated the US central bank’s intention to raise interest rates further, albeit at a gradual rate. Here are 10 things to know about the rupee: 1. The rupee started Monday’s session on a higher note at 69.75 traded in the range of 69.65-70.20 against the greenback before settling at 70.16 for the day. That marked the lowest closing of the rupee since August 16, when it had settled at a record 70.15 against the American currency. 2. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, rose 0.1 per cent. 3. Mr Powell’s remarks on Friday did not change market expectations for further monetary tightening despite opposition from US President Donald Trump. 4. However, the market interpreted Mr Powell’s speech as dovish after he said a gradual approach to raising rates remained appropriate to protect the US economy, keep job
The rupee traded in the range of 69.65-70.20 against the greenback before settling at 70.16 per dollar (-Google Images) growth strong and inflation under control. 5. Dollar demand due to a fall in crude oil prices also pressurised the rupee, say analysts. Crude oil prices, however, reversed early losses to climb to near $76 a barrel as a committee monitoring a deal on oil output curbs between OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC producers saw production rising while a USChina trade dispute capped gains. 6. Losses for the rupee came despite a sharp surge fresh alltime highs in domestic equity markets. BSE benchmark index Sensex soared 442 points to settle at 38,694 and the NSE Nifty ended 134 points higher at 11,691. Both benchmarks indices logged their biggest single-day gains in nearly five months. 7. Foreign investors and funds pumped in a little over Rs. 6,700 crore into the capital
markets so far this month. 8. The rupee has been hit by a range of factors surging global crude prices and lukewarm export growth. Trade protectionism measures taken by the US government has also contributed to excess volatility in the forex market. The rupee is down more than 9 per cent so far this year, which makes it the worst performing currency in Asia. 9. The rupee has been depreciating steadily for the past few months largely reflecting investors’ concerns about the country’s widening trade and current account deficits. The current account deficit hit a 62-month high of $18 billion in July. 10. The country’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $33.2 million to $400.847 billion in the week to August 17, mainly due to fall in foreign currency assets, according to Reserve Bank of India data. -NDTV
guidance. ‘Closely Watched’ Musk, 47, pursued going private after months of bristling over how intensely the market and media were following Model 3 production. He wrote in a letter to shareholders at the beginning of the month saying that it was “fair to say that no production ramp of any other product has been as closely watched and debated.” Tesla’s skeptics -- including the short sellers that have so irked the CEO -- had reason to be concerned over whether the carmaker could get the Model 3 going. The company ended June with just $2.2 billion in cash. Accounts payable -- a measure of short-term debts to creditors or suppliers -- was more than $3 billion. “At the end of the day, being public or being private, we think they would have had to show profitability, and that their production can get free cash flow-generating territory, so they can be self funded,” James Albertine, a Consumer
Elon Musk (courtesy Dan Silvestre) Edge Research analyst with a hold rating and $311 price target, said on Bloomberg Television. Tesla “really has to stand on its own financially, regardless of the public-versus-private debate.” Capital Concerns With questions as to whether Musk truly had the “funding secured” to take Tesla off the market now moot, analysts are going back to raising questions about another familiar topic: whether a capital raise will soon be necessary. Tesla has about $2 billion of debt maturing through 2020,
and about $1.2 billion of that are convertible bonds due in November and March. As things stand, the company would have to repay those obligations because its stock is trading below the price at which the bonds can convert into equity. Musk also has touted plans to build new plants in China and Europe, and to bring a new crossover and semi truck to market in the coming years. “They still need capital for the Model Y and the semi,” said Hitin Anand, a CreditSights analyst. “There’s no running away from that.” - Bloomberg
VOICE OF ASIA 14
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
John Goodman breaks silence on Roseanne Barr, hints at character’s fate
Rasika Dugal “I’ve been open to mainstream Bollywood cinema”
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he actor — who played Barr’s TV husband for years on ‘Roseanne’ — shared his thoughts about ABC’s decision to cancel the reboot and hinted at how the spinoff, ‘The Conners,’ will handle the loss of the main character when it debuts in the fall. John Goodman has finally broken his silence about the end of Roseanne. Months after star Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett — which caused ABC to cancel her hit rebooted sitcom after just one season — the actress’ TV husband is sharing his thoughts on the scandal in a new interview. Speaking with the U.K.’s Times for a profile published on Sunday, Goodman admitted that Barr’s offensive tweet left him “brokenhearted.” He explained, “But I thought, ‘OK, it’s just show business, I’m going to let it go.’ But I went through a period, about a month, where I was very depressed.” The actor, who spent years playing Barr’s onscreen husband Dan Conner, added: “I’m a depressive anyway, so any excuse that I can get to lower myself, I will. But that had a great deal to do with it, more than I wanted to admit.” Although Barr likened Jarrett to the offspring of the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes” in a since-deleted tweet that ignited the firestorm, Goodman insisted that the fallen star isn’t racist. “I know for a fact that she’s not a racist,” he said, implying that he was not supportive of ABC’s swift decision to cancel Roseanne. “I’ll put it this way, I was surprised at the response. And that’s probably all I should say about it.” Asked about how ABC will handle
Barr’s absence as Roseanne Conner in the network’s upcoming spinoff series, The Conners, which is set to debut in October, Goodman suggested that her TV alter ego could be killed off. “It’s an unknown,” he continued. Of his own character, he added, “I guess he’ll be mopey and sad because his wife’s dead.” After Barr’s firing in May, her TV children reacted to her racist remark in a series of statements. Lecy Goranson, who originated the role of Becky, said that she was “devastated” by “the effects of hate speech and racism on individuals and society,” while Sara Gilbert, who plays Darlene and was the driving force behind the reboot — called Barr’s behavior “abhorrent.” Barr attempted to explain her tweet in a bizarre YouTube video, posted in late July, in which she is seen smoking a cigarette before looking into the camera and screaming, “I thought that bitch was white!” As has been previously reported, ABC would not consider any sort of Roseanne spinoff if it meant that Barr would receive any financial compensation. Once Barr agreed, The Conners was able to move forward — which helped hundreds of below-the-line employees keep their jobs after they were blindsided by the network’s decision to cancel the show following its star’s latest controversy. “I sent her an email and thanked her for that,” Goodman said. “I did not hear anything back, but she was going through hell at the time. And she’s still going through hell.” The Conners is set to premiere Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
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“Crazy Rich Asians” added $25 mil-
Rasika is an alumnus of the prestigious Films and Television Institute of India. She made her acting debut in 2007 with ‘Anwar’ and since then she has featured in content-driven films. Since she is not labelled as a ‘quintessential Bollywood star’, would she like to feature in mainstream Hindi film? “I have always been open mainstream Bollywood films as well. I have never said ‘I want to do this kind of a film or not’, but they (makers) have not wanted me. And the roles that I have been offered in mainstream Bollywood have been very insignifi-
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cant to the story and therefore I have been disinterested in them. I wouldn’t say I have not got calls for films, but not the kind of roles that I want to do. If gives me a meaty enough role, I will be happy to do it,” Rashika told me. The 33-year-old says that on the flipside, films like ‘Qissa’ and ‘Manto’ came to her. “I do believe that as an artiste you attract the work you are seeking from within even though you consciously did not understand that. So, I guess I wanted to do these films and whether it’s ‘Qissa’ or ‘Manto’, they have given me more than what artistes get to do in a lifetime. Artistes live their entire lives without getting to work on projects like this,” she added. Having ‘Manto’ at Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category also gave her a sense of achievement. “Cannes was a big tick mark on
my bucket list because for the kind of work that I do, one of the highest recognition you can get in the kind of films I do is that a film of yours is at Cannes in such a respectable category. It was in the Un Certain Regard which is not an easy category to get in there,” she said. Now the film will be releasing in India in September and Rasika is excited about it. “I am just waiting for the world to watch ‘Manto’. I am waiting for people in our country who have been reading Manto for a really long time and who are involved with texts in a way and want to know more about his life... I am waiting for them to watch it,” said the actress, who plays Safia Manto in the Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer. Rasika spoke to IANS as she was the showstopper for the label Vriksh by designer Gunjan Jain at the a fashion event on Thursday. - IANS
Amit Sadh: I have to prove my mettle!
