Voice of Asia E-paper January 4, 2019

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FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

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Diwali traditions brings Indian-American KP George takes generations together at oath as Fort Bend’s County Judge BAPS

by Shobana Muratee

R

ICHMOND, FORT BEND: It was a historical moment for Fort Bend County as well as the Indian American community when KP George was been sworn in as Fort Bend County Judge on Jan.1 at the Justice Center in Richmond, Texas.

Judge Brenda Mullinix administered the oath of office before a packed hall following the invocation by Rev. Libin Abraham of Sugar Creek Baptist Church. Constable Wayne Thompson, Precinct 3 led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas Flag.

George, 53 and a Democrat, was serving as Fort Bend ISD Trustee before defeating Republican Judge Robert Hebert, who held the position since 2003, in the November 6 polls.

Fort Bend County is the most diverse and a fast growing county in Texas with the latest Census estimates showing 35 percent Anglo, 24 percent Hispanic, 21 percent Asian and 20 percent African-American.

Devotees celebrate with Annakut during the Hindu New Year.

O

ver years some traditions dwindle away as generations pass. Diwali is one time where the twinkle of the flickering candles bring families and friends together to celebrate good over evil.

While the ancient tradition of lighting divos on Diwali erase physical darkness, the festival’s rich traditions and rituals go deeper – inviting individuals to make efforts in removing darkness in the forms of anger, envy, greed, arrogance, and resentment.

This year, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston, TX celebrated Diwali under the theme “Hamara Parivar” – Kindling Genera-

tional Harmony. This theme showed the importance of families taking care of one another; kids taking care of parents and vice versa.

It is indeed a long journey for George who hails from Kerala’s Kakkodu city in South India and from a life where his father, a truck driver, earned only a couple of US dollars a day. He did not have even the most basic amenities as electricity and studied using a kerosene lamp. In his welcome remarks George thanks the community for “believing in him when many people didn’t believe.”

The five days of Diwali (including the Hindu new year) are rich in cultural traditions and rituals that symbolize new beginnings and a renewed commitment to family. The bright colors of Rangoli (intricate designs made of colored powder), the lighting of divos, and the elaborate variety of vegetarian foods offered to God (called an Annakut), all mark a renewal of the

He said that community engagement will be the top priority for his admin-

Continued on Page 3

Judge Brenda Mullinix delivering the oath of office to KP George, while his wife Sheba looks on. (Photo: Shobana Muratee) istration and said that he would have a ‘listening tool’ in place and have an open door policy to reach out to his office. George also mentioned that his mission is to continue to inspire young people to “never give up”.

In a Dec. 28 news release, George announced that he appointed Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse as the interim emergency man-

agement coordinator at the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management. Jeff Braun had been the emergency management coordinator since 2003, according to his biography on the University of Houston’s website, where he is an adjunct instructor.

He later invited guests to attend a lunch Reception at Nirmanz's Banquet Hall in Sugar Land that afternoon.

AAPI’s Historic Global Healthcare Summit 2018 in Mumbai concludes with commitment to give back to Mother India “The professional-ism and goodwill of Indian doctors in America has won them – won you, I should say – a well-deserved reputation,” he told the AAPI leaders.

The Indian President praised AAPI and the over 100,000 Physicians of Indian Origin in the United States for their great contributions.

Read report on Page 6

Shri Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, delivering inaugural address at AAPI’s 12 Annual Global Healthcare Summit in Mumbai.

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Marketing Director: Office Manager: Data Entry:

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

Contributors: OpEd: Dr. Chandra Mittal Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Mala Sharma Research: Dr. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Health: Sudhir Mathuria

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Editor Online: Shobana Muratee Marketing Director: Susan Pothanikat All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com.

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

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US Congress 2019 New Year Resolution: Supermajority Votes for all Legislations

by Chandra K. Mittal, Ph.D.

W

hen originally stated in the 19th Century, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” – the popular quotation from British politician and historian John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton might have not appeared all that pertinent to the American context, but it does today as America is divided along racial, social, religious and political lines but is governed by a centralized national government dominated by two party system. John Acton’s remarks were, of course, directed at feudal monarchs of the time.

Whether it is the ongoing impasse between the US Congress and President over the 2019 Federal Budget and the attendant Federal government shutdown, or the recent appointment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, or the ongoing investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, these have been all marred with extreme political partisanship and demonization by the Party in power simply because it has majority in both Legislature and Executive Branch of government.

In Donald Trump’s Presidency since 2017 America has witnessed unprecedented political divisiveness and disrespect for the minority view on national policy matters. Some of the major public policy issues and legislative actions have been approved by partisan votes with no input from the Democratic Party. For example, the 2017 Tax Bill was passed exclusively

by Republicans in both Houses without Democrats.

Similarly, during his term Democratic President Barak Obama had pushed the major healthcare legislation (2010 Affordable Health Care Act) through the US Congress and got it passed exclusively by Democratic Party votes without any participation from the Republican side in either Houses of the Congress. But it created bitter political division in the country which continues to reverberate today.

A reminder of the importance of American diplomacy with China

by Kenneth Quinn

W

ith the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, it may be more insightful to look back not at what occurred in 1979, but rather in the summer of 1944, when the two countries were allies in World War II. In July 1944, an aircraft carrying senior American military and State Department officers landed in remote Yanan Province of China. Known as the Dixie Mission, it represented the first ever contact with the Chinese Communist Party. One of the key Chinese intermediaries was a young revolutionary official then serving as political commissar in Yanan. More than 40 days days later in September 1944, hundreds of miles away, a American Navy plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean by Japanese weapons.

Those two seemingly unrelated events may offer an opportuni-

ty to look beyond current trade disputes and commemorate a deeper historic legacy involving two families.

The 19 year old pilot of that aircraft was George H.W. Bush. The Chinese commissar in Yanan was Xi Zhongxun, the father of President Xi Jinping.

In January 1980, Bush, who had successfully enhanced bilateral relations between the United States and China while heading the American liaison office in Beijing, pulled off a stunning upset of Ronald Reagan in the Iowa caucuses and eventually the Oval Office.

Ten months later in October 1980, Xi Zhongxun stepped from a plane in Des Moines, leading the first group of Chinese provincial governors to visit the United States. As a key advisor to Deng Xiaoping, the visit by Xi Zhongxun would help shape his ideas that would lead to the dramatic transformation of the Chinese economy and its agricultural policies.

On the cusp of assuming that

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

highest office, Xi made a sentimental return to Iowa in February 2012, where once again those two family legacies symbolically came together in Des Moines. Xi Jinping delivered the keynote address at the an agricultural symposium hosted by the United States and China in a building in which hangs a portrait of George H.W. Bush.

That day seems a metaphor for the state of relations between the United States and China. The dark cloud of the trade war threatens to severely damage the ties that have been nurtured over the past 75 years. With the commemoration of the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the place that offers the best opportunity to inspire the political steps needed to return to that high point of the relationship may be found not in Washington or Beijing, but rather in Iowa.

Unfortunately, of late both Republicans and Democrats have taken undue advantage of their majorities in the Legislative branches of government with complete disregard for the minority party, especially when they also control the Executive branch. The result of such political extremism is hate, intolerance and demonization of the alternate political views, which is shaking the roots of the Two-Party system of governance in America.

Although the original United States Constitution framed in 1787 is silent about the political parties because of Founders’ fear of political factionalism in America, they all did envisage a system of “Checks and Balances” in governing structure for America with co-equal Legislative, Executive and Judiciary branches of the Government. Founders’ intention behind “Check and Balance” was purely to avoid domination by any particular branch of government. But soon thereafter the two-party system did emerge in America in 1790s as matter of political necessity, and was originally led by Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.

Since then, the American two-party system has evolved and transformed many times to meet demands of the times.

But today, it is failing America as it is not able to cope with new reality of racial, cultural, economic, social and political diversity in the country. There is temptation in both Democratic and Republican politicians to assert their narrow extremist views in the public policy debates and incorporate them in legislation to impress their voter-base at the expense

of large sections of the population and their views. Same political extremism is responsible for present gridlock and 2018 government shutdown under President Donald Trump.

It is perhaps this type of political extremism and factionalism that led to the Constitutional requirement of Supermajority vote within the two-party governing system for the specific purposes of overriding Presidential veto, impeachment of federal officials, Constitutional amendment, ratification of international treaty, and removal of an elected member. Since then Supermajority rule has been also extended to federal judicial appointments.

Sadly, however, due to the “Nuclear Option”, which requires on only a simple majority for legislative action, supermajority voting rule is being subverted and used for partisan purposes to reap political benefits by the majority party in the Congress. Two glaring examples of this subversion are 2013 federal judicial appointment by President Barak Obama and recent appointments of Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court bench by President Donald Trump, both of which were approved by US Senate by using the Nuclear Option. Similarly, President Trump has been urging Senate leader Mitch McConnell to use simple majority to pass the spending bill and stop the government shutdown.

It is understandable that legislators would be tempted to pass extremist laws for short-term political survival, but it is indeed a disservice to the country and long-term survival of political stability and American democracy. Elected legislators are

not subservient to those who voted for them but are public servants for the larger good of all constituents. Democracy requires negotiations and accommodation of alternate political views. They need broad perspective.

Of the three co-equal branches of the US government, legislative branch is the most consequential of all because as it makes laws to implement public policies including budget appropriations. US Constitution also gives legislators most freedom and flexibility to make rules that guide the law-making process. Thus, US Congress is essentially a self-regulating body with highest national responsibility.

It is, therefore, incumbent on the Congress to be fair and nonpartisan in making laws.

They are entrusted to pass legislations that serve and protect interest of all Americans, and not just for those who voted for them. However, because America is a two-party democracy with political philosophical differences, it is necessary for majority to accommodate and incorporate the minority views also in the legislation. Operationally, this can be only achieved by requiring supermajority vote rule for all legislations to be passed by the Congress. So, let US Congress resolve in 2019 to create a fair, stable and harmonious twoparty democracy in America for future generations.

Dr. Chandra Mittal is Professor at Houston Community College/ Op-Ed Columnist/ Co-Founder of Indo-American Association (IAA)-Houston. He can be reached at drckmittal@ yahoo.com

Have no fear: Raise the federal gas tax

by Bennett E. Resnik

I

n 1919, Oregon became the first state to tax motor fuels, “for the repair of the damage done to said highways by such vehicles, machines and engines traveling thereon.”

For reference, the mass-market Ford Model T was produced in 1908. Just over a decade later, every state had its own motor fuels tax.

Since 1993, the gas tax has been stuck at 18.4 cents per gallon. With construction costs up due to inflation and the increasing predominance of fuelefficient vehicles, there is great need for Congress to raise the gas tax to repair and maintain our nation’s roads.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, “one out of every five miles of highway pavement is in poor condition and our roads have a significant and increasing backlog of rehabilitation needs.” The backlog for repairs for existing highways is $420 billion, with an additional $167 billion for system expansion. If Congress raised the gas tax by 25-cents, as being advocated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Trucking Associations, bringing it to 43.4 cents per gallon, it would raise approximately $291 billion in revenue over the next 10 years.

It should be well known by now that we need a reliable, sustainable, long-term funding source for the Highway Trust Fund — and increasing the gas tax is the answer.

That being said, there will be an initial sticker shock.

Most of the nation’s income tax brackets, exemptions, deductions, and credits currently rise with inflation every year.

Since the federal gas tax hasn’t been increased in 25-years, it might come as a surprise that the user fee has increased. But what are the other options to providing a long-term reliable funding source to the Highway Trust Fund? In previous years, proposals had ranged from increasing collection rates on unpaid taxes, raising customs fees, selling off oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and others.

One is hard pressed to find something that costs the same today as it did in 1993. The costs of materials used in road and bridge construction has increased over the last two decades. Increasing the gas tax is the most logical way to return solvency to the Highway Trust Fund.

This might be considered a political nightmare for some, anathema and contradictory to campaign rhetoric. But raising the gas tax, at least for Repub-

lican governors and state representatives, isn’t the wooden stake that kills political careers. Twenty-two states have imposed higher gas taxes in the last five years, with 91 percent of state legislators supporting an increase in their state gas tax being reelected in the following election, according to a report from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). ARTBA reports that many not reelected, lost due to other major policy issues.

Our country needs to improve our transit systems and infrastructure to increase economic growth, enhance safety, and improve mobility of our people and goods. One of the most important federal functions established by our Constitution is the obligation to build and maintain a national infrastructure. To advance this function, it comes down to one main issue — resources. The country needs the sustainable resources afforded by the Highway Trust Fund.

It is time, it has been time.

Bennett E. Resnik is Assistant Counsel and Manager of Government Relations for Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC Opinion courtesy The Hill.com

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Section 1

Community Email: voiceasia@aol.com

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Tel: 713-774-5140

Diwali traditions brings generations together at BAPS Continued from Page 1

About Mahant Swami Maharaj

good within and the goodwill towards everything around us. Diwali presents Hindus with an opportunity to connect with and celebrate the traditions of their roots with great fanfare. Many community members including public office officials attended the celebrations at the mandir.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insightful spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct.

His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

Meghal Bhatt recalled, “when I was growing up, my dad would talk about Diwali in India and being here at the mandir gives me an opportunity to have my kids participate in the festivities without traveling all the way to India.” He added, “my son’s favorite part was seeing fireworks over the beautiful mandir.”

Offering his prayers to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, guru and President of BAPS, prayed for devotees around the world for continued personal, and professional growth in this new year.

Mahant Swami Maharaj took the occasion of Diwali to remind individuals and families about the importance of leading spiritually-centric lives, grounded in strong values and increased attachment to God. This year, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs across North America marked the auspicious festival of Diwali and its associated five days of celebrations with an elaborate Annakut, lighted divos, fireworks, and even a special children's Diwali celebration.

The celebrations were open to all.

Visitors participated in celebration activities, offered prayers for new beginnings and had the opportunity to taste in the delicious offerings of the Annakut.

About BAPS

About Pramukh Swami Maharaj Youth perform a dance during Diwali at BAPS. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a worldwide spiritual and humanitarian organization that is dedicated to community service, peace, and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families, and individuals. Through various spiritual and humanitarian activities, BAPS endeavors to develop better citizens of tomorrow with high esteem for their roots and culture. Its 3,300 international centers support these character-building activities.

Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is free of addictions as well as morally, ethically and spiritually pure.

For more details, please visit www. baps.org.

Read the full report online at www.voiceofasia.news BAPS temple during Diwali .

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Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Under his leadership, BAPS grew into an international spiritual and humanitarian organization with over 3,300 centers worldwide.

He dedicated his life to the well-being of others, traveling throughout the world to foster love, peace, harmony, righteousness, faith in God, and service to humanity. With genuine care and compassion, he reached out to all members of society irrespective of class, color, or age. Recognized and respected as one of India's greatest spiritual teachers, he lived by and promoted the principle: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 4

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

TiE hosts its last 2018 networking event with renewed zest for 2019

TiE Houston Past Presidents: Left to right: Dr. Arun Pasrija, Aruna Viswanathan, Dr. Atul Varadhachary (incoming), and Dr. Shri Iyer. Photos provided by

B

efore the year could come to an end, TiE Houston wanted to host one more networking social to celebrate all of their accomplishments from 2018 and have to look forward to in 2019. The event was held on December 20th at one of Houston’s newest restaurants, Poitin, which has great food, ambiance, and view of Houston’s incredible skyline.

TiE Houston President, Dr. Arun Pasrija welcomed all the guests and debuted their promotional video which was created by TiE Houston member, Namrata Singh of

View from Poitin Bar + Kitchen.

Misfit Communications. It highlights the history, mission, and diversity of the global TiE organization and how Houston’s chapter works hard to uphold it’s pillars of education, networking, mentoring, incubating, and funding.

After the video, TiE Houston Executive Director, Ana Rojas Bastidas, presented an overview of all of the year’s events. It included the many organizations TiE partnered with, such as The Cannon, HAN, TMCx, and Station Houston to bring unique

events to Houston. Events included expert panel discussions on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Energy. She highlighted the progress of their TiE Young Entrepreneur program which is currently running with 25 high school students from underserved HISD schools.

Ana Rojas Bastidas, (left) TiE Houston Executive Director with Pradeep Anand, long time TiE Houston member.

TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, and education. TiE has 56 chapters across 17 countries with 11,000 members and 2,800 charter members. Charter Members, who are successful

entrepreneurs and/or business executives, make the pillars of each chapters. They commit their time to help next generation of entrepreneurs - a “leveraged give back” which creates jobs, economic activities and wealth in the community.

Houston chapter has a strong and vibrant charter member community helping meet’s TiE’s mission and making it a meaningful part of Houston’s start up eco system.

For more information on TiE upcoming events: TiE Houston: www.houston.tie. org

IACCGH and ASIE host their first joint event

Speakers: Varuna Singh, Sanjay Ramabhadran, . Sudhakar Kalaga. Moderator : Archana Sharma Photo Credits: Paresh Shah . Pictures by Paresh Shah

by Archana Sharma

T

he Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) and American Society of Indian Engineers and Architects (ASIE) hosted their first joint event at India House on October 4, 2018. The event presented three prominent engineering and business leaders; Mr. Sudhakar Kalaga, President – KIT Professionals, Inc., Sanjay Ramabhadran, Principal, Versa Infrastructure and METRO Board President and Mr. Varuna Singh, Alternate Program Director for TxDOTHouston for a panel discussion titled “The Intersection of Engineering, Commerce and Business”. I IACCGH’s Executive Director Mr. Jagdip Ahluwalia started the proceedings by welcoming the audience to the event following which, Chamber President Mr. Swapan Dhairyawan gave an insight as to the collaboration with various Associations during the year and ASIE’s Secretary and Board Member Ms. Chaitanya Gampa update the ASIE activities.

The Program Chair and Board Member Ms. Archana Sharma, served as the moderator for the panel discussion, took over the stage and shared her excitement in presenting this event with the hope that it benefits members from both organizations. She said the goal for the event was to present speakers from different paths of life “pub-

lic, private and entrepreneurial” to discuss engineering, business and commerce that lead to the panel of the day.

She introduced each speaker by sharing a personal note about their childhood dream for a career – a cricketer for Mr. Kalaga, a bus driver for Mr. Ram and a lawyer for Mr. Singh.

edged the importance of “communication” while Mr. Kalaga urged the audience to work towards becoming an

Left to Right: Swapan Dhairyawan,President, IACCGH, Chaitanya Gampa, Sanjay Ramabhadran, .

Sudhakar Kalaga, Archana Sharma, Varuna Singh, Showri Nandagiri, President-elect ASIE, Jagdip Ahluwalia, IACCGH’s Executive Directo

The panel discussion started with each panelist giving the audience a synopsis of their “Engineering Journey”.

The panelists further discussed personal experiences during their career and shared lessons learnt. When asked how to balance technical growth and business growth, all three agreed that technical growth is most critical and if achieved, business growth and profits would follow automatically.

While discussing engineers’ role in politics, the panelists agreed that engineers have a big influence on policies and must take initiative to participate and advise the policy makers to have an impact on the society. When asked about what crucial investments needed to be made for Houston’s infrastructure, both Mr. Singh and Mr. Ram indicated “public transportation” as the most important need while Mr. Kalaga felt “drainage” improvements were critical.

The panelists further shared their wisdom when asked to share “one” piece of advice for the audience. Mr. Singh and Mr. Ram, both acknowl-

A section of the audience

expert and leader in their chosen path of life. Ms. Sharma opened up the panel to the audience which lead to discussions on varied topics including engineering ethics and life-work balance. Ms. Sharma concluded the panel discussion thanking the guests

for the candid conversation.

The event was attended by 80+ attendees and the dinner was catered by Madras Pavilion. For more information of future events visit www. iaccgh.com and www.asiehouston.org

Visit us online voiceofasia.news for more community stories

VOICE OF ASIA 5

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

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

Section 1

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Katy Boardwalk District to have its own 90-acre nature preserve

K

ATY - A major mixed-use development complete with its own nature preserve is breaking ground in the bustling burb this year. Katy Boardwalk District, a new lakefront destination within spitting distance of Typhoon Texas, will house a full-service, four-star conference center hotel, entertainment venues and retail, luxury lofts and 90-acres of natural splendor.

The Lofts at Katy Boardwalk, designed by real estate developers Sueba USA, will consist of 319 luxury residential lofts with one- or two-bedroom floorplans, two resort-style pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and more amenities. Sueba will break ground on the first phase of the Lofts at Katy Boardwalk in January 2019 and finish up by spring 2020—you can inquire about leasing here.

KBH Venture is developing the 169 acres at Kingsland Boulevard and Katy Fort Bend Road just south of I-10, and here’s what’s in store.

The 155,000 square feet retail phase (also designed by Gensler) will include restaurants, bars, and entertainment hubs, 60,000 square feet of office space, and an acre of public green space, with construction starting in late 2019.

The conference center hotel, designed by Gensler Architects, will have 300-plus rooms, 43,000 square feet of conference space, dining and lounge options, a pool, and a fitness center. The hotel’s brand will be announced this year, and it will be operated by Benchmark Global Hospitality upon its fall 2021 opening.

Tel: 713-774-5140

The newly elected officials of Fort Bend assume office at year's start

The lake and nature preserve will feature two miles of walking paths, wooden boardwalks, pedestrianfriendly pathways, and native plants and wildlife.

- Houstonia

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Speed limit lowered along State Highway 36 in Fort Bend Co.

F

ORT BEND - The speed limit in one part of Fort Bend County is dropping to 50 miles per

News TXDOT approved the change after looking at crash statistics.

hey said there have been 42 crashes at the intersection of FM 1489 and Highway 36, including four deaths, over a span of eight years.

"It is very hard to get speed limits changed because there has to be that crash data," said Major Chad Norvell with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. "In most areas, the stats don't support changing the speed limit."

hour.

Deputies told ABC13 they want drivers to slow down or they'll be ticketed. The speed limit will now be 50 miles per hour on State Highway 36 as you approach the small city.

The sheriff's office tells Eyewitness

Changing speed limits is not an easy task.

Bigger signs will be installed along Highway 36 notifying drivers of the change.

-KTRK

Elected official's swearing in ceremony at the Fort Bend Justice Center. Photo: Facebook/Fort Bend County by a Staff reporter

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ort Bend’s newly elected District Attorney Brian Middleton was sworn in on Jan. 1, having defeated Republican candidate Cliff Vacek in the 2018 midterms, since the Republican incumbent John Healey had announced he would retire from the position. The other officials and court staff starting a new term (whether newly-installed or returning) took their oath of office at 10am on the day, with a crowd of supporters, family and onlooking well-wishers in attendance.

Mr. Middleton has begun making changes in his department. According

5 70

“The transition will be ongoing with several phases,” Middleton said in the statement. “Staff changes will be inevitable and needed to achieve the goals I laid out in my campaign for district attorney—policy changes, community-based transition committees, and new staff will all be part of reforming the criminal justice system in Fort Bend County.

USD

USD 1,5 75

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to a Dec. 28 statement, Middleton required all employees in the district attorney’s office to reapply for their positions, and he dismissed those that he would not retain on Dec. 28.

New employees will be hired in the following days, according to the statement.