UMBAI - Actor Amit Sadh is on cloud nine these days. After his recent film, the Akshay Kumar-starrer Gold became a success, his hands are now full with a web series, based on the first chapter of the book India’s Most Fearless, authored by Shiv Aroor and journalist Rahul Singh, who reports on defence for Hindustan Times. The chapter is about the surgical strikes that happened in 2016. “I am very grateful. I have been working hard for many years, and things are now moving in the right direction. The role is of [Major] Tango, [belonging to] an elite Special Forces unit of the Indian
- Hollywood Reporter
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ stays on top of the box office in its 2nd weekend
he big-screen homage to the lifestyles of Singapore’s rich and famous topped the box office for a second weekend, fending off competition during an end-of-summer lull.
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aving done content-driven films like ‘Tahaan’, ‘Qissa’, ‘‘Kshay’ and the upcoming film ‘Manto’, actress Rasika Dugal .. says she has been open to mainstream Bollywood films, but it is just that the roles she has been offered in the commercial space have been very “insignificant”.
lion to its haul from U.S. and Canadian theaters this weekend, ComScore Inc. estimated in an email Sunday. STX Entertainment’s “The Happytime Murders” opened in third place, while Global Road’s “A.X.L.” made its debut in ninth place.
The success of “Crazy Rich Asians” has been welcomed by Asian filmmakers seeking greater representation in Hollywood. Other minorities like Latinos are also hoping the movie will open doors for others to have mainstream success. BoxOfficePro.com was forecasting North American sales of $17.5 million this weekend. The film, based on the novels by Kevin Kwan, dropped just 6% from the previous weekend, a rare achievement for a movie not released during a holiday. Its success has already inspired distributor Warner Bros. to start work on a sequel with director Jon Chu. Kwan’s followup book “China Rich Girlfriend” was No. 2 on Amazon.com Inc.’s charts this week. - Moviefone
Army. There’s a mission that he has to go on. In India, many people don’t even know we have Special forces, who are one of the bests... the training [they receive], the way they stay active their entire life. I am up for the challenge,” says Amit, who was also seen in the web series Breathe. He goes on to praise the script. “The
book is very well-written, and it’s one of the best scripts I have read. I am excited about it… it has the making of something special. At the end of the day, it’s up to me to prove my mettle. I have got the lead role for the first time,” adds the actor. - Hindustan Times
LEGAL
VOICE OF ASIA 15
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Family Law and Personal Injury
Mala Sharma Divorces are very difficult to process emotionally and physically and may take a toll on you. This exhausting event in your life will affect you not only at home but at work! It is important to not have all aspects of your life collapse during this trying time and there are many ways to handle the divorce while keeping your job! First, do not inform your co-workers about your divorce. This will set you up for badgering and consistently being asked personal questions. This will not only complicate the situation but make it worse. It will also prevent you from moving away from personal issues while at work and can prevent you from working effectively. This will presumably result in lower work performance, not meeting your work goals/deadlines, and not completing the work! This is the wrong path you want to follow. Second, you should let your boss know about your situation. Although, you may feel very reluctant to
Next do not handle any issues pertaining to the dissolution of your marriage relationship at work! Keep all discussions with your attorney and even your ex to times after work. You do not need any other distraction which could cost you your career! This includes not answering phone calls for the divorce, asking your ex to not contact you at work or during work, and make appropriate schedules to handle these issues outside of your normal business hours. In this way, you are able to meet all your career goals and to keep your job! If you are still having trouble concentrating, have anger, anxiety, stress, depression, or loneliness that prevents you from effectively working, consider
going to therapy, talking to a close family member, or good friend! Additionally, your highly qualified attorney will also be there to help you every step of the way and discuss all issues with you so that you are well prepared to move on to the next chapter of your life in good shape!
About Mala Sharma 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.
A legal push to revive US net neutrality rules is gaining momentum
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host of states and lobby groups want courts to overturn the Trump administration’s decision to scrap the regulations. The news: According to Reuters, several industry groups representing giant tech firms like Facebook, Amazon, and Alphabet (which owns Google) filed a legal challenge today calling for the reinstatement of net neutrality rules. Scrapped in June by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the rules prevented internet service providers like Verizon and AT&T from blocking or slowing selected web services. Why this matters: Now that net neutrality is no more, the providers can charge premiums for internet fast lanes—giving an advantage to deep-pocketed large companies over small startups. They can also deliver their own content faster than that of rival services from web
Photo: iStock companies and others.
for a state net neutrality regime.
Hot topic: Verizon was criticized recently for throttling data services to firefighters battling wildfires in California. It said this happened because data caps had been exceeded, and the limits for first responders have since been lifted. But some California lawmakers have seized on the negative publicity to bolster their case
State backlash: Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia, which collectively represent about half the US population, recently filed a motion to revive the net neutrality rules too. Looks like the FCC’s lawyers are going to be busy fighting multiple legal fires this fall.
Experts: Legal status check systems can be easily exploited
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ONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — The systems offered by the U.S. government to check the legal status of workers like the Mexican man now suspected of killing an Iowa college student can be easily exploited through identity fraud and gaps in government systems, experts say. In the case of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the 24-year-old now charged with murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, Rivera’s ex-employer said Wednesday he provided an out-of-state ID card and Social Security number. He worked at Yarrabee Farms for almost four years under a false name, said Dane Lang, part of the family that owns the dairy. Yarrabee Farms did not use the federal E-Verify program, Lang said Wednesday, correcting information he had given a day earlier. Instead, the company used the Social Security Administration’s verification service. The family is now looking
into adopting E-Verify, he said. Both E-Verify and the Social Security Administration’s program, immigration experts say, can be beaten with a state ID and a Social Security number belonging to someone else. There is a thriving black market for forged or stolen identity documents. And while employers are supposed to check those documents, they are barred by federal law from refusing to accept an ID card that meets legal requirements for employment. They are required to reject documents that do not “reasonably appear to be genuine,” but those can be hard to catch. E-Verify provides employers with photos for passports and other federal documents that they can compare with what an employee has given them, but not state-issued driver’s licenses or IDs. An employer in Iowa presented with an unfamiliar out-of-state driver’s license may not be able to spot a fake. “There is rampant fraud,”
- Technology Review said Bill Riley, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who is now a senior managing director at the consulting firm Guidepost Solutions. “Even experts like myself, we can say with fairly reasonable certainty — but not 100 percent — whether a document is fake or not.” Authorities say Rivera is in the U.S. illegally. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said that it had no record of Rivera having “any lawful immigration status.” Rivera’s attorney, Allan M. Richards, said Wednesday that his client “has the legal documents” to work in the United States. E-Verify has been offered by both Republicans and Democrats as a solution to curbing illegal immigration. More recently, President Donald Trump has proposed making it mandatory for employers nationwide to check hires in the system. All federal contractors are currently required to use EVerify, and 21 states have passed laws requiring some or all employers to use it, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Iowa has not. - KIMT
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Tel: 713-774-5140
YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER
HOW TO KEEP YOUR JOB DURING A DIVORCE discuss your marriage relationship issues at work, it is highly important to let those significant at work, whether it is your boss, your partners, or office management, to know what is going on in your personal life. This will help your company understand why you may or may not perform your best. Thus, on days you are having difficulty completing your work, your boss will be able to comprehend why you are not doing your best and you are still a great and valuable party of the business. However, you do not need to discuss details of the divorce, but simply that you are going through a divorce.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer Email at srichardslaw@aol.com
Sharlene Sharmila Richards
Q: I am completing the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for my wife who is currently visiting me but she will return to her home country next week. In the form, there is a question about ‘what is her I-94 number’? I do not know what this is and how to obtain this number? A: The I-94 is the admission number / record which shows proof of an international traveler’s legal status when they are visiting the US and had entered legally via land or air. It will contain information such as the traveler’s class of admission; when he or she entered the United States and when that period of authorized stay will expire. To get your wife’s I-94, please go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov. and click on ‘Get Most Recent I-94’. It will take you to a page “Enter Your Traveler Info” where you will need to fill in her passport information and other basic information. Click ‘Proceed to I-94” and you should be able to print out the I-94 which relates to her most recent entry to the US. Q: I am completing an immigration form for employment authorization under an Order of Supervision. This form asks for my I-94 number. I had entered the US illegally many years ago. I do not believe I will have an I-94. Is this correct? A: Yes, this is correct. If you entered the US illegally, you will not have an I-94. An I-94 is a record or proof of legal admission to the United States. You may leave this part of the Form blank or you can put “None” for the
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT I-94 Arrival / Departure Record I-94 number. Q: My husband arrived in the US about 10 years ago legally as a Visitor. His passport and the I-94 white card in the passport were both were subsequently lost as his apartment had burnt down. He needs the I-94 white card as proof of his legal entry to the United States as he wants to file his Form I-485 to adjust his status to a permanent resident. What do we do about this as the I-94 document is not available to prove his legal entry? A: The Customs and Border Protection website at https://i94. cbp.dhs.gov which contains electronically created I-94s will probably not have your husband’s I-94 as he had arrived in the US more than 5 years ago. For this situation, he will need to apply for a replacement of his lost I-94 using Form I-102. The filing fee for this Form is $445.00. The Form and instructions to complete it including mailing address can be found at USCIS’ website at www.uscis. gov. It will be useful to include a copy of the biographic page of the passport which he had used to enter the US or which contained the US visa. If he does not have a copy of the passport, please include an explanation as to why he is unable to provide this document. Q: My online printout of the I-94 arrival and departure records contains wrong information about when I am to depart the US. In my passport it says I have 6 months to remain in the US and the online printout says I have three months. This is a mistake as I need to stay in
the US for longer than three months. What do I need to do to correct this problem? A: You will need to go to the nearest Customs and Border Protection POE (Port of Entry) or the nearest Customs and Border Protection deferred inspection office, in person, to have the information corrected. If you are visiting Houston, TX, the closest CBP deferred inspection office is located at 19581 Lee Road, Humble, TX 77338. Telephone number 281-230-4600. For other locations and their hours of operation, please visit the CBP website at https://www.cbp.gov/ document/guidance/ deferred-inspectionsites. 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.