1,475

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Meanwhile, Democrat Ken DeMerchant was sworn in on Jan. 1 as the new Fort Bend County commissioner for Precinct 4. He defeated Republican incumbent James Patterson in the 2018 midterm election.

Judge-Elect KP George‫‏‬ @_kpgeorge Official Swearing in Ceremony. Proud to be the first Asian American County Executive in Fort Bend and first South Asian in all of Texas. #Forward #TogetherWeCan

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VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

AAPI’s Historic Global Healthcare Summit 2018 in Mumbai concludes with commitment to give back to Mother India

by Ajay Ghosh

SampatShivangi and Dr. Vinod Shah, past AAPI Presidents have served as the senior advisors and have contributed immensely to the success of the GHS.

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he 12th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit at the glamour capital of India, Mumbai concluded here on December 30th with Physicians of Indian Origin rededicating themselves to work and collaborate towards bringing in high quality, innovative, preventable, cost-effective ways to the delivery of healthcare to millions of people in India.

Dr. Naresh Parikh praised the dedication, contributions and efforts of Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, Chair of GHS 2018, Dr. Vinod Shah, Chair of AAPI Legislative Committee, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, Co-Chair of GHS 2018, Dr. Raj Bhayani, Co-Chair of GHS 2018, Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Strategic Advisor, Dr. Asha Parikh, Women’s Forum Chair, and his entire Executive Committee consisting of Dr. Suresh Reddy, President-Elect; Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Vice President; Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Secretary; Dr. Anjana Samadder, Treasurer; and Dr. Ajeeth Kothari, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The three-day historic event, inaugurated by the Honorable President of India on December 28th at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai, was for the first time, jointly organized

by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), from December 28th – 30th December 2018 at Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai.

In his inaugural address, the President of India said, AAPI is “more than just a platform of doctors and medical practitioners, the Indian President told the nearly 500 delegates who had come from around the world to attend the landmark Summit in Mumbai. “It is a link between two vibrant and democratic societies, both of which have addressed major public health challenges in their own way.”

The Indian President praised AAPI and the over 100,000 Physicians of Indian Origin in the United States for their great contributions. “The professional-ism and goodwill of Indian doctors in America has won them – won you, I should say – a well-deserved reputation,” he told the AAPI leaders. “In fact, it has occasionally led to diplomatic gains for India for which your Association must be appreciated.”

The President of India urged AAPI to continue its efforts in the prevention and management of life-style diseases, diabetes and obesity, where physicians of Indian origin can bring in “traditional Indian wellness practices to modern medical systems. Please see what your Association can do in this area,” he told AAPI delegates Dr. Naresh Parikh, President AAPI in his opening remarks, provided an overview of some of the major contributions of the past 11 Summits organized

by AAPI. “Over the past 12 years AAPI physicians have collaborated with several professional medical associations, academic institutions, Government of India, and have made significant contributions towards addressing diabetes with the launch of Sevak program, CPR-AED training for first responders with expert faculty from the American University of Antigua, Traumatic Brain Injury – the scourge of young India, and development of management guidelines thereby helping prevent deaths due to road traffic accidents, raising the importance and awareness on smoking cessation, Adopt a Village program and taking the initiatives to make quality healthcare accessible universally to village and taluka and district levels, and most recently a strong collaborative on making India TB Free with the signing of a MOU with USAID. Ten city pilots are well under way and significant progress is being made,” he told a captive audience.

Packed with strategic planning sessions such as the much anticipated CEO Forum, Women’s Forum, Launching Free Health Clinic, First Responders Training, CMEs, Research Contest, Fashion Show, Cultural extravaganza, pre and post visits to Kerala and Goa, the GHS 2018 has promised to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India.

Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, Chairman for GHS 2018 said that with a view to help the delivery of healthcare to millions across the nation, said, “AAPI has capped the voluminous achievements of the past 37

GHS 2018 provided the participants and world leaders in the Healthcare industry a rare platform to interact with and listen to leading physicians, healthcare professionals, aca-

AAPI leaders and collaborators recommitting to render India 'TB Free by 2025'. years with a clear vision to move forward taking this noble organization and its vision for better healthcare to newer heights.” Dr. Jahagirdar and his wife Dr. Udita Jahagirdar contributed funds towards the Burns Unit Seth G.S. Medical College and Hospital in Mumbai and the Unit was dedicated during GHS 2018.

With a view to encourage and recognize research by upcoming generation of physicians, AAPI organized a Young Investigator Research Competition as part of the GHS 2018 at G.S. Medical College and Hospital in Mumbai had several dozens of participation from Medical Students from across the nation.

Winners were recognized and awarded at the Gala on December 28th.

Leading Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally converged onto Mumbai to further the exchange of knowledge and best practices on recent global medical advances, to develop vibrant and viable health policy agendas, and address growing healthcare challenges.

“The focus of the 12th Global Health Summit was an India-centric approach, with special events such as, Global Impact and India’s contribution in providing cost effective medicines, addressing global shortages of healthcare professionals, Young Investigators Research contest, Women’s Leadership Forum, with focus on stopping violence against women and round tables to develop practical solutions for strengthening TB Free India initiative and addressing noncommunicable diseases,” Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Strategic Advisor said.

The many themes chosen for CMEs included, Healthcare, Career and Commerce, with the focus on Women’s Healthcare, including high priority areas such as Cardiology, Maternal & Child Health, Diabetes, Oncology, Surgery, Mental Health, HIT, Allergy, Immunology & Lung Health, Gastroenterology, Transplant and impact of comorbidities.

Neal Simon, President of AUA commended the efforts of AAPI and its collaboration with The American University of Antigua (AUA) and P D Hinduja Hospital for successfully conducting First Responders Training, including CPR-AED and BLS for more than 150 Mumbai Police Officers on December 22nd, 23rd& 24th after successfully completing training in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and West Bengal to provide assistance to accident victims and save lives.

Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Found-

AAPI Leadership with President of India.

er GAPIO has envisioned the evolution of developing a united front for all NRI physicians to develop strong and effective programs that can be implemented with precision to face the challenges posed

by Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Dr. Ramesh Mehta, President GAPIO in his opening address said that AAPI GHS 2018 is the beginning of a strong collaborative approach along with the Global Association of Physicians of Indian origin (GAPIO) that together will make constructive and tangible ways of ensuring that healthcare is affordable and accessible to millions of people in India.

The CEO Forum, addressed by leaders from Indian Pharmaceutical Companies, including Dr. Preetha Rajaraman, Health Attaché, US Government; Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar, MD Sanofi; Sudarshan Jain. Former MD Abbott; Madan Rohini Krishnan, MD Medtronic India; Dr. William Pinsky. President ECFMG; Neal Simon, President AUA; DG Shah, Secretary Indian Pharmaceutical Allianc;, Dr. Gurpreet Sandhu, President CHPF; Dr. Naresh Parikh, President of AAPI; Dr. Vinod Shah, AAPI Past President; Dr. Raj Bhayani, Co Chair, GHS; and, Dr Ravi Jahagirdar, Chairman GHS. The Forum discussed ways to ensure that lower cost and effective medicines with the highest quality continue to

make India the world leader in this field. The CEO Forum focused on identifying ways to successfully implement “AYUSHMAN BHARAT” – a brainchild of the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, whose vision is to provide quality healthcare to India’s billion people – a project that is being watched intently across the Globe for emulation, these sessions are designed to complement the enormous effort by several agencies and Government of India, said Anwar Feroz Siddiqi, Chief Strategy Adviser , AAPI, Honorary Adviser GAPIO and BAPIO. The Women’s Forum had Amruta Fadnavis, First Lady of Maharashtra and Vice President of Axis Bank; Deana Uppal, Entrepreneur & Winner Miss India U; Dr. Nandita Palshetkar, President FOGSI; Dr. Ratna Jain, Former Mayor Kota, Rajasthan; and, Sangita Reddy, Executive Director, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospital Group as panelists. Dr. Asha Parikh, Chair, AAPI Women’s Forum and Dr. Udaya Shivangi, Vice Chair, AAPI Women’s Forum led the panelists to a lively discussion on ways to prevent and address violence against women.

Building on its collaborative efforts with several nongovernmental organizations and the US-AID, AAPI committed itself to strengthen its initiatives to “make every city, ever district, every village in

India TB free.” The planning/ review session at the GHS was an Introduction and Review of Building on A Roadmap for a TB-Free India - A Combined effort of AAPI and CETI under guidance of Government of India, US-AID, where the progress in the 10 cities, where the program has been on for several months, was reviewed through a live webcast from each of these 10 cities.

Participants at the strategic planning session included, Dr. Naresh Parikh MD, President of AAPI; Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Strategic Advisor; Dr. Salil Bhargava, CETI; Reuben Seamineken from US-AID; Vikas Sheel, IAS, Joint Secretary of Health, Indian Government; Kush Sachdeva, Deputy Director General of TB, Government of India; Dr. Manoj Jain; Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh; and, Dr. Thakor G. Patel.

AAPI had already launched the TB Free India project in April 2018 in strong association with Ministry for Health, WHO, CETI, USAID and industry partners such as Johnson & Johnson and Mylan.

AAPI and the TB Free India collaborative is implementing pilot projects in 10 cities across India. The initial findings were presented during the GHS 2018 in Mumbai under the leadership of Dr. Manoj Jain and Dr. Thakor Patel. The special pilots in Varanasi and Nagpur are supported by Dr. Raj Bhayani, Co-Chair AAPI GHS and Dr. Surendra Purohit, Senior Adviser AAPI. Dr.

demicians, scientists, and leaders of the hospitals, technology, medical device and pharmaceutical companies to develop solutions that will make cost effective and quality healthcare accessible to all Indians.

One in seven Americans is touched by a physician of Indian origin. There is an equally large percentage of medical residents, fellows and students in the USA serving millions of Americans. AAPI’s GHS has provided a venue for medical education programs and symposia with world-renowned physicians on the cutting edge of medicine.

Dr. Suresh Reddy invited all delegates to the 13th edition of Global Healthcare Summit planned to be held from July 19th to 21st in Hyderabad, India. Organized by AAPI in collaboration with BAPIO & GAPIO, as well as Host Alumni Chapters, including OGKTMA, ATMGUSA, and GMCGA, the GHS 2019 will focus on preventive health, targeting women’s health, and providing special CPR Trainings, Dr. Reddy, who will assume charge as the President of AAPI in July next year at the convention in Atlanta, said.

Representing the interests of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, for 37 years.

For more details, please visit: https://aapisummit.org/www. aapiusa.org

HAVE YOU VISTED YET? www.Voiceofasia.News

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FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Meet Zubin Karkaria, the man who built the world's largest visa and consular services company

by Mfonobong Nsehe

I

countries. How many countries are you present in at the moment, and what has been your experience of doing business in Africa?

ndian entrepreneur Zubin Karkaria is the CEO of VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for govVFS Global began its foray ernments and diplomatic mis- into African operations by essions worldwide. tablishing a presence in South Karkaria set up VFS in 2001 Africa in 2005, and later exwhen he convinced the US gov- tended operations to Nigeria ernment to pilot a scheme for in 2007. We currently operate Indian visa applicants to the US in 10 cities across the country at its Mumbai embassy. That including Abuja and Lagos, was VFS’s first visa application and employ 150+ Nigerians in center – now, with over 2,800 terms of direct employment. application centers, operations Additional indirect employin 141 countries across five ment opportunities have also continents and over 187 million been created along the supply applications processed to date, chain driven by VFS Global VFS Global has 62 client gov- operations. Nigeria is the secernments worldwide, including ond largest market for us in Afthe UK, US, Japan, Germany, rica and also the headquarters Russia, France, India and the of our West Africa operations.

UAE. Karkaria says it is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions.

VFS Global, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has a Swiss parentage and is a portfolio company of EQT, a leading global private equity firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. EQT funds have invested in portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and North America. The current portfolio companies generating total sales of approximately EUR 19 billion and employing approximately 110,000 people.

The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation has a stake in VFS Global.

We currently serve 46 governments from all over the world in the African continent, processing over 2 million applications annually here, through a network of 416 Application Centers across several countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana.

By ensuring the highest services standards in line with global best practices, our operations in Africa have been commended several times by eminent personalities and organizations across locations who have visited our Visa Application Centers. In fact, in October 2017, we were delighted to be recognized for our excellence in customer service at the presKarkaria recently spoke to me tigious Nigeria Customer Serabout VFS Global’s journey in vice Awards (NCSA) annual Africa and his views on the fu- event, which celebrates service ture of the global travel market. excellence across 22 major industries in Nigeria.

You’ve built VFS Global into How has technology changed one of the most successful outthe face of visa services across sourcing and technology serAfrica, and in a world that is vices specialist for governments increasingly digital, what is and diplomatic missions worldthe future of brick and mortar wide. Tell us about VFS Global travel agencies? and theseries of events that led you to establishing the company In the last decade or so, techEarly in my career, while nology has made the quantum working in India for one of the leap from being an enabler, to world’s leading travel compa- a key business driver for us. nies – the Switzerland-based Overall, it has transformed the Kuoni Group – we had first- entire gamut of visa processing hand knowledge of the chal- services, speeding up the whole lenges travelers faced while process and making it much applying for visas, especially more convenient for appliin the Nineties when travel was cants. For example, foreigners booming the world over. Not in South Africa who need to exjust the long wait times for visa tend their temporary residence applicants, but even embas- visas for study or work are now sies were dealing with growing able to apply online and set up piles of administrative work. an appointment before they So in 2001, we conceptualized visit the nearest facilitation a simple but absolutely unique centre to submit their personal solution of managing the visa biometrics (fingerprints and process for governments. Set- photographs). ting up the service was relatively easy, but convincing the first government to allow us to run the purely administrative part of a visa application process for them had a long gestation period, around 18 months.

I persuaded the US government to pilot a scheme for Indian visa applicants to the US at its Mumbai embassy. That was VFS Global’s first Visa Application Centre. Today, with over 2,800 application centres, operations in 141 countries across five continents and over 187 million applications processed to date, we serve 62 client governments worldwide. VFS Global is now a portfolio company of EQT, a leading global private equity firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

I’m a passionate believer in improving customer experience in the visa services ecosystem.

For applicants the world over, there is a sea change in how they view these services in the relatively short 17 years since we first pioneered them. Outsourcing visa processing means embassies can focus fully on the most important part of the decision-making in a visa application process, besides reducing the security risk of crowded consulates and the cost to run a visa section in the embassy or consulate.

For those applying for a visa, it means better and more personalised customer service, with better physical and technological infrastructure. For example, over the years we’ve introduced a wide range of services – such as doorstep visa services, a choice of when people can schedule their visa appointments, and personal assistance with completing their visa application.

VFS Global has been in Nigeria for more than a decade now, and has grown over the years to expand into multiple African

By leveraging on our visa services experience and advanced technology-enabled processes, we even offer Identity and Citizen Services solutions for public-facing government services, biometric enrollment through secure enrollment processes, and data transfer systems which can handle large volumes of applications in locations like South Africa.

Besides offering basic SMS update and courier services, applicants can also avail VIP lounge services, where they get personalized assistance in completing forms and getting fast-track appointments.

Those who need their passport back urgently, have the option to pick up their passport earlier than the standard collection timeframe. All these services are optional for applicants and it is every one’s own decision to choose them, and get an even more convenient visa process.

It is worth mentioning here that one of our immensely popular services is the doorstep visa processing services, where VFS Global staff visit a customer’s home or office to accept applications and enroll biometrics. This is the ultimate in personalized service, and is used by large groups of travellers, corporates, students, and high net-worth individuals. It essentially reimagines the visa process, and brings the visa centre to the applicant, rather than the other way around.

Irrespective of geography, one trend we are seeing globally, even among price-sensitive regions, is the preference for more tailored and flexible services, even if it comes at a higher cost. Disruptive models of business have done the same, very successfully in many sectors. We too have always believed in the importance of making substantial investments in technology to constantly upgrade customer

experience, and introduce flexibility and mobility even in the hitherto fairly traditional visa and citizen services space.

Let’s talk about security. In a world constantly at risk of data theft, how does VFS Global keep the sensitive data that it captures, safe and secure?

Being owned by highly respected European company and understanding the highly sensitive nature of our business, information security and protecting personal information has always been at the core of our business processes – and we’re constantly looking at ways to refine, and limit, our exposure to potential security breaches.

A key part of this work is limiting the amount of time we hold on to applicant data, and applying an internal set of rules to its processing and retention.

Typically, this means that, unless specified by a client government, we process data, such as biometrics, within 24 hours of receipt, and ensure that basic contact details are held for no longer than 30 days from submission.

We do not copy or retain any of the data we receive; it is securely disposed of, after processing, in line with our internal rules or those specified by our client.

How is General Data Protection Regulations affecting VFS Global’s work and what advice would you give companies that are affected by GDPR? The GDPR is a game changer for all businesses, large and small, that operate or are that exposed to the European Union – and for some businesses, refining, and creating, procedures to demonstrate compliance have been tough and costly to implement.

In our case, the path to compliance was relatively straightforward due to our already existing policies and frameworks for data handling, that were in place virtually since inception. For example, we were already above the baselines set out by the 1992 Data Protection Directive, which preceded the GDPR, and had a compliance-driven culture throughout our organization.

a business owner, and you’ve not yet taken steps to achieve compliance, or examine your responsibilities with regard to the new baselines, now is the time to do so.

What’s your view on the future of the global travel market? Which are the national markets likely to show strong growth in Africa?

More governments, including in Africa, are recognizing the value of tourism for their economic agendas. For instance, Zimbabwe is now tapping into its tourism potential, and is seeing a strong rise of 63% in arrivals from two of its key markets-India and GCC regions in the year 2017, after it recently opened its doors for business through initiatives like boosting air connectivity.

I think a big growth area in the next few years will be ‘experiential travel’. Africa is well placed to capitalise on that trend, of course, with safari holidays becoming more affordable. Emerging African economies like Kenya, which experienced the highest growth in luxury travel in 2018, are also poised for a boost. With countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Mauritius, and Tanzania accounting for 70% of international trips to the sub-Saharan African region

in 2017 (Data from Euromonitor International), we expect these countries can expect to continue attracting large numbers of visitors.

What’s the next 5 years looking like for VFS Global?

Going forward, our focus continues to be on consolidation of visa service operations globally. We see a strong growth trend in Africa, China, India, and Russia & CIS. These are our largest source markets in terms of applications processed and operations network, so we will continue to build on our operations here.

As changes in consumer behavior have led to a significant evolution in services and conveniences, we will continue to make investments in technology so that our services push the boundaries to improve speed, mobility, security, and credibility of these services for both governments and citizens. The use of Artificial intelligence can create much more efficient process to the benefit of governments and end-consumers. Blockchain technology can contribute significantly to create an even more secure environment for people’s data and identity.

We have also leveraged on our domain expertise in the

We did, however, revise some of our steps, internally, towards managing data and demonstrating compliance – and this work was effected through the introduction of a 13-point privacy framework across our organization. This framework has over 130 measurable metrics that enables us to monitor data protection across the organization.

Today, as a company that handles large volumes of applicant information (for visas and citizen services), VFS Global is one of just 35 percent of global companies that are GDPR-compliant (as per a Talend report published in September 2018). In fact, around the time GDPR was introduced in May 2018, we were among only 15% of companies globally which were already compliant with the regulation (as per a Capgemini report published in May 2018).

The significance of the GDPR cannot be understated; it is something that every business owner or leader should understand and lead on.

It affects all enterprises that operate in, and with, the EU, and will require changes in operations and culture in almost all cases.

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to treat the legislation seriously, even outside the EU, as more and more countries around the world are looking to introduce data protection legislation. Spot-check audits by supervisory authorities, are not uncommon, and if you’re

Save a life. Don’t Drive HoMe buzzeD. BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING.

visa space to expand on our business of identity and citizen services, which we extensively offer to national and state governments in many regions. In several African countries, we undertake migration and border management services, such as processing of long-stay resident and work permits, foreigner registration, driving licenses, and e-passports, using techenabled models for biometric enrolment. In South Africa, for instance, we have supported the government on a number of migrant registration programs (such as the Zimbabwe Special Permit and Lesotho Special Permit programmes). These programs have been short-term projects which require highly specialised outreach programs and tech-enabled mobile solutions which we have successfully managed, and will continue to extend this experience to similar projects going forward.

As more governments around the world use technology for the secure handling of citizen credentials, we are committed to enhancing customer experience in the government services space, and be a leading integrator between the two in this emerging ecosystem.

- FORBES

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 8

Vajpayee statue unveiled in Debra Bazar, West Medinipur, India

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est Bengal State BJP president Shri Dilip Ghosh and Dr Bishnupada Goswami of Houston, USA unveiled the statue of former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Debra Bazar, West Bengal on occasion of 94th birthday anniversary on December 25, 2018.

A

However, the Jeff Bezos’ company is leaving no stone unturned to gain the attention of developers and companies and retain its lead over Google Home and Apple’s Siri-powered HomePod, which are gaining foothold in the market.

Amazon is building up a base of voice developers across the country.

H

OUSTON: IndianAmerican Rajesh Subramaniam has been named as the president and chief executive officer of US multinational courier delivery giant FedEx Express.

He replaces David L Cunningham at the Tennesseeheadquartered company.

Mr Subramaniam, an IITBombay graduate from Thiruvananthapuram, has been with FedEx for more than 27 years.

He has held various executivelevel positions in the company.

He began his career in Memphis and subsequently moved to Hong Kong where he oversaw marketing and customer service for the Asia Pacific region.

Anup Chakraborty and other dignitaries like Chaya Bera &

Asim Hui garlanded the statue and offered their tributes.

Alexa, what is your India demand? Skill developers mazon’s voice assistant Alexa ended 2018 with 40,000 developers in India and 20,000plus skills as the US retail giant raced to capture the smart speaker market in the country.

Indian-American Rajesh Subramaniam named FedEx president

Mr Subramaniam, currently the executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer of FedEx Corporation, will assume his new role on January 1, 2019.

Addressing the people after the inauguration of the statue by video conference, Dr Goswami said that the statue has been erected here to keep Atal Bihari Vajpayee memories alive and make people realize his contributions to the country.

As Prime Minister, Vajpayee implemented many welfare schemes and developed the country in all aspects. He was conferred India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015. The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25 December, would be marked as Good Governance Day. He died on 16 August 2018 due to age-related illness.

Earlier BJP district president Mrs. Antara Bhattacharya, Ghatal Lok Sabha observer Mr.

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

India is the fourth country in which the voice assistant was launched in October 2017, after the US, the UK and Germany.

Amazon wants Alexa to be an extension of its product offerings of ecommerce, cloud, music and entertainment.

“We want Alexa to be everywhere. We want anybody, through a voice command, to do any task. Alexa’s engineering team builds alarms and shopping lists, but a lot of customer experiences can be built by developers. We don’t want to restrict Alexa skills We don’t want to restrict Alexa skills building

to only Amazon,” said Dilip RS, country manager for Alexa Skills, Amazon India.

To this end, Amazon has business development teams that connect with companies, teams that nurture the developer ecosystem and solution architects to help developers and companies build skills that can be used with Alexa.

India is the second-fastest growing developer market in the world, after the US. The company has explored the country from Hubballi to Chandigarh as it trained de-

Mr Subramaniam then took over as the president of FedEx Express in Canada before moving back to the US as senior vice president of international marketing.