VOICE OF ASIA 16
Young Life
How gaming prepares youth for careers in cybersecurity
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OVARDHAN, India — The two young men at the leadership camp were soft-spoken yet assured, from well-off families, wearing aviator sunglasses and flip-flops.
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“It’s incumbent upon experts in the field to build relationships with the next generation of cybersecurity experts.” (Photo: Thinkstock)
The right-wing activists say they have beaten men they suspected of violating core Hindu beliefs and threatened interfaith couples because they fear Muslims are stealing their women. They say they’re ready to kill for their faith if necessary.
surveyed have been gamers for more than 10 years.”
“Even if a life is lost, we don’t care,” said Ram Kumar, 23.
While the numbers seem formidable, the gap can be filled if leaders in the industry get a little creative about filling the pipeline. In addition to embracing diversity, it’s incumbent upon experts in the field to build relationships with the next generation of cybersecurity experts. Partnering with colleges and universities and identifying the skills needed to build a new collar workforce are key ways to attract a wider pool of candidates, but limiting outreach to young adults could lead to overlooked opportunities to connect with an entire generation of children.
majority — 75 percent — are fearful that this “other” could be a sexual predator. Sixty-one percent of the parents surveyed are concerned about their children interacting with a bully.
Can ‘Screen Time’ Equal Opportunity?
The anonymity of online gaming is as much a breeding ground for illicit activity as it is for competitive interchange. Gamers want to win; so when a peer offers a means by which a player could overcome an obstacle and advance to the next level, children are likely inclined to click, according to Jason Flood, researcher and IBM X-Force CTO for gamification.
Millennials have already entered the workforce and their careers are taking shape, so it’s time to shift focus to the K–12 sector, where kids are increasingly being educated on screens. To those who have young children at home, it’s no secret that they love to use their devices. Parents today are repeatedly warned that they need to limit the number of hours that their children sit in front of a screen. But what if that screen time can provide opportunities to teach more responsible online behavior? We live in a digital world from which there is no turning back. Rather than fight an uphill battle, why not embrace the interconnectedness that technology affords our children and leverage gaming to prepare youngsters for careers in cybersecurity? McAfee recently warned parents about their children’s internet exposure in their report on the role of cybersecurity in the gaming world, “Don’t Play Games With Your Cybersecurity.” Their research found that 62 percent of children play games in which they speak to other people while playing. That interaction has parents worried about who is behind the screen. Of the parents surveyed, 71 percent agreed that online gaming could potentially expose their children to inappropriate content. A vast
Parents also fear their children could potentially be fooled by a threat actor, who — disguised as another player — could actually steal personal or financial information. Yet the survey found that “despite this worry, 44 percent of parents would still allow their child to play a game that they are technically too young for,” making children a vector of compromise.
“The promise is never lived up to,” Flood said. “Instead, they’ve installed malware because kids don’t understand the risk, especially when their vision is clouded by their end goal, which is to advance.” That’s where educating kids about good cyber hygiene becomes critical not only to their competitive inclinations, but to their futures. Priming Careers in Cybersecurity Yes, gaming presents risks. But allowing kids to play online games while teaching them how to protect themselves presents a huge opportunity for the future of cybersecurity. According to a new survey from ProtectWise, it’s the younger generation that will fill the cybersecurity jobs gap. Millennials grew up on iPhones and tablets, and being raised in the digital world led them into technology-related jobs. A survey of more than 500 millennials found that “gaming has contributed to an appetite for technology-oriented careers. Forty percent of all
Is college always a right choice?
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t can be a tough realization for parents, but pushing a child into a traditional college career can be an incredibly expensive mistake that could affect their finances for decades. There’s also a chance that their field of interest doesn’t require a four-year degree. Working as an electrician, plumber, pharmacy technician or real estate agent can be challenging and rewarding, and there’s no bachelor’s degree required. And sometimes, it’s just not in the cards financially. “You’ve got to schedule time with your kid to have that college money talk,” said Sproul, explaining that most collegebound kids don’t understand what a degree really costs or what their parents can contribute. If you wait too long to talk about it, they might make a decision that you ultimately can’t afford. So how can parents make sure they’re on the same page with their kids about college? Sproul said it’s important to schedule time to discuss college as a family, noting that if you don’t put it on the calendar, it’s unlikely to happen. From there, establishing an
‘We don’t have any fear’: India’s angry young men and its lynch mob crisis by Annie Gowen
by Kacy Zurkus espite advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, the cybersecurity industry is still facing a skills gap crisis. According to findings from the “Global Information Security Workforce Study,” presented by (ISC)2, the workforce gap is projected to reach 1.8 million by 2022. That’s an increase of 20 percent since 2015, due in large part to the dearth of candidates who are actually aware of careers in cybersecurity.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
open dialogue with your child is key, according to Kimberly Foss, a certified financial planner in California and the founder and president of Empyrion Wealth Management. Maybe you do decide that a four-year university is the right option. Perhaps your child will complete the first two years at community college to save money. Or maybe vocational school will help your child enter the career of their choice. Regardless, you should know what their goals are well before it’s time to submit college applications. “The first step in helping your children make a solid decision on which college to attend is achieving good communication with them about their life goals, professional aspirations and motivations,” Foss said. “Different schools have different strengths, so knowing what your child wants to achieve is central to helping them align their own vision with the institution that is best equipped to give them the tools for realizing it.” From there, you can crunch the numbers together. Higher education comes with a cost, and part of the responsibility for covering that cost rests on [students].
What millennials may not have learned in those gaming experiences, though, is that protecting their privacy is not only critical to maintaining the integrity of their devices, it’s also a potential career path. Game On! As we look to the future of where the post-millennial generation is headed, the cybersecurity industry needs to get its head in the game. Kids are gaming, which poses risks, but the solution is not to scare their parents. Rather, it’s about teaching the parents — and their kids — about establishing safe web practices. Gamification has become a useful tool in defending organizations against cyberthreats. According to McAfee research, four in 10 organizations use a gamification exercise at least once a year. “There is a correlation between the use of gamification and happier cybersecurity staff. More than half (54 percent) of respondents who are extremely satisfied in their roles say they use ‘capture the flag’ gaming once or more a year.” Capture the flag (CTF) competitions have long been extremely popular at cybersecurity events. Players at the annual Black Hat and DEF CON conferences stay up until the wee hours hoping to win, and many experts in the industry endeavor to expose young kids to the game. “I have run a number of CTF games and tournaments for 12to 17-year-old age groups, partnering with local universities in Ireland,” Flood said. “IBM recently ran a CTF in Taiwan with both the Irish and Taiwan honeynet project, which are open source groups that helped to construct the content that was played.” If post-millennials are the generation of gamers raised on technology, using gamification to teach them how to be active participants in securing their digital worlds exposes them to what was missing for millennials: an awareness of the careers available to them in cybersecurity. - Security Intelligence
“Figure out what your expected family contribution is,” said Sproul, referring to a federal calculation that most universities follow. “Basically, it says based on your income and assets, what do we expect you to pay for college?”
It’s been a summer of rage in India. Dozens have been killed by lynch mobs, and extremist Hindus continue to assault and kill others, many of them Muslims. In the latest viral video, religious pilgrims angered over a minor traffic incident used sticks to demolish a car as police looked on. Much blame has been cast on India’s governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with critics charging that they have encouraged violence by Hindu extremists. But India’s problem of male rage has roots beyond
Hindu activist Ram Kumar leads a march in honor of India’s Independence Day near Agra. (Photo: Ram Kumar) the strident Hindu nationalism embraced by the current government. India has more than 600 million people under 25, and they have greater access to technology and education than ever before. Yet millions have little hope of finding decent jobs, and a “bachelor bomb” of more than 37 million surplus men — a legacy of generations of a preference for sons and aborting female fetuses — threatens social stability for decades. “People are frustrated that they are not being able to get
jobs,” a leader from Modi’s party, Vasundhara Raje, told the channel CNN-News18. “There is angst, which is spreading across communities and people. . . . It’s a reaction to their circumstances.” More than 1 million job seekers enter the labor market each month, many with inadequate job skills, but the country generated only 1.8 million additional jobs last year, according to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy, a research company. Modi says the number of new jobs last year was closer to 7 million. - Washington Post
Student loan watchdog quits, saying U.S. has “turned its back on young people” he U.S. official in charge of protecting student loan borrowers resigned in protest on Monday, saying the Trump administration “has turned its back on young people and their financial futures.”
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Seth Frotman, student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said Monday he is stepping down at the end of the week while also ripping into CFPB acting director Mick Mulvaney. “At every turn, your political appointees have silenced warnings by those of us tasked with standing up for service members and students,” he wrote in a letter. Frotman also accuses the CFPB’s leadership of suppressing publication of a report prepared by the agency’s staff after new evidence surfaced late last year that the nation’s largest banks were, in his words, “ripping off students on campuses across the country by saddling them with legally dubious account fees.” In an emailed statement to CBS News, a CFPB spokesperson said the agency doesn’t comment on personnel matters, but also said that “we hope that all of our departing employees find fulfillment in other pursuits and we thank them for their service.” Frotman’s student loan of-
fice has helped pursue lawsuits against for-profit educators including Corinthian Colleges and Navient, one of the country’s biggest student lenders. The Department of Education, headed by Betsy DeVos, has so far declined to assist the CFPB with its legal action against Navient. Frotman wrote: “American families need an independent Consumer Bureau to look out for them when lenders push products they know cannot be repaid, when banks and debt collectors conspire to abuse the courts and force families out of their homes, and when student loan companies are allowed to drive millions of Americans to financial ruin with impunity.” Consumer groups said Frotman’s exit is a loss for borrowers. “The administration has seized control of an independent consumer watchdog and is strangling one of the only agencies in Washington dedicated to looking out for the rights of ordinary Americans,” Christopher Peterson, director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America, said by email. Frotman’s resignation also brought criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who was instrumental in the CFPB’s creation following the 2008 financial crisis. Warren took to social media on Mon-
day to slam Mulvaney for “siding with greedy student loan companies over students and military families.” As of December, nearly 43 million borrowers owed a total of $1.4 trillion in federal student loans, which have continued to rise even as the U.S. economy has strengthened and as Americans have pared other kinds of debt. A report from the Government Accountability Office released Monday found ongoing weakness with the Department of Education’s oversight of student loan servicers. The CFPB ombudsman’s office reviewed tens of thousands of complaints from student loan borrowers and was among the government entities that first warned of the escalating problem of students unable to repay their loans. Mulvaney scaled down the mission of Frotman’s student loan office earlier this summer, transferring some of its duties to other CFPB personnel. A Senate committee last week narrowly approved Kathy Kraninger to replace Mulvaney at the CFPB. Kraninger, who previously worked at the Office of Management and Budget and Department of Homeland Security, is seen as a protege of Mulvaney and is opposed by Warren and other consumer advocates. - CBS News
Also consider what type of contribution your child will make. For instance, will they be expected to get a part-time job to cover living and entertainment expenses? How much of the cost will be covered by student loans, and who will ultimately be responsible for paying back the debt? Does your child understand how student loans actually work? Foss explained that it can help for your child to have “skin in the game” and understand that “higher education comes with a cost, and part of the responsibility for covering that cost rests on them,” said Foss. The decision of whether college is the right path for your child is a deeply personal one, and one you should make with them. Although college is worth it in many cases, it isn’t always. Be open to that possibility ― it could save your child from becoming another statistic in the growing student loan crisis. - Huffington Post
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FRIDAY, FRIDAY,August August31, 31,2018 2018
Annuities can help cover long-termcare costs
August is Immunization Awareness Month
Section 2
Tel: 713-774-5140
Life-threatening heart attack leaves teacher with $108,951 bill.
Annuities can help cover longterm-care costs 1035 Exchange into a Hybrid Product
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rew Calver took out his trash cans and then waved goodbye to his wife, Erin, as she left for the grocery store the morning that upended his picture-perfect life. Minutes later, the popular high school history teacher and swim coach in Austin, Texas, collapsed in his bedroom from a heart attack. He pounded his fist on the bed frame, violent chest pains pinning him to the floor. “I thought I was dying,” the 44-yearold father recalled. He called out to the only other person in the house, his oldest daughter, Eleanor, now 7. Using the voice-recognition feature on his phone, he texted his wife, who was at the store with their youngest, Emory, now 6. A neighbor rushed him to the nearby emergency room at St. David’s Medical Center on April 2, 2017. The ER doctors confirmed the damage to Calver’s heart and admitted him to the hospital’s cardiac unit. The next day, doctors implanted stents in his clogged “widow-maker” artery. The heart attack was a shock for Calver, an avid swimmer who had competed in an Ironman triathlon just five months before. Despite the surprise, Calver asked from his hospital bed whether his health insurance would cover all of this, a financial worry that accompanies nearly every American hospital stay. He was concerned because St. David’s is out-of-network on his school district health plan. The hospital told him not to worry and that they would accept his insurance, Calver said. The hospital charged $164,941 for his surgery and four days in the hospital. Aetna, which administers health benefits for the Austin Independent School District, paid the hospital $55,840, records show. Despite the difference of more than $100,000, with the hospital’s prior assurance, Calver believed he would not bear much, if any, out-of-pocket payment for his life-threatening emergency and the surgery that saved him. And then the bills came. Total bill: $164,941 for a fourday hospital stay, including $42,944 for four stents and $10,920 for room charges. Calver’s insurer paid $55,840. The hospital billed Calver for the unpaid balance of $108,951.31. Service provider: St. David’s HealthCare, a large hospital system in central Texas. It’s run by HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, and two nonprofit foundations. Medical treatment: Emergency room treatment followed by four days in the hospital, most of it spent in the cardiac unit. During surgery, four stents were implanted to clear a blockage in his left anterior descending artery, the source of so-called widowmaker heart attacks because they are so frequently deadly.
When Drew Calver collapsed in his bedroom from a heart attack, he lay on the floor pounding his fists in pain. “I thought I was dying,” he said. (Photo: Callie Richmond/KHN) advantage of this “FINAL opportunity to settle your balance.” “They’re going to give me another heart attack stressing over this bill,” Calver said. “I can’t pay this bill on my teacher salary, and I don’t want this to go to a debt collector.” In the wake of his heart attack, Calver fell victim to twin medical billing practices that increasingly bedevil many Americans: Surprise bills and balance billing. Surprise bills occur when a patient goes to a hospital in his insurance network but receives treatment from a doctor who does not participate in the network, resulting in a direct bill to the patient. They can also occur in cases like Calver’s, where insurers will pay for needed emergency care at the closest hospital — even if it is out of network — but the hospital and the insurer may not agree on a reasonable price. The hospital then demands that patients pay the difference, in a practice called balance billing. Several states, including Texas (as well as New York, California and New Jersey) have passed laws to help shield consumers from surprise bills and balance billing, particularly for emergency care. But there’s a huge loophole: Those state-mandated protections don’t apply to people, like the Calver family, who get their health coverage from employers that are self-insured, meaning the companies or public employers pay claims out of their own funds. Federal law governs those health plans — and it does not include such protections. About 60 percent of people with employer health benefits are covered by self-insured plans, but many don’t even know it, since employers typically hire an insurer to administer the plan and employees carry a card bearing the name of Blue Cross Blue Shield or another major insurer.
What gives: St. David’s Medical Center is billing Calver for the $108,951.31 balance — an amount nearly twice his annual pay as a teacher.
This case “illustrates the dangers that even insured people face,” said Carol Lucas, an attorney in Los Angeles with experience in health care payment disputes. “The unfairness is especially acute when there is an emergency and the patient, who might ordinarily be completely compliant, has no say about the facility he winds up in.”