He was then promoted to executive vice president of marketing in 2013 at FedEx Services, prior to being named executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at FedEx Corporation in 2017.

"Raj's global vision and broad experience make him

velopers, held workshops and hackathons and appointed student ambassadors in engineering colleges, including the Indian Institutes of Technology.

About half of the registered developers in India are from smaller cities and towns.

“In USA, you wouldn’t go to tier 2, 3 cities. In India we have conducted workshops in Hubballi where 350 people turned up for workshop. The scale in India is huge. We go after big

Rajesh Subramaniam, an IIT-Bombay graduate from Thiruvananthapuram, has been with FedEx for more than 27 years. (Photo courtesy FedEx) uniquely qualified to lead our largest operating company. We look forward to the continued growth of FedEx Express within our global portfolio as Raj takes on this critical role," David J Bronczek, president and chief operating officer, FedEx

Corporation, said.

brands but one way to win in India is get local. Our focus is to get localised experiences,” said Puneesh Kumar, country manager for Alexa experiences and devices, Amazon India.

does not have a monetisation strategy for Alexa, nor does it have a monetary relationship with third-party developers.

The developers either make skills for companies or independently work on skills specialised in jokes, riddles, nursery rhymes and recipes that could someday be monetised.

For now, Amazon in India

Mr Subramaniam earned his Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University and MBA from the University of Texas in Austin.

- PTI

Amazon wants to make sure that Alexa does not end up becoming just a music-streaming assistant. It wants to get as many useful skills on the platform as possible. Its developer strategy is far more aggressive than Google and Apple in India.

- PTI

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VOICE OF ASIA 9

Tens of thousands protest in India over flashpoint temple

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

India to send three-person crew on landmark space mission

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EW DELHI, India | AFP | Friday 12/28/2018 - India will send a three-member team into orbit for up to a week when it launches its first manned space mission expected in 2022, the government announced Friday.

Indian ministers approved $1.4 billion to provide technology and infrastructure for the programme, according to a government statement.

The sum would make India's one of the cheapest manned space programmes, stepping up its space rivalry with China. But the statement said India also hopes to take part in "global" space projects.

The 'Women's Wall' rally was backed by the communist government in Kerala state (AFP photo)

T

HIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India | AFP - Tens of thousands of women formed a human chain across a southern Indian state on Tuesday, in support of a court order overturning a partial ban on women entering one of Hinduism's holiest temples, witnesses said.

The 'Women's Wall' rally was backed by the communist government in Kerala state where the court order on Sabarimala temple has triggered weeks of protests by opponents and supporters of the ban.

Media reports and supporters of the initiative claimed hundreds of thousands of women formed a human chain across the 620-kilometre

(380-mile) length of the state.

Government employees took part in the demonstration, while schools were given a half day and university exams delayed so that students could join the protest, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

A government statement issued before the event predicted five million women would participate in the protest.

Kerala has become the venue of an angry showdown between Hindu traditionalists and supporters of September's Supreme Court ruling which ended a longstanding ban on women aged between 10 and 50 years.

Several women have since

tried to reach the hilltop shrine but been forced back by opposing activists. Police have clashed with devotees supporting the ban and have arrested more than 2,000 people.

Hundreds of thousands of Hindus -- men, young girls and elderly women -- trek to the temple for an annual festival that usually falls around the end of the year.

The Supreme Court is to hear challenges to its landmark ruling from January 22.

Many Hindu groups and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) oppose the ruling. They argue that the court has ignored their beliefs that the deity Ayyappa was celibate.

India will become the fourth nation after Russia, the United States and China to send a manned mission into space.

File image of an escape rocket test conducted by ISRO.

Ministers approved financing to launch an Indian-developed craft into a "low earth orbit" for a duration ranging from one orbital period to a maximum of seven days, the statement said.

Modi has hailed the national space programme as a prestige project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in August that India will launch a manned space flight by 2022 with at least one astronaut. The cabinet had not approved the project however.

There will be two unmanned and one manned flights to launch the Gaganyaan (SkyVehicle) Programme, the statement said.

Without giving a date for the blast off, the government said the manned flight would be "within 40 months" of Friday's

meeting.

The government has stated that space flights will boost the economy, generate jobs and enhance capabilities in areas such as medicine, agriculture and fighting pollution.

A successful manned mission would allow India to become a "collaborating partner in future global space exploration initiatives with long term national benefits," said the statement.

The country has invested heavily in its space programme in the past decade.

The Indian Space Research Organisation announced in July that it planned to send an

unmanned mission to the moon in 2019.

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

New Delhi is competing with other international players for a greater share of the satellite market, and hopes its low-cost space programme will give it an edge.

China put its first humans into space in 2003 but its Shenzhou programme cost more than $2.3 billion.

Experts say the United States spent the equivalent of about $110 billion at current values on preparatory flights and the mission to put the first man on the moon in 1969.

British teacher who arrived Indian badminton ace Nehwal in Pakistan with the Raj dies weds Kashyap aged 101 N EW DELHI, India | AFP | India's former world number one Saina Nehwal on Friday announced her marriage to fellow badminton player Parupalli Kashyap, calling it the best match of her life.

I

SLAMABAD, Pakistan | AFP | 1/2/2019 - A former British officer who arrived in Pakistan with the Raj and stayed to become one of its most famous educators, with students including Prime Minister Imran Khan, has died in Lahore aged 101, officials said Wednesday.

Nehwal, 28, also shared a couple of pictures in which the duo are seen dressed in traditional Indian attires and wearing flower garlands.

The post, which included a heart and a smiling face emoji, was hashtagged #justmarried.

Major Geoffrey Douglas Langlands was posted to the Indian army during World War II. After independence in 1947 he volunteered to stay on a while longer to help train the new Pakistani military.

But his brief posting turned into more than seven decades in Pakistan, during which he left the army to become one of the country's most revered teachers.

Nehwal and Kashyap are planning a grand reception on December 21, local media reports said.

Major Geoffrey Douglas Langlands was posted to the Indian army during World War II. After independence in 1947 he volunteered to stay on a while longer to help train the new Pakistani military.

The couple confirmed their relationship in October although rumours about their relationship had been swirling for some time.

Saina Nehwal said she had started dating Parupalli Kashyap in 2007 after they began going on tours together. their careers.

Nehwal, who won a bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta, is currently 10th in the world badminton rankings.

Their wedding is the latest after a string of high-profile Indian sportspeople tied the knot.

ried Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik in a dazzling ceremony in 2010 while wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik is married to squash sensation Dipika Pallikal.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma married national basketball player Pratima Singh in 2016, and last year Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli tied the knot with one of the top Bollywood stars Anushka Sharma.

He was briefly kidnapped in the tribal areas, spent decades building a school in the mountainous northwest, and for years taught future Pakistani presidents and prime ministers including Khan at the prestigious Aitchison College -known as the Eton of Pakistan -- in Lahore.

got a party of elders to approach the kidnappers. They said, 'Look, you can't kidnap the principal.' So they agreed to release me," he said.

Profiled repeatedly in the British press, which documented among other things his daily breakfast of porridge, a poached egg and two cups of Lipton's tea, he finally retired in northwestern Chitral in 2012 at the age of 94.

Trump mocks Indian PM for library in Afghanistan

"Aitchison College mourns the passing of Major Geoffrey Douglas Langlands, who left us quietly on Wednesday after a brief illness," the institution announced on its official website.

"Born on October 21, 1917 and affectionately known to all as 'The Major', we acknowledge the life of a soldier, teacher, gentleman, story-teller, mountaineer and humanitarian whose life was devoted in service to others and especially his adopted country Pakistan," the college said.

Langlands, who in his lifetime was awarded two of Pakistan's highest civilian awards, told Britain's Telegraph newspaper in 2012 of his experience being kidnapped while working as the principal of a cadet college in the Waziristan tribal district near the Afghan border.

He said the militants made him walk for hours through the mountains in winter to their village.

"The military could not assault the village because we would have been killed, so they

News of his death caused an outpouring on Pakistani social media.

W

ASHINGTON, | AFP | 1/2/2019 - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funding a library in Afghanistan, suggesting it was of no use.

Trump brought up India's aid during a rambling press appearance at a cabinet meeting as he defended his push for the United States to invest less overseas.

While stating that he got along with Modi, Trump said the Indian leader was "constantly telling me he built a library in Afghanistan."

"You know what that is?

That's like five hours of what we spend," Trump said.

"And we're supposed to say, 'Oh, thank you for the library.'

I don't know who's using it in Afghanistan," Trump said.

It was unclear to which project Trump was referring, but India has committed $3 billion in assistance to Afghanistan

Khan -- who, Langlands told the Guardian newspaper in 2009, "owes me quite a lot" -tweeted an old class photo from Aitchison when he was 12 years old.

"Saddened to learn of the passing of my teacher. Apart

Nehwal said she had started dating Kashyap, 32, in 2007 after they began going on tours together but delayed the marriage in order to focus on from being our teacher, he instilled the love for trekking and our northern areas in me," he

Grand Slam-winning Indian tennis star Sania Mirza marwrote.

"Pakistan has lost a great friend and a teacher of genera-

tions of its students," tweeted British High Commissioner Thomas Drew.

since US-led forces toppled the extremist Taliban regime after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Projects have included the reconstruction of an elite high school in Kabul and scholarships to India for 1,000 Afghan students each year.

Inaugurating the Afghan parliament building in 2015 after reconstruction financed

by India, Modi promised to promote programs "empowering Afghan youth with modern education and professional skills."

India has been one of the most enthusiastic countries over the US mission in Afghanistan, where the former Taliban regime sheltered fiercely anti-Indian militants.

But India's role has alarmed its arch-rival Pakistan, whose intelligence service's continued ties to extremists in Afghanistan has been seen by analysts in part as a way to counter New Delhi.

US President Donald Trump -- seen here with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a G20 summit meeting in Buenos Aires in November 2018 -- has mocked the Indian leader's contributions to a library in Afghanistan (AFP Photo/SAUL LOEB) Trump last month moved to pull all 2,000 US troops out of Syria and cut by half the 14,000-strong force in Afghanistan, calling for less

spending overseas.

Alluding in Wednesday's remarks to the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan,

Trump said: "Russia used to be the Soviet Union. Afghanistan made it Russia because they went bankrupt fighting in Afghanistan."

ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Red Houses

Disasters rock Indonesia's '10 New Balis' tourism push

by Kiki Siregar

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ANJUNG LESUNG, Indonesia | AFP | Wednesday 1/2/2019 - Picture-postcard Tanjung Lesung was a cornerstone of Indonesia's bid to supercharge its tourism industry, boasting palm-fringed beaches, a towering volcano in the middle of turquoise waters and a rainforest sanctuary for endangered Javan rhinos.

smashed into the coastline along western Java and southern Sumatra.

- Blockbuster Bali "It's going to be even more difficult to promote (the area), especially now that buildings are destroyed and the volcano is more active," said Tedjo Iskandar, a Jakarta-based travel analyst.

About 42 percent of Indone-

about by Islamist extremists, while Bali was rocked as the Mount Agung blew its top at the end of 2017.

The volcano is 75 kilometres (45 miles) away from tourist areas and the eruption posed little danger to visitors, but it still left hundreds of thousands stranded as flights were cancelled.

Indonesia's upbeat tourism numbers plunged in the second half of 2018 after the Lombok quakes, a quake-tsunami disaster on Sulawesi island that killed thousands, and a Lion Air plane crash in October which killed all 189 people on board.

Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on Earth, straddling the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.

And the frequent disasters it has suffered recently have highlighted the country's woeful state of preparedness.