The hospital’s billing company sent a notice June 26, urging him to take
Patients experiencing an emergency are particularly at risk of landing at an
out-of-network hospital. St. David’s said once ER patients are deemed stable, it tries to transfer them to an innetwork facility. “However, this is not always possible because the patient’s health must come first,” the hospital said. This case also raises questions about the validity of the hospital’s charges. The Takeaway: Faced with a surprise bill or a balance-billing situation, don’t rush to pay any medical bills you receive. First, let the insurance process play out completely so you’re sure what the health plan is paying the hospital and doctors — and what you ultimately might be responsible for, in terms of coinsurance or copayments. Ask for an itemized bill. Review the charges carefully and talk to your insurer, your employer and the hospital if the prices seem out of line. Arm yourself with estimates you can find online of the average prices charged in your area as you negotiate with all the players. If the bills keep coming, talk to your employer’s benefits department or the state insurance department about your legal protections. The situation will vary depending on the type of health insurance you have and the state you live in. Tell any debt collection agencies that may contact you that you are contesting the bill. With any of these entities, you can always appeal to reason, with this argument: You had no choice but to go to an out-of-network hospital in the case of a life-threatening emergency, so the insurer and the hospital should work out payment and hold you harmless from financially crippling bills. -Kaiser Health News
Because hybrid life/long-term care and annuity/long-term care products are purchased with a lump sum premium, the process of exchanging a life insurance policy or annuity for such a product is relatively seamless. The owner and insured party with the initial product (whether annuity or life insurance policy) needs to remain the same as the insured with long-term care. In terms of execution, the major hitch for the transaction to qualify as a 1035 exchange is that the insured person can’t receive a check for the product he or she is swapping out of; the money must go directly into the new policy. At first blush, the hybrid products have a lot to recommend them. The most intuitively appealing aspect is that the insured receives a payout under multiple scenarios-in contrast to purchasers of pure long-term care insurance, who only “recoup” their payments if they end up needing long-term care. If a purchaser of a life/long-term care hybrid dies without needing long-term care, the full death benefit would be paid out to his or her heirs. On the other hand, if the insured has a long-term care need, funding such care would reduce the cash value of the policy accordingly. Annuity/long-term care hybrids, while less common, work similarly: If a long-term care need arises, those expenses reduce the amount of any eventual annuity payout. Additionally--and this is a particularly big consideration for people who are north of age 55 or so--the underwriting standards for hybrids are less stringent than is the case for a pure long-term care policy. And because the hybrid policies are usually purchased with a lump sum rather than as a series of premiums, the purchaser effectively can sidestep the premium increases that have bedeviled purchasers of longterm care. And while the ability to buy such a policy with a lump sum effectively insulates the insured individual against direct premium increases, the buyer of the hybrid policy effectively cedes the right to earn a higher return on that money in a more favorable yield environment,
Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900 turning it over to the insurer instead. Because the insurance company controls the cash value of the policy, it is under no obligation to increase cash value as prevailing yields trend up. Indeed, some of the policies don’t promise any growth of principal at all. The hybrid products are also more complicated than pure long-term care products, making it difficult to comparison-shop among insurers. 1035 Exchange Into Standalone Long-Term Care Insurance Things get more complicated when swapping an annuity or lifeinsurance policy for a pure, standalone long-term care policy. For one thing, the number of available long-term care policies has shrunk dramatically over the past decade and a half, owing to a poor claims experience on the part of the insurers. There were more than 125 insurance companies selling policies in 2000, but that number had shriveled to 15 by 2014. Not only are would-be buyers of pure longterm care policies shopping in a shallower pool (so insurers have less incentive to be competitive), but it’s impossible to find longterm care insurance that’s available with a single premium. (Insurers realized that the single premium arrangement locked them into lower premiums than would actually be needed to satisfy claims.) For More information on Long Term Care planning contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.
507 people sick after eating McDonald’s salad Customers in 15 states and New York City were infected, feds say ederal health officials say they’ve confirmed more than 500 cases of people who became sick with an intestinal illness after eating McDonald’s salads.
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The illnesses reported earlier this year are linked to the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhea, intestinal pain, nausea or fatigue. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that 507 cases have been confirmed in 15 states and New York City. M c D o n a l d ’s stopped the sale of salads at 3,000 restaurants last month until it could find a different supplier. The FDA says it’s still investigating the supplier of romaine lettuce and carrots. States with cases include: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Min-
McDonald’s restaurants in 15 states and New York City were affected. (SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
The cyclosporiasis outbreak began in May 24 people have been hospitalized
nesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Officials also said people sickened in Connecticut, Florida, New York City,
Tennessee, and Virginia had traveled in Illinois and Kentucky. - NPR
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VOICE OF ASIA 18
Millions risk malnutrition as CO2 levels climb by Marlowe Hood
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ARIS, France | AFP | Monday 8/27/2018 - Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the air threaten to sap wheat, rice, and other staple grains of valuable nutrients, raising the spectre of mass malnutrition, researchers warned Monday. On current trends, higher CO2 concentrations could reduce iron, zinc and protein levels in the crops that feed the world by up to 17 percent by midcentury, they reported in the journal Nature Climate Change. “Hundreds of millions of people could become newly deficient in these nutrients, primarily in Africa, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East,” lead author Matthew Smith, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told AFP. “These are in addition to the billions of people already deficient that could see their condition worsen.” Protein, along with the minerals iron and zinc, are essential nutrients for normal human growth and development. Zinc deficiency affects the immune system and makes children, particularly, more vulnerable to malaria, lung infections and deadly diarrhoeal diseases.
the quantity and location of commercially-fished ocean species. - Unanticipated impacts To assess how extra CO2 in the atmosphere might impact global health by 2050, Smith and colleague Samuel Myers ran models for 225 different food plants grown in 151 countries. If humanity continues emitting greenhouse gases from burning coal, oil, and natural gas at current levels, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is likely to reach 550 parts per million (ppm) by 2050. It is now at just over 400 ppm. The team found that nearly two percent of the global population -- an extra 175 million people -- could become zinc deficient, and 122 million would no longer get enough protein under those conditions. Some 1.4 billion women and children under five would probably find their iron intake reduced by four percent or more. Half-a-billion in this group risk developing iron deficiencyrelated disease. India would be hardest hit, with some 50 million people suffering a lack of zinc, and 38 million falling short of minimum protein requirements, said the team.
A lack of iron increases the likelihood of mothers dying during childbirth, can lower IQ, and causes anaemia, or a drop in red blood cells.
The numbers of affected people would also go up dramatically in China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya and other emerging or developing economies.
Wheat, rice and maize together account for roughly 40 percent of protein, zinc and iron supply in the diet worldwide.
“Supplements could temporarily alleviate some of the health consequences, but they are not a viable long-term solution,” said Smith.
In general, humans get three-fifths of dietary protein, four-fifths of iron, and 70 percent of zinc requirements from plants. The global food system is also vulnerable to rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and other forms of extreme weather driven by climate change, earlier research has shown. Impacts include reduced crop yields, heat-stressed livestock, and shifts in
Because they are difficult to distribute and do not address the underlying cause of malnutrition, vitamins and supplements “should best be seen as a short-term medical intervention,” he added. More than two billion people worldwide are deficient in one or more nutrient, according the World Health Organization (WHO).
In US, HPV-related cancers on rise
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ASHINGTON | AFP Despite rising vaccination rates, cancers related to human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted infection, are on the rise in the United States, particularly cancers of the head, neck and throat, officials said Thursday. In men, most of the increase was in head, neck and throat cancers, while in women, cases of HPV-related anal cancer rose, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “From 1999 to 2015, the number of HPV-associated cancers increased from 30,000 to over 43,000 annually,” said the report. Even though vaccinations against HPV have been on the rise in recent years, the CDC said the increase in cancers is “likely due to increased HPV exposure over the past few decades.” Cervical cancer rates continue to decline -- about 1.6 percent annually since 1999 -- thanks to screening and early detection, added the report.
But there is no recommended screening for other HPV-associated cancers. “HPV vaccination can prevent infection with the HPV types most strongly associated with cancer,” said the CDC report. “Increasing HPV vaccination rates among young males and females could prevent many cancers.” The CDC said that last year, nearly 66 percent of adolescents aged 13-17 received the first dose in the vaccine series, and nearly 49 percent of adolescents received all the recommended doses to complete the series. “This vaccine is the best way to protect our youth from developing cancers caused by HPV infection,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield. After adjusting for rises in population, the overall rate of all HPV cancers in US women declined 0.4 percent from 1999 to 2015, largely due to drops in cervical cancer thanks to better screening, the report said. In men, the rate of HPV cancers rose 2.4 percent over the same period.
Experimental cancer drug for dogs could hold promise for people
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lioblastoma is the deadliest brain cancer in people. It is the cancer that claimed the lives of senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy. Now an experimental drug being tested on dogs could hold promise for people.
Emily has Glioblastoma and was given just three months to live. It’s a tough cancer to treat and options are limited. So Laura enrolled Emily in a new clinical trial at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.
Researchers say results are so promising the National Institutes of Health is now helping fund the trial hoping it can lead to a breakthrough for people.
“That gave me hope,” she said, “I said ‘I’ll do anything’.
Emily, a 10-year-old Portuguese water dog is Laura Kamienski’s everything. When Emily was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer earlier this year, Laura was devastated. “I sobbed. I sat in the middle of the exam room and sobbed,” recalled Laura Kamienski.
“It’s not a cure, I knew that going in,” said Kamienski. “This is the best hope, to give her more time.” And maybe someday, saving people trying to beat this cancer. In partnership with Wake Forest University, Virginia Maryland Veterinary College is still accepting dogs with glioblastoma into the clinical trial. - CBS
Voice of Asia brings you the latest
in medicine, medical technology, nutrition, pharmacy, and other health related articles.
healthlinemag.com
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Fish oil supplements don’t ward off heart disease, study finds
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ASHINGTON | AFP | Monday 8/27/2018 - Fish oil supplements do not help prevent heart attacks or strokes in people with diabetes, said a study Monday that adds to a growing body of research on the ineffectiveness of pills containing omega-3 fatty acids. More than 15,000 people with diabetes but no signs of heart disease enrolled in the study in Britain, the results of which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Half the participants were given a daily capsule of omega-3, while the other half received a placebo pill containing olive oil. The study was randomized and blinded, meaning that participants had no idea which they were taking. Patients were followed for an average of just over seven years. Among those taking fish oil pills, 8.9 percent suffered a heart attack or stroke, compared to 9.2 percent in the placebo group, which was not a significant difference. “Our large, long-term randomized trial shows that fish oil supplements do not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes,”
Fish oil supplements do not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes, according to investigators. (Photo: iStock) said principal investigator Louise Bowman of the University of Oxford. “This is a disappointing finding, but it is in line with previous randomized trials in other types of patient at increased risk of cardiovascular events which also showed no benefit of fish oil supplements.” Bowman concluded: “There is no justification for recommending fish oil supplements to protect against cardiovascular events.”
In January, an analysis of 10 studies involving 78,000 people published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Cardiology also concluded that fish oil pills did not prevent heart disease among people at high risk. Some observational studies have pointed to an association between higher consumption of fish and lower risks of coronary artery disease and stroke, but more rigorous, randomized trials have not supported this link.
Weight-loss drug hailed as ‘holy grail’ in obesity fight, seems safe for heart New US study finds 39% of subjects on appetite-suppressant Belviq lost at least 5% of their starting weight after a year or the first time, a drug has been shown to help people lose weight and keep it off for several years without raising their risk for heart problems — a safety milestone that may encourage wider use to help curb the obesity epidemic.
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The drug, lorcaserin, which is marketed as Belviq, has been sold in the United States since 2013 and is the first of several new weight-loss medicines to succeed in a long-term heart safety study now required by federal regulators to stay on the market. “Patients and their doctors have been nervous about using drugs to treat obesity and for good reason. There’s a history of these drugs having serious complications,” said study leader Dr. Erin Bohula of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Although Belviq did not raise heart risks, it did not lower them either, as many had hoped it would. The weight loss it produced was fairly modest — after 40 months, Belviq users had shed 9 pounds (4 kilograms), twice as much as those on dummy pills. It may be that weight loss alone is not enough to lower heart risks, or that there needs to be more to do that, some doctors said.
Worldwide, 13 percent of adults are obese and 39% are overweight, raising their risk for a host of health problems. Diet and exercise are the first steps doctors recommend, but medicines also can be considered for people with dangerously high weights who cannot drop enough pounds by other means. (Photo: USAToday) roughly $220 to $290 a month in the United States. Researchers tested it in a study of 12,000 people who were either obese or overweight with heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. They were given Belviq or dummy pills to take twice a day and offered lifestyle and diet advice.
Results were discussed Sunday at a European Society of Cardiology meeting in Munich and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Belviq’s maker, Eisai Inc., sponsored the study and many of the researchers consult or work for the company.
At one year, 39% on Belviq and 17% on dummy pills had lost at least 5 percent of their starting weight. Several previous studies also found the drug effective for weight loss.
Tam Fry, of Britain’s National Obesity Forum, said the drug was potentially the “holy grail” of weight-loss medicine, the Guardian reported Monday. “I think it is the thing everybody has been looking for,” he said. Still, he cautioned, “all of the other things apply – lifestyle change has got to be root and branch part of this.”
Fewer people on Belviq developed diabetes — 8.5% versus 10.3% on dummy pills.
Worldwide, 13 percent of adults are obese and 39% are overweight, raising their risk for a host of health problems. Diet and exercise are the first steps doctors recommend, but medicines also can be considered for people with dangerously high weights who cannot drop enough pounds by other means. Several popular diet medicines were previously withdrawn from sale after they were found to raise the risk for heart valve damage, suicidal thoughts, or other problems, prompting the new requirement for heart safety studies. Belviq is an appetite suppressant that works by stimulating brain chemicals to give a feeling of fullness. It costs
After about three years, 6% of each group had suffered a heart-related problem or death.
Serious side effects were similar, but more on Belviq stopped taking their pills because of them — 7% versus 4%. Common side effects included dizziness, fatigue, headache, and nausea. Dangerously low blood sugar hap-
pened in 13 people on Belviq versus four in the other group; all but one case involved people also taking diabetes medicines, which lower blood sugar. Tests for heart valve damage were done on 3,270 participants, but no big differences in rates were seen. Suicidal thoughts or behavior were reported in 21 people on Belviq versus 11 on dummy pills, but more on the drug had a history of depression and the difference was so small it could have been due to chance, Bohula said. In a commentary, two of the journal’s editors, Drs. Julie Inglefinger and Clifford Rosen, said there might be alternatives to Belviq. Liraglutide, when used to treat diabetes, also causes weight loss and lowers heart risks, though it has not been tested for cardiac safety at the dose used for weight loss. For now, Belviq “may be best used on a cautious basis, according to the needs of individual patients,” they write. - Associated Press
VOICE OF ASIA 19
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Tech giants aim to coordinate fight on misinformation: report
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ajor technology firms including Facebook, Google and Twitter were set to meet Friday as part of an effort to coordinate the battle against misinformation campaigns by foreign agents, a media report said.
“As I’ve mentioned to several of you over the last few weeks, we have been looking to schedule a follow-on discussion to our industry conversation about information operations, election protection, and the work we are all doing to tackle these challenges,” Gleicher wrote, according to BuzzFeed. Twitter declined to comment on the report. Facebook and Google did not immediately respond to an AFP query. The news follows actions by Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft blocking accounts from Russian and Iranian entities which the companies said were propagating misinformation aimed at disrupting the November US elections.
You might want to think that our universe is the only one that has ever existed, but the truth is a little more unsettling.
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A media report indicates that major technology firms are set to meet as part of an effort to coordinate the battle against misinformation campaigns by foreign agents. (Photo: golubovy / IStock.com) On Thursday, Google said that working with the cybersecurity firm FireEye, it linked the accounts to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting as part of an effort dating to at least January 2017.
chief Alex Stamos said in a blog post Wednesday that gaping holes remain in online platforms and that not enough is being done to counter foreign interference ahead of the elections.
Earlier this week, Facebook announced it removed more than 650 pages, groups and accounts identified as “networks of accounts misleading people about what they were doing.”
“The revelations are evidence that Russia has not been deterred and that Iran is following in its footsteps,” Stamos wrote on the Lawfare blog.
Separately, Twitter said it suspended 284 accounts “for engaging in coordinated manipulation,” adding that “it appears many of these accounts originated from Iran. Former Facebook security
“If the United States continues down this path, it risks allowing its elections to become the World Cup of information warfare, in which US adversaries and allies battle to impose their various interests on the American electorate.” - Relaxnews
Samsung’s Galaxy Note9 hits stores OUSTON - The latest edition of the Galaxy Note series claims to have all-day battery capabilities, and up to 512GB with expandable memory options, a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen that can be used to capture group selfies from up to 10 m of the device, and download speeds of up to 1.2Gbps.