A picture taken on Dec 26, 2018, showing the area where the Seventeen pop band was playing when the tsunami hit the west coast of Indonesia's Java island, on Dec 22, at the Tanjung Lesung Beach resort. (Photo: AFP) But the beachside town now lies in ruins, pummelled by a deadly tsunami that has raised fresh questions about disaster preparedness and the future of a multi-billion-dollar push to replicate Bali's success across the Southeast Asian archipelago.

The shattered community was hosting a pop concert when the waves crashed ashore last month, at night and without warning.

Several members of the Indonesian band Seventeen and more than 100 others at the Tanjung Lesung Beach Hotel were killed -- about a quarter of those who died in the volcanotriggered tsunami.

A clutch of other area hotels was also devastated, with beachside cottages flattened and debris -- chairs, tables and the band's audio equipment -scattered everywhere.

Tourism minister Arief Yahya, who ordered that the town be rebuilt in six months, brushed aside concerns sparked by the tsunami -- which was triggered by a sudden eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano.

"Disasters can happen anywhere in Indonesia," he told AFP during a recent visit there.

"We need to have (tsunami) early warning systems, especially in tourist destinations.

We're going to make that happen."

But some are less convinced, especially since disaster monitors became aware of the killer waves after they had already

sia's 14 million foreign tourists headed to the popular resort island of Bali last year, giving a $17 billion boost to Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

The government picked Tanjung Lesung and nine other locations as part of its "10 New Balis" strategy, a plan unveiled in 2016 with an eye to courting Chinese, Singaporean and other investors as its pushes to hit 20 million tourists annually.

The list includes ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples, tropical islands near Jakarta, the Mount Bromo volcano in eastern Java, and a national park that is home to Komodo dragons -- the world's biggest lizard.

Early warning systems in the city of Palu on Sulawesi -and elsewhere -- had not been working since 2012 because of budget shortfalls and bureaucratic bungling.

In the latest disaster in the Sunda Strait, Indonesian monitors initially said there was no tsunami threat at all. They were later forced to issue a correction and an apology, pointing to a lack of early warning systems for the high death toll.

Jakarta's tourism push may still have a chance, but only if it gets serious about safety, said I Ketut Ardana, head of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies' Bali office.

"The (government) needs to better inform locals and tourists so they're prepared when a disaster strikes," he said.

N

EW YORK | AFP | Wednesday 1/2/2019 - Weak Chinese economic data weighed on global stocks Wednesday and the slowdown fears were poised to inflict even more damage after Apple slashed its revenue forecast due in part to sluggish demand in China that caught the tech giant off guard.

Apple, in an announcement after the US market closed, cited a surprising slowdown in China in the wake of the USChina trade war as a factor in trimming its revenue forecast.

"While we anticipated some challenges in key emerging markets, we did not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in Greater China," Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a letter to investors.

Cook, in an interview with CNBC, said the US-China trade "put additional pressure" on an already slowing Chinese economy, resulting in lower store and online traffic.

Apple shares tumbled 7.0 percent in after-hours trading.

The announcement came on the heels of anemic Chinese manufacturing data that pressured global stocks, although

N. Korea's Kim vows more summits with South next year

S

EOUL, South Korea | AFP | Sunday 12/30/2018 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to meet the South's President Moon Jae-in "frequently" next year to discuss denuclearisation of the peninsula in a rare letter sent to Seoul, Moon's office said Sunday.

The leader of the isolated North met with Moon three times this year -- twice at the border truce village of Panmunjom and once in the North's capital Pyongyang -as a reconciliatory push gathered pace.

During Moon's visit to Pyongyang in September, Kim promised to pay a return visit to the South's capital Seoul "at an earliest date," sparking speculation he may

But the killer tsunami has dealt a blow to plans to pump some $4 billion into Tanjung Lesung.

Lombok, next to Bali, was rocked by earthquakes in the summer that killed more than 500 and sparked a mass exodus of foreigners from the tropical paradise.

That was weeks after Lake Toba on Sumatra island -- also on the "New Bali" list -- was the scene of a ferry accident that left almost 200 people missing or dead.

- Caught off guard In May, Indonesia's secondbiggest city Surabaya was hit by suicide bombings carried

the US and some European bourses finished in positive territory due to a rally in oillinked shares.

Hong Kong's main stocks index suffered bruising losses on the first trading day of 2019, tumbling 2.8 percent, while Shanghai shed more than one percent after two indicators showed Chinese manufacturing activity shrank in December.

The readings were both around lows not seen since 2017 and are the latest to highlight problems in the world's number two economy, as Beijing struggles with the US trade war while also trying to address a dangerously high debt mountain.

- Support from oil Asia's losses initially fed through into Europe and the United States but both London and Frankfurt closed the day with small gains.

After a weak open, Wall Street poked in and out of positive territory throughout the day before also ending with modest gains.

Support came from a Bloomberg News report of Saudi Arabian oil production cuts that lifted oil prices and petro-

visit by the end of this year.

But the much-anticipated trip has not yet materialised, which left the young ruler feeling "much regret," according to Kim's letter sent to mark the end of the year, Moon's spokesman said.

The North's leader "expressed a strong determination to visit Seoul while watching future situation," Kim Euikyeom told reporters.

Kim Jong Un also "expressed an intention to meet with Moon frequently in 2019" to pursue peace and "solve the issue of denuclearising the peninsula together," the spokesman said.

The official did not elaborate on how the letter was delivered.

Moon welcomed the latest message, saying Kim had also expressed "active intention to carry out agreements" made in his previous summits with the US and the South, without elaborating further.

"I welcome chairman Kim's intention to solve together the issue of denuclearisation...by meeting frequently even next year," Moon said in a statement.

And it is not the only spot in the government's tourism plan to suffer a disaster -- natural or man-made -- that could scare away tourists.

The two neighbours techni-

cally remain at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a ceasefire instead of a peace treaty.

Moon -- a dovish former human rights lawyer -- has advocated dialogue to push the impoverished but nuclear-armed North toward denuclearisation.

Cross-border ties improved markedly in 2018 as Kim made a series of reconciliatory gestures -- including a historic summit with US President Donald Trump in June in Singapore.

But progress in pushing the North to give up its atomic arsenal has stalled as Washington and Pyongyang accuse each other of dragging their feet and acting in bad faith.

Critics say North Korea has made no concrete commitments and is unlikely to surrender its nuclear weapons, while Washington's policy of maintaining pressure through isolation and sanctions has left Pyongyang seething.

Trump said last week that he was "looking forward" to his second summit with Kim, which the US says may take place early next year.

Left: North Korea's leader during the televised speech to the nation. (Screengrab: CNN)

Weapons radar row flares up between S. Korea and Japan

S

EOUL, South Korea | AFP | Friday 12/28/2018 - A row

China weakness pressures global stocks as Apple cuts sales forecast

by John Biers

More than 40,000 people live and study at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in China. The academy started in 1980, with just a few people meeting in the founder's home. (Photo: Junhui Fang)

leum-linked equities.

The euro and the dollar hit fresh multi-month lows against the Japanese yen, traditionally a "safe haven" currency that rises when investors are on edge.

US stocks are coming off of the worst year in a decade and the worst December for the S&P 500 since 1931, a distinction that has troubled President Donald Trump, who had previously touted a series of stock market records as evidence of his effectiveness.

Trump called the December pullback as a "glitch" during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, predicting the market would surge after a trade deal is reached with China. Talks with Beijing are "coming along very well," he said.

But IHS Markit said the stock market decline was a factor in cutting its forecast for US growth for 2019 through 2022. And IHS said in a note it could cut forecasts further if the US government shutdown drags on.

Among individual companies, shares of Tesla Motors dived 6.8 percent after the electric car maker delivered fewer vehicles than expected in the fourth quarter.

between Seoul and Tokyo escalated Friday after Japan released video it said backed up its claim that a South Korean warship had locked its weapons targeting system onto a Japanese plane.

South Korea condemned the release of the footage and reiterated its rejection of the Japanese allegations.

Tensions have flared since Japan alleged that a South Korean destroyer last week aimed its fire-control radar at a Japanese maritime patrol plane in the Sea of Japan off the eastern coast of South Korea.

Seoul has denied the allegations, saying the ship was merely searching for a North Korean fishing boat that was drifting near the inter-Korean sea border.

In a bid to defuse tensions, defence authorities from both sides held a video conference on Thursday and "exchanged opinions regarding the truth and technical analysis to remove misunderstandings," the South Korean defence ministry said.

But the Japanese defence ministry on Friday released on its homepage a 13-minute video filmed by the aircraft which it said supported its allegations.

Tokyo said the footage contained scenes where the plane was hit multiple times by the fire-control radar.

"We express deep concern and regret" over the unilateral release of the footage, the South Korean defence ministry said in a statement Friday.

"As we have stated repeatedly, the Gwanggaeto destroyer was engaging in a normal res-

cue operation and it remains as a fact that the ship did not use" the fire-control radar, it said.

failing to stand up as evidence as it only shows scenes of the ship from the circling plane.

"Instead, it is very disappointing that the Japanese patrol aircraft conducted a lowaltitude flight in a threatening manner against our ship which was involved in a humanitarian rescue mission," it said.

The spat has further complicated already tense relations between the neighbours who are tangled in disputes over Tokyo's claim to a remote island controlled by Seoul and Japan's denial of legal responsibility for wartime atrocities.

It dismissed the footage as

Fiji warned to brace for year's first cyclone

W

ELLINGTON, New Zealand | AFP | Thursday 1/2/2019 - Fiji's Meteorological Service warned of intense rain and "damaging gale force winds" to outer areas of the island nation Thursday, as the first tropical cyclone of the New Year formed in the South Pacific.

of thousands of homes.

Tropical Cyclone Mona was moving in southeast and expected to cross outlying islands.

In the aftermath of the 2016 Category 5 cyclone that wrecked widespread havoc on the islands of Fiji, many women fishers stopped fishing for mud crabs altogether while they focused instead on repairing their homes. Fisherwomen who continued the harvest reported fewer and smaller crabs, and catches were sold mostly to local traders to raise money for home repair.

"There's a risk of flash flooding in low-lying and floodprone areas. Therefore, all communities living in the flood-prone and landslide areas are requested to remain alert and take precautions," the acting director of meteorology, Viliame Vereivalu, said.

While many studies on the impact of cyclones on communities focus on the damage done to services and infrastructure, few quantify the impact on community fisheries or the fishers themselves. And even fewer look at the impact to women in the fisheries sector.

The South Pacific is prone to cyclones in the early months of the year and in February 2016 Fiji was hit by the full force of Cyclone Winston which left 44 people dead and destroyed tens

The findings that mud crab fisheries are especially vulnerable is key to helping government agencies to design effective strategies to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

US/WORLD

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

US to take 'extraordinary' measures in face of migrant surge

US, Colombia aim to restore Venezuela's 'democratic heritage'

by Gianrigo Marletta with Maggy Donaldson in Washington

ARTAGENA, Colombia | AFP | Wednesday 1/2/2019 - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Colombian President Ivan Duque discussed Wednesday how to help restore democratic rule to crisis-wracked Venezuela and reject its "dictatorship."

C

E

L PASO, Texas | AFP - The United States will take "extraordinary" protective measures to deal with a surge of immigrant children in custody, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has said after a second Guatemalan child died in custody.

Pompeo followed up a trip to Brazil to meet with new far right President Jair Bolsonaro with a visit to Colombia for talks on the migrant exodus from neighboring Venezuela, and its regime led by President Nicolas Maduro.

Nielsen plans to travel later this week to the Mexico border region to witness medical screenings and conditions at Border Patrol stations, she said in a statement Wednesday, as Congress and President Donald Trump remain deadlocked over his demands for billions of dollars to fund a wall along the border.