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The device is also optimized for gaming and a 6.4-inch display. - Relaxnews
Have we just seen ghosts of black holes from another universe? by Elizabeth Rayne
The report by BuzzFeed based on a leaked email said the companies were set to meet at Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco. Microsoft, Snapchat and other tech firms were expected to participate in the gathering called by Facebook cybersecurity head Nathaniel Gleicher.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Prices start at USD $1,000. (Photo: Samsung)
ome physicists believe that there were other universes that existed before ours. Whether this is a Doctor Who kind of regeneration or total annihilation and rebirth is questionable, but what physicist and former Stephen Hawking colleague Roger Penrose and his team now argue is that these dead universes were filled with dead black holes—and if you really look at Cosmic Microwave Background data, their phantoms will appear.
know it because they have no mass and shoot around at light
The Cosmic Microwave Background. (Credit: NASA) Black holes are the corpses of stars, but more like star zombies that keep decomposing over time. For every positive graviton or photon that is released into space from the surface of a black hole’s event horizon, a negative particle (meaning negative mass and energy) falls backward to that point of no return beyond the event horizon. Negative particles cancel out mass and energy that had previously been devoured by that black hole. This phenomenon of positive particles radiating from a black hole and being replaced by negative particles, slowly eating away at the cosmic monster, is Hawking Radiation. After all black holes disintegrate, they would theoretically leave a universe full of gravitons and photons that don’t experience space and time as we
speed. Penrose believes that a universe devoid of black holes will start to mirror the extreme compression of our universe when the Big Bang exploded. There are no such things as distance or time in that moment, but there is something even this violent outburst can’t obliterate.
“It’s not the black hole’s singularity but the… entire Hawking radiation of the hole throughout its history,” Penrose told Live Science. What Penrose and his team observed in the CMB data they analyzed were not actual remnants of the black holes that supposedly vanished billions and billions of years ago, but evidence of their existence and the universe’s past life. Eons of wasting away from Hawking radiation leave a mark in cosmic radiation background frequencies. Think of it as a fossilized imprint. Whatever left it behind has long since decayed, but there is no denying it actually existed. While making out these imprints in the hazy CMB radiation involved ruling out potential false positives and was obviously much more painstaking than just confirming the existence of a trilobite with the naked eye, the conclusion was ultimately that spectrums of Hawking radiation had been left behind by black holes now lost to space. There is still skepticism surrounding this theory, especially since it comes from the same guy who is convinced that consciousness is the result of quantum computing, but you have to admit it is kind of mind-blowing to think that dead universes have forever left an “I was here” in the sky.
Roger Penrose (Photo: Rex)
- LiveScience.com
VOICE OF ASIA 20
LEISURE / TRAVEL
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Dragons and steamed buns at Taiwan’s temple-like church
Asian Games shine spotlight on Indonesian cuisine
With a cross rising from a red pagoda roof and two lion statues guarding the entrance, a Catholic church in southern Taiwan could easily be mistaken for one of the ubiquitous temples dotting the island.
t’s the second-biggest multisport event in the world after the Olympics. Currently, 11,300 athletes from 45 countries across Asia are competing in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia at the 18th annual Asian Games, a major sporting event that takes place every four years.
- ‘Blessed place’ Several other churches in Taiwan incorporate some temple-like characteristics, but none to the same extent. Murals cover almost all of the interior walls of the Holy Spirit Church, depicting teachings from the Bible, but with a twist -- most of the figures look Asian and wear Chinese-style clothing.
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according to different regions. Bakso Along with satay, bakso or meatball soup is a popular street food across Indonesia. It also got a shout-out from President Barack Obama during a visit in 2010, when he waxed nostalgic
Even the bread in the church’s mural of “The Last Supper” -- the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting of Jesus and his apostles -- is replaced with baozi, Chinese steamed buns. At the back of the main hall, next to the confessional, is a shrine with candles and a Chinese incense bowl to commemorate the church’s late pastors. Burning incense is a common Chinese tribute to deities or ancestors.
This picture taken on August 10, 2018 shows priest Joseph Chung introducing paintings in the Holy Spirit Church in Yanshui, about an hour’s drive from the southern city of Tainan. With a cross rising from a red pagoda roof and two lion statues guarding the entrance, a Catholic church in southern Taiwan could easily be mistaken for one of the ubiquitous temples dotting the island. (Photo: Sam Yeh / AFP)
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aiwan embraces freedom of religion and has one of the highest densities of temples in the world, with close to 70 percent of the population believers in Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk traditions. About six percent of Taiwan’s 23.57 million population are Christian, with 300,000 of those Catholic. There are more than 1,000 churches across the island but the Holy Spirit Church is particularly unique. Located on a quiet road in the rural town of Yanshui, about an hour’s drive from southern Tainan city, it
started life as a simple wooden structure, built by a German missionary more than six decades ago. However, in 1986 it was reconstructed by Chinese pastor Li Shaofeng who had a very different vision, melding features of a typical Chinese temple into the design, including lanterns, red pillars, and painted dragons motifs. “The pastor thought of building a more Chinese-style church to adapt to the local environment,” said Joseph Chung, the church’s current pastor. “He built this church hoping to attract more followers,” said Chung, 67.
Chung says the number of regular followers attending services has dropped in recent years as Yanshui residents move to bigger cities. But masses are still held daily, with special events drawing believers from all over southern Taiwan. The music for the services is performed by Catholic nuns from the attached Monastery of St Clare, which was started in 1990. Churchgoer Cecilia Huang has been a regular visitor to the Holy Spirit Church for 20 years and says she particularly likes praying with the nuns. Huang says she appreciates the church’s design aesthetic and says it does not change the nature of her religion. “The essence is the same,” said Huang, 66. “It’s only the appearance that looks like it’s integrated into Taiwan’s environment, bringing blessings to this place.” - Relaxnews
Sambal oelek sauce
The international spotlight on Indonesia is a prime opportunity to take a culinary voyage to the country to which we owe the wonders of sambal oelek and nasi goreng, to name a few. Here are a few of the foods that best distil the flavors of Indonesian cuisine. Sambal oelek sauce Over the past few years, households around the world have pushed aside the bottle of Sriracha sauce in their fridge, to make room for another formidable chili paste: Indonesian Sambal oelek. Hot sauce aficionados need no introduction to the condiment that has found permanent places of honor
about his childhood days slurping up the savory soup from street vendors. Bakso can refer to the soup itself or the meatballs which can be made with chicken, beef, pork or shrimp. A bowl of Bakso consists of broth, meatballs, rice noodles and tofu and is usually garnished with fried shallots, celery, and the aforementioned sambal chili paste. Nasi goreng Indonesian fried rice, often described as Indonesia’s national dish, was originally devised as a way to salvage leftovers and avoid food waste -- an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-
Asian families travel more than Westerners and take their grandparents with them Asian families take more than twice the number of family trips as Western travelers -- and are more likely to take grandparents along with them. Americans do not bring along in-laws or granny.
Rendang (Photos: iStock) on many a refrigerator shelf. Unlike Sriracha sauce which is both sweet and spicy, sambal oelek is a simple paste made with fresh red chilis, vinegar and salt. The result is a cleaner, more versatile flavor profile that can be dangerously moreish.
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EW YORK, NY - Those are some of the findings of a new “Family Travel Trends 2018” report commissioned by online travel site Agoda that teased out some interesting differences in the way families from around the world travel. The findings are based on the online responses of 10,784 respondents from the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and China.
type idea. The result is a delicious concept that involves an assortment of mystery meats -- chicken, sausage, fish -- and vegetables studding a flavorful rice dish made with kecap manis, Indonesia’s version of barbecue sauce, thicker and sweeter than soy sauce.
Satay A new report shows how family travel differs among Asian and Western households.(Photo: © istock/PamelaJoeMcFarlane) One of the biggest differences in travel trends between Western and
Asian countries? While families from the West (defined as US, UK and Australia) average about two family vacations a year, Asian travelers reported taking about five short one-tothree-night trips throughout the year. This is particularly true for people living in Thailand and the Philippines, where 77 percent and 62 percent respectively claimed to have taken five or more family breaks in the past year. That compares to 34 percent of British holidaymakers who turned out to be most likely to take just one family vacation a year. When it comes to multi-generational family travel, there are also some countries that are more likely to include grandparents in their holiday plans than others.