"In response to the unprecedented surge of children into our custody, I have directed a series of extraordinary protective measures," she said in a statement after the "deeply concerning and heartbreaking" death of the child.

Nielsen has asked experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate "the uptick in sick children crossing our borders" and to identify what further steps border hospitals should take in preparation, her statement said.

Nielsen added that she has asked the US Coast Guard medical corps to assess and "make appropriate recommendations" about Border Patrol medical programs, and has sought additional medical professionals from the Department of Defense.

US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan warned Wednesday that the agency was unable to cope with the thousands of arrivals, as most facilities were built decades ago for men arriving alone.

"Our conversations today covered how we can collaborate with regional and international partners to help those fleeing and help Venezuelans recover their democratic heritage," Pompeo said from the Caribbean city of Cartagena.

He described Colombia as "a natural leader on regional efforts to support democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela," its neighbor.

A child climbs up the Mexican side of the US-Mexico border fence at Sunland Park, New Mexico, in June 2018, (AFP photo) a cold but later discovered a fever. He was discharged at midday, with prescriptions for ibuprofen and the antibiotic amoxicillin.

The boy was later sent back to the hospital suffering from nausea and vomiting. He died shortly before midnight on December 24.

CBP said it had not established the cause of death but would "ensure an independent and thorough review of the circumstances."

Nielsen said that in the last

Eight-year-old Felipe Gomez, who collapsed after running a fever, had traveled with his father Agustin Gomez from the indigenous Chuj Maya community of Nenton, in western Guatemala's Huehuetenango department, near the Mexican border.

More than 68,500 were "family units" while almost 14,000 others were unaccompanied children, she said, and the system has been pushed to "breaking point."

Augusto Mendoza, a Guatemalan migrant in El Paso with his one-year-old son, told AFP he would "never" consider making the journey again.

"It's been very, very hard. I would never think about doing it again, I regret it for my son," said Mendoza, who was separated from his wife at the border and released from detention on Christmas Day. - 'Increasing' medical challenges DHS officials said all children in border patrol custody would be given a thorough medical screening, reaffirming McAleenan's commitment to "secondary medical checks" with a focus on those under 10.

And Guatemala has called for an investigation into the boy's death, which came just three weeks after a seven-yearold girl from the country died in similar circumstances.

Gomez was detained with his 47-year-old father at a crossing in El Paso, Texas, on December 18 and had been transferred to a New Mexico medical center showing signs of sickness on Monday, the CBP said.

Staff diagnosed him with

- 'Disregard for human life' Opposition Democrats reacted to Gomez's death by accusing Trump -- who has made hardline immigration policies a central plank of his presidency

-- of demonizing migrants for political gain.

"The Trump administration must be held accountable for this child's death and all the lives they have put in danger with their intentional chaos and disregard for human life," Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico tweeted.

According to the United Nations, 2.3 million Venezuelans have escaped poverty and economic meltdown since 2015 as those who remain face shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine, as well as failing public services, including water, electricity and transport.

Pompeo said the US has ded-

Nydia Velazquez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York, demanded "accountability" and an end to the White House's "hateful, dangerous anti-immigrant policies."

The boy's death came on the same day that Jakelin Caal, a

icated almost $92 million in aid to help Colombia deal with its influx of Venezuelan migrants.

During his visit to Brazil, Pompeo agreed with his Peruvian and Brazilian counterparts to increase the pressure on Maduro, with Venezuela's government reacting by decrying interference.

Maduro will begin his second mandate as president on January 10, although the result of last year's election was branded a fraud by the US, European Union and Organization of American States.

Guatemalan girl who died in US custody, was buried.

Her body arrived on Sunday in San Antonio Secortez, the remote village where her family -- members of the indigenous Q'eqchi' Maya people -- live without electricity and other basic services.

Presented by

He was among almost 25,000 migrant children in US custody, according to McAleenan -- the greatest number ever recorded.

In the last two months, Border Patrol has apprehended 139,817 people on the southwest border, compared with 74,946 during the same period a year earlier, Nielsen said.

"It is now clear that migrants, particularly children, are increasingly facing medical challenges and harboring illness caused by their long and dangerous journey," she said.

Pompeo praised Colombia for its support of the one million Venezuelans that have crossed the border and "fled the crisis caused by the Maduro regime's authoritarian misrule."

Indian American Nurses Legacy Award (IANLA)

"We need help from Congress. We need to budget for medical care and mental health care for children in our facilities," he told CBS News.

"That's an enormous flow.

That's very different from what we've seen before," he said, adding that the onset of the flu season was putting further pressure on health care services.

fiscal year there were six migrant deaths in custody, but no child had died in Border Patrol custody for more than a decade.

Right-wing Duque, who succeeded Juan Manuel Santos in August, said that "all the countries that share the value of democracy should unite to reject the Venezuelan dictatorship and do everything necessary to restore democracy and constitutional order."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shakes hands with Colombian President Ivan Duque at the guesthouse in Cartagena, Colombia January 2, 2019. (AFP photo)

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• Mezbaan Restaurant 6655 Harwin Suite A-108, Houston 77036 • Mirch Masala 10758 Cypress Creek, Houston 77070 • Mogul Indian Restaurant 2416 Bay Area Blvd, Houston 77058 • Naseeb Indian Rest 11920, Hwy 6 S, Ste 1200, Sugar Land 77478 • Navya Indian Groceries 10128 F S Texas 6, Sugar Land, TX 77498 • Neeta Indian Cuisine 6688 Southwest Fwy, Houston 77074 • New Awami Markaz 5812 Hwy 6.North, Houston 77084 • New India SuperMarket 445 FM 1092, Stafford 77477 • Nirmanz Food Boutique 16338 KENSINGTON DR., SUITE # 160, Sugar Land, 77479 • Palm India 732 Murphy Rd, Stafford 77477 • Parivar Grocers 6655 Harwin Suite A-103, Houston 77036 • Patel Brothers 5815 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Premier Indian Grocers 12155 Shadow Creek Pkwy #118, Pearland 77584 • Raj Grocers 15210 Hwy 3, #112, Clear Lake 77598 • Raja Sweets & Restaurant 5667 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Rani Foods 12821 Duncan Rd., Houston 77066 • Rani’s World Foods 16711 Hollister St, Houston 77066 • Royal Grocers 11919 Bissonnet St., Houston 77099 • Royal Restaurant 11919 Bissonnet St. Houston 77099 • Sangam Chettinad 11398 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 • Shahnai Restaurant 5920 Hillcroft, Suite D, Houston 77036 • Sallam Namaste 10732 W Bellfort St, Houston 77099 • Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir 6640 Harwin Dr, Houston 77036 • Saravanaa Bhavan 8350 Westheimer Rd, Houston 77063 • Saree Sapne 5651 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Savoy Restaurant 11246 Wilcrest Houston 77099 • Scarsdale Grocers 12415 Scarsdale Blvd. Webster 77089 • Shalamar Sweets 15142 Hwy 3, Clear Lake 77598 • Shahnai Restaurant 5920 Hillcroft St D, Houston 77036 • Sheikh Chilli’s Restaurant 6121 Hillcroft St, Houston 77081 • Shiva Restaurant 2514 Times Blvd., Houston 77005 • Shivangani Rest 14543 Memorial Dr, Houston 77079 • Shiv Sagar Restaurant 6662 SW Freeway, Houston 77074 • Siddhivinayak Temple 5645 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Signature India 14800 Westheimer Rd, Houston 77082 • Spice Bazaar 16338 Kensington Dr Ste-150, Sugar Land, TX 77479 • Standard Sweets 5696 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Subhlaxmi Grocers 6006 SW Fwy, Houston 77074 • Sugar Land Marriott 16090 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479 • Sunrise Grocers 620 Katy Fort Bend Rd Suite 320, Katy, TX 77494 • Suprabath 5600 Hillcroft, Houston 77083 • Thai Spice Express 8282 Bellaire Blvd, Houston 77036 • Touch of Asia 2253 Smith Ranch Rd., Pearland 77584 • Udipi Café 5959 Hillcroft, Houston 77036 • Udipi Café 3559 Hwy 6 S, Sugar Land 77478 • Victor’s Deli 1425 NASA Rd I, Houston, TX 77058

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Self-made multimillionaire Marcus Lemonis’ best business advice to start 2019

by Tom Huddleston Jr.

A

s the host of CNBC’s “The Profit, ” Marcus Lemonis dispenses business advice to struggling entrepreneurs every Tuesday night.

Lemonis is a self-made multimillionaire and CEO of the billion-dollar company Camping World. On “The Profit,” Lemonis regularly teams up with small business owners who need his help turning around their businesses.

In 2018, Lemonis dispensed plenty of helpful advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, both on TV and in interviews with CNBC Make It. Here’s some of the best advice Lemonis offered up over the past year: - Narcissism is bad for business A small business owner’s narcissism was at the heart of an episode of “The Profit” that aired in July 2018.

“I hadn’t dealt with a narcissist to this degree,” Lemonis said about Dino Pavoni, the owner of Simply Slices, a family-run drive-through pizza chain in the suburbs of Chicago that appeared on the show.

“If he doesn’t learn to trust other people, particularly his family, his business will be the same forever,” . In the episode, Pavoni sought out Lemonis’ help with growing his business, but Pavoni’s attitude ended up turning Lemonis off.

Pavoni may be his own worst enemy — he’s controlling and disrespectful — and, that’s a recipe for failure when you’re the boss, according to Lemonis. In the end, the entrepreneur’s controlling attitude and inability to take feedback left Lemonis unconvinced that Simply Slices could grow into a nationwide chain.

“If Dino can’t even take feedback, or have a discussion with his son or an employee, how’s he going to take feedback from a franchisee that’s four states away?” Lemonis asks in the episode.

- It’s never too soon to learn a strong work ethic Growing up in Florida, Lemonis says his family ruled with an “iron fist” in terms of making sure he learned the value of a solid work ethic at a young age.

“I started my business career as a teenager and my family ruled with an iron fist,” Lemonis tells CNBC Make It. Lemonis’ family put him to work at

N

The financial institutions don’t plan to end rewards entirely, but want to alter them in ways that boost credit card usage and reduce upfront rewards bonuses, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.

Banks have historically offered rewards such as free air travel to users of premium credit cards both to lure customers and prompt them to spend more on their cards.

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STOCK SHOCK WHICH ENDED THE YEAR

2018 was the worst for stocks in 10 years

the family business at a young age, often at the expense of typical teen activities like going to summer camp, playing Little League Baseball or even going on school field trips, he says.

Working hard “was ingrained in the culture of our family,” Lemonis says.

But it helped him establish a very strong work ethic.

Lemonis grew up around his own family’s business, a Miami-based automotive dealership owned by his grandfather, Anthony Abraham.

Along with working at the family business, where he says he learned “positive and prosperous business values,” Lemonis also became an entrepreneur at an early age. At 12, Lemonis started a lawn-mowing service in order to make enough money to start another business selling candy with his friends.

Of course, Lemonis admits now that spending less time working and more time with kids his own age might have helped him develop better social skills at an early age. But, he still believes that developing his work ethic early on helped him succeed in business.

“It was good because I was able to learn how to adapt in adult environments, learn how to communicate with adults, learn how to integrate in a business environment,” he says.

- Always know who you’re working with “I am a big believer that you are who you do business with,” Lemonis says in an episode of “The Profit” that aired in January 2018. In that episode, Lemonis ended up walking away from potentially investing in an athletic apparel company that’s pulling in $1 million in revenue per year.

The reason Lemonis walked away from the investment opportunity is because he learns that the small business owner, Ray Odom, has a side gig as a radio host in which he portrays a character who Odom himself describes as “a sexist, egotistical, racist pig.”