Photo: AOL.com/iStock
With 66 percent of respondents saying they’ve taken grandparents on
Indonesia’s tourism office calls satay -- meat skewers marinated in a sweet soy sauce and barbecued over an open flame -- the country’s most famous dish. But its origins can actually be traced back to India, when Muslim traders introduced the kebab concept to Indonesia, where the flavors were given the South East Asian treatment. Though chicken is the most common and most popular satay, other variations include lamb, beef, pork, scallops and ox tongue. Skewers are also accompanied by a savory dipping sauce, with spices and styles that vary
their family vacation, Thais are most family-oriented, followed by Indonesians (54 percent). At the other end of the spectrum, travelers from the UK and Australia are least likely to bring grandparents along. Asian families are also more likely to travel with family friends, as near-
Rendang This spicy, perfumed meat dish is often given place of honor at Indonesian tables during special occasions like Eid al-Fitr, weddings and other ceremonies for its fragrant richness and depth of flavor. The dish originates from Minangkabau, a tribe in West Sumatra. Rendang can be made with either beef or lamb and is made with chili, coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass, garlic and shallots. The Asian Games wrap up September 2. - Relaxnews
ly half of respondents in the Philippines, followed closely by Vietnamese and Malaysian travelers said they’ve gone on group vacations. China bucks the trend at 27 percent, along with Aussies, Brits and Americans, who are least likely to do the same. - Relaxnews
VOICE OF ASIA 21
FRIDAY, August 31, 2018
Home&Real Estate Millionaire households in Texas
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exas has the second highest number of millionaires living in its state. How Much, a cost information website, analyzed data from Kiplinger to see the number of millionaire households in each state.
Punctured by a glass-enclosed courtyard, this hexagonal, donut-shaped house is filled with light and views from all six sides.
California topped the list with 885,000, but Texas came in at No. 2 with 567,000. However, in terms of concentration, Maryland came in first place with 7.87 percent (178,000 households) of all households falling into the millionaire category.
An off-grid house wraps around a jewel-like courtyard
The Sturgeon Mansion in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area was lent out to a tornado victim family in 2016. (Photo: 1707cheeksparger.com)
Riverstone eyes end of construction
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he Sugar Land-area development Riverstone is nearing completion of its development cycle and only 12 percent of the community remains for new home sales.
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aving worked as an engineer at firms such as Apple and Microsoft, Ken Goto was already well versed in pushing the envelope of innovation when he tapped husband-and-wife duo Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott of IwamotoScott Architecture to create his holiday home in Napa, California.
Riverstone is a 3,700-acre upscale master-planned residential community. Homes in the MPC range from $330,000 to the millions with 11 builders developing in the area. About 18,000 residents ultimately will live in 6000 homes. A portion of the subdivision actually lives in Missouri City. - Houston Agent Magazine
Photo: Riverstone Development
Goto, who already owned one of IwamotoScott’s previous works, wanted a similarly contemporary structure for an elevated clearing overlooking spectacular views of forested hills and Lake Berryessa. Inspired by the breathtaking vistas, the architects used the 360-degree views to shape the design of the sculptural retreat, a 2,300-square-foot hexagonal structure that maximizes indoor/ outdoor connection. The Goto House is sheathed in heavy-gauge steel cladding to protect against the elements and temperature fluctuations. “The house’s design engages the spatial dynamics of its situation through the formal and
experiential activation of negative space, relative to conditions of surface, material, view, and landscape,” note the architects.
kitchen, dining area, and living room; a master bedroom; a kid’s bedroom; and a yoga room/flex room with a guest bath.
Avoiding deep foundation piers, the home is set on a reinforced concrete slab that tapers upward around a cantilevered perimeter.
Pocket-sliding glass doors offer seamless connection to the outdoors. “The central court acts as a glass ‘jewel’ at the heart of the house,” say the architects, who styled it in the likeness of a Japanese garden.
An outdoor pool offers refreshing dips with views of hills blanketed with oaks, pines, and manzanita. The complex geometry was also informed by the home’s four programmatic zones. These spaces include a combined
“The central court acts as a glass ‘jewel’ at the heart of the house,” say the architects, who styled it in the likeness of a Japanese garden. - Photo/report: Dwell.com
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A bubbly aspect between talkative Mercury and positive Jupiter hints that you might be tempted to promise more than you can deliver. It would be better to understate than overstate your capabilities.
21 April to 20 May Do you already know your soul mate? Is it possible a platonic friend could turn into something more? Consider all the possibilities before losing hope, Taurus. You have more options than you think.
21 May to 20 June Those in service positions will find greater support and appreciation for their work now. Efforts that benefit more than one business at a time can be very successful.
21 June to 22 July You’re right in the thick of it this week with aspects in your houses of home, inner feelings, and personal expression. The way others perceive you is changing. Step up and show them how you want to be seen.
23 July to 22 August Although things may feel tense, it’s an excellent opportunity to go deeper into spiritual practices like meditation and yoga, especially if they help you process new ideas that can eventually earn you more money.
23 August to 22 Sept If you’re planning to get a massage, this is the best time to go ahead. The tempo is going to speed up even more soon. The basic message is that you really need to relax. A bit of meditation wouldn’t hurt, either.
THEME: FOOTBALL
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Week of AUGUST 31, 2018 21 March to 20 April
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD
Astrology.com
23 September to 22 Oct When it comes to your social life, don’t immediately accept an offer to join a club without knowing the true cost. It might seem like a great offer on the surface, but you could find hidden charges when you dig deeper.
23 October to 21 Nov Is love the same if you don’t work for it? When things come easily, you tend to be suspicious of them. You’re fully prepared to battle in the name of romance, and you’re one of the toughest warriors around.
22 November to 21 Dec Casual conversations at this time can lead to important breakthroughs as you brainstorm any plan or project. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. This is a positive time to develop skills using color, music, or art.
22 December to 20 Jan You have some disharmonious aspects this week, which could bring some tension into your life. Although there’s some weightiness to your career sector, don’t neglect your relationships.
21 January to 19 Feb Alternative methods of healing may appeal to you now. If you want to try another way to get to the root of any symptoms that may be bothering you, then acupuncture, homeopathy, or spiritual healing might do the trick.
20 February to 20 Mar The more willing you are to take responsibility for your health, the happier you’ll be. But you’re going to have to get to the heart of any issues that have challenged you in the past.
ACROSS 1. Hunk 5. Cough syrup amt. 8. “Scene one, ____ one” 12. Grand theft target 13. Broflovski of “South Park” 14. Polished surface of gem 15. Simpleton 16. A in A = b x h 17. Tarzan’s swing rope 18. *Dream football destination 20. Medley 21. Olden-day Celts 22. *Mo. of NFL preseason games 23. Confine a river 26. Khufu’s resting place 30. ____ Tsu 31. First little piggy 34. List of chores 35. *First black head coach to win Super Bowl 37. Computer network acronym 38. Rank 39. “... happily ____ after” 40. *Team conference 42. Dress like Ancient Greeks 43. What’s left 45. *NFL teams play at least 8 games here 47. Slow-witted 48. Like Cinderella’s ball gown 50. Blade in Litchfield 52. *Worth 6 56. “Madama Butterfly,” e.g. 57. Mythological hominid 58. Annette Castellano on “The Mindy Project” 59. Evil one 60. ____ gum on a list of ingredients 61. Pains 62. Site of original sin 63. Operations 64. Fountain order
DOWN 1. Cul de ____, pl. 2. Lululemon on NASDAQ 3. At the apex 4. Hispanic grocery and wine shop 5. Innsbruck’s province 6. Lots and lots 7. Sound of thunder 8. *What fans do before the game 9. ____ bowl, Brazilian dish 10. Bingo-like game 11. 7th letter of Greek alphabet 13. Japanese theater 14. Miller’s product 19. Went past 22. Sailor’s “yes” 23. Village V.I.P. 24. Shade of violet 25. Fox crime drama, 20052017 26. “On Golden ____,” movie 27. *”Go Pack Go” to Green Bay Packers? 28. “Pulling my leg,” e.g. 29. Evade a ball 32. It binds 33. Little bit 36. *Playing field 38. “Bring back!” to Fido 40. Refrigerator sound 41. Jousting match participant 44. Parlor piece 46. Monster with nine heads, pl. 48. Get overcast 49. Saintly glows 50. Hightailed it 51. Blood component 52. Pizza for home, e.g. 53. *Home to Bengals 54. Join by heating 55. U.S. space agency 56. Schiller’s poem
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FRIDAY, August 31, 2018