Lemonis admits that Odom’s second job made him feel “uncomfortable really fast,” even though Odom claimed that his on-air personality did not fully represent him. “The fact that you think I would do business with you because you do that, whether it’s your personality or not, I just can’t,” Lemonis tells Odom.

Ultimately, Lemonis did not want someone controversial for a business partner.

Big banks look to cut back, alter credit card rewards programs EW YORK, January 1, 2019 - Large financial institutions including JP Morgan Chase & Co, Citigroup, and American Express are cutting back or altering some of the rewards plans that their credit card businesses offer borrowers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday (Jan 1).

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

But some financial institutions are now looking to revise their rewards strategies, which have been under pressure as consumers become more savvy in their use of the credit cards, the Journal said.

The cost of rewards programs had grown an average 15 per cent on a year-over-year basis as of the third quarter of 2018 at several of the biggest credit card providers, bank analyst Charles Peabody told the Journal.

At the same time, another major revenue stream from credit cards fees paid by retailers to the credit card companies - are diminishing as retailers push back through lawsuits against what they consider excessive charges, the Journal said.

- Wall Street Journal

Article by Chris Isidore

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EW YORK - 2018 was a record-setting year for stocks, but it’s one investors would rather forget.

The Dow fell 5.6%. The S&P 500 was down 6.2% and the Nasdaq fell 4%. It was the worst year for stocks since 2008 and only the second year the Dow and S&P 500 fell in the past decade. (The S&P 500 and Dow were down slightly in 2015, but the Nasdaq was higher that year.)

December was a particularly dreadful month: The S&P 500 was down 9% and the Dow was down 8.7% — the worst December since 1931. In one seven-day stretch, the Dow fell by 350 points or more six times. This year’s Christmas Eve was the worst ever for the index.

The S&P 500 was up or down more than 1% nine times in December alone, compared to eight times in all of 2017. It moved that much 64 times during the year.

2018 wasn’t all bad. The S&P 500 set an all-time record on September 20, and the Dow closed at its record on October 3. The Dow also closed more than 1,000 points higher on December 26 — the first time it ever accomplished that feat.

“I can get over business problems — fix the process, make it safe, put the air conditioner in, figure out how to pay the taxes, create a better work

But 2018 will be remembered for its extreme volatility. The VIX volatility index spiked, and CNN Business’ Fear & Greed Index has been stuck in “Extreme Fear” throughout much of the year. The Dow has swung 1,000 points in a single session only eight times in its history, and five of those took place in 2018.

had closed as high as $77.41 a barrel in late June, falling 41.3% from that peak.

Volatility was been driven by signs of a global economic slowdown, concerns about monetary policy, political dysfunction, inflation fears and worries about increased regulation of the technology sector.

The FTSE All-World index, which tracks thousands of stocks across a range of markets, plummeted 12% this year. It’s the index’s worst performance since the global financial crisis, and a sharp reversal from a gain of nearly 25% in 2017.

- A quiet Friday On Friday, the Dow rose 265 points for the day. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rose about 0.8%.

The market moved higher after President Donald Trump expressed optimism Saturday that the United States could strike a trade deal with China.

He tweeted a deal is “moving along very well,” calling negotiations “very comprehensive.”

Fear of an economic slowdown, as well as a supply glut, spooked the oil market this year. US crude closed up slightly Monday but ended the year down 24.9% at $45.41 a barrel. It

environment, sell more, diversify the product — I can fix those,” Lemonis told Odom in the episode. “I can’t fix you for being a racist and a sexist, but

- Stock shock is felt worldwide Brexit’s impact on the United Kingdom and Europe also worried investors, as did a slowdown in the Chinese economy.

The market damage this year was most pronounced in China, where the world’s second largest economy is feeling the effects of a darkening trade outlook and government attempts to rein in risky lending after a rapid rise in debt levels.

The Shanghai Composite entered a bear market in June and has now declined nearly 25% since the start of the year. The Shenzhen Composite, which includes many of the country’s tech firms, dropped by more than 33% over the same period. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng is down 14%.

- CNN Business

here’s the good news: I won’t have to fix it because I’m not going to be here.”

- CNBC

India’s economy is picking up as it moves past cash-crunch bump

by Anirban Nag

I

ndia is showing signs of overcoming tight money conditions, with lending and business activity picking up in Asia’s third-largest economy.

An overall activity indicator measuring “animal spirits” moved two notches up in November from a month ago. The gauge, compiled by Bloomberg News, reflects strength in new orders boosting business activity, but more importantly a rebound in a liquidity indicator.

Consumer sentiment and demand remained subdued, but the government’s decision in December to slash taxes on some goods and services may help stoke an economy that saw expansion slow in the three months through September.

- Business Activity November saw activity in manufacturing and services’ sectors pick up.

Inflows of new work expanded at the fastest pace in over two years, supporting further job creation and an uptick in business confidence. The picture for prices was mixed as input-cost inflation hit a seven-month low, but firmer demand enabled firms to hike their charges to a larger extent.

The Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index rose to 54.5 in November from 53.0 in October, the fastest expansion in private-sector activity since October 2016. The Nikkei India services gauge rose to the strongest since July, with firms highlighting greater client numbers, favorable market conditions and sales growth.

- Exports -

Exports in November barely grew from a year ago, and posted a decline from October as a global slowdown started to bite. According to Aditi Nayar, an economist at ICRA Ltd, a double-digit contraction in exports of gems and jewelry and engineering goods weighed down non-oil shipments.

- Consumer Activity Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers showed passenger vehicles sales declined 3.4 percent in November from a year ago.

The robust pace of growth in commercial vehicles and two-wheeler was also hit.

Consumers are spending less amid fears about the economy. But there are signs that the worst might be over.

- Bloomberg

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Disgraced comic Louis C.K. mocks school massacre survivors

by Issam Ahmed

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ASHINGTON, AFP - US comedian Louis C.K., whose glittering career famously tanked after he admitted to sexual misconduct, was in the headlines again after an audio clip from a comeback set emerged in which he mocked school shooting survivors and non-binary people.

Netflix pulls ‘Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj’ episode in Saudi Arabia after government objects.

Netflix drops satire episode critical of Saudi Arabia

The two-minute clip, which was uploaded to Twitter on Sunday, marks a hard right turn for C.K., who until his downfall in 2017 was feted as one of the greatest comedians of his generation and known for a liberal outlook.

According to screenshots from YouTube, where an extended version of the clip was originally posted before being taken down, the set took place on December 19.

The venue was not immediately clear, but C.K. has been making a relatively low-key comeback in recent months, performing at Manhattan comedy clubs as well as in Paris, home to his new girlfriend, French comedian Blanche Gardin.

C.K. begins by taking aim at today’s youngsters, ridiculing their political correctness and telling his audience their lives are “just boring” compared to the drug-fueled antics of his time.

“They’re like royalty, they tell you what to call ‘em!” he says, before adopting a high-pitched, mock-gay voice to convey what non-binary people sound like according to him. “’You should address me as they/ them. Because I identify as gender neutral.’”

Returning to his normal voice to signify his response, he continues: “Okay.

You should address me as ‘there,’ because I identify as a location,” adding that location is their mother’s genitalia.

- Right-wing praise -

W

The clip, which was uploaded to Twitter on Sunday, marks a hard right turn for C.K., who until his downfall in late 2017 was feted as one of the greatest comedians of his generation.

He then turns on the survivors of the Parkland school massacre, many of whom became gun-control activists in the aftermath of the February 2018 shooting by a lone gunman that left 17 dead.

“They testify in front of Congress, these kids? What are they doing?

You’re young! You should be crazy!

You should be unhinged! Not in a suit,” he said.

“You’re not interesting. Because you went to a high school where kids got shot? Why does that mean I have to listen to you? Why does that make you interesting? You didn’t get shot. You pushed some fat kid in the way, and now I’ve got to listen to you talking?”

Another part of the set uploaded by Swiss journalist Aicha Kottmann featured an extended take on children with learning difficulties in which C.K. repeatedly utters an offensive word to

describe their condition.

The clip drew many shocked reactions even as some conservative commentators showered it with praise.

“I’m listening to the leaked Louis set and it’s very clear he’s just going to tour Red States for the rest of his life to rapturous crowds, like Trump,” wrote comedy writer Jack Allison, who uploaded the Twitter clip.

But a rightwing commentator wrote: “Louis C.K. 2.0 is funny as hell!”

C.K.’s mainstream career went up in flames in November 2017 after he was forced to admit to masturbating in front of several women.

He was dumped by Netflix, his publicist, the television networks FX and HBO, while a movie project about the relationship between an aging filmmaker and a teenage girl was scrapped.

Simmba movie review: Been there, done that

ASHINGTON | AFP | Netflix has removed an episode of a satirical comedy show that criticizes Saudi Arabia after officials in the kingdom complained, raising new questions about the limits of free online expression, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said the streaming giant had taken down the episode of “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission said it violated the kingdom’s cybercrime law.

In the episode, Minhaj -- an American-born Muslim of Indian descent -- lashed Saudi Arabia after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

He specifically criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and was also critical of the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.

The US Senate in December approved two symbolic resolutions blaming the prince for the killing, after intelligence reports pointed in that direction, and urging an end to US participation in the Yemen conflict.

- ‘Quite outrageous’ Karen Attiah, Khashoggi’s editor at Te Washington Post, tweeted that Netflix’s action was “quite outrageous.”

Requests for reaction to the Saudi information ministry and Netflix were not immediately returned.

But the Financial Times said Netflix

had defended its decision by saying: “We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request -- and to comply with local law.”

The episode can still be seen in other parts of the world -- and in Saudi Arabia on YouTube.

Online platforms and tech companies have been facing increasing scrutiny and growing public skepticism amid controversies about data sharing and the steady erosion of privacy.

In October, the press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Saudi Arabia as 169th out of 180 countries for press freedom, adding that “it will very probably fall even lower in the 2019 index because of the gravity of the violence and abuses of all kinds against journalists.”

After releasing its annual study of global internet freedom, another watchdog, Freedom House, said in November that Saudi Arabia was among those employing “troll armies” to manipulate social media and in many cases drown out the voices of dissidents.

The 33-year-old Minhaj has seen his profile rise steadily. His routines combine personal history and pointed political commentary wrapped in edgy topical humor.

In 2014, he became senior correspondent on Comedy Central’s popular “The Daily Show,” and in 2017 he was the featured speaker at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Patriot Act” debuted in October 2018.

rookie how it’s done.

The only reason to watch Simmba then, is Ranveer Singh. In his sharp moochh sticking up at both ends, shiny bronzed face, broad shoulders filling out, eventually, the khakee uniform, Singh is Simmba. Striding into cop stations, wading into ‘goondas’, losing his heart to the girl across the road Shagun (Ali Khan), Singh is fully alive to the moment, knowing that he is working in a template, aware that he has to keep breaking out.

Simmba movie review: Simmba could just as well have been called Singham part 3.

T

he only reason to watch Simmba is Ranveer Singh.

The actor is fully alive to the moment, knowing that he is working in a template, aware that he has to keep breaking out.

Simmba movie cast: Ranveer Singh, Sonu Sood, Ashutosh Rana, Sara Ali Khan, Nandu Madhav, Ashwini Kalsekar Simmba movie director: Rohit Shetty Simmba movie rating: 2 stars In Singham Returns Again, oops, sorry, Simmba, a police officer sloughs off his rough-and-ready skin and emerges as the savior of the poor and meek. Wait, haven’t we seen that before? Bad question, because this one could just as well have been called Singham part 3.

Except it’s Ranveer Singh, not Ajay Devgn, who plays Sangram Bhalerao aka Simmba, street-smart orphan turned cop, who shows up in a Goa police station to do the following: a) eye pretty lasses b) mouth ‘taali-seeti’ dialogue c) play around with the baddies before thumping ’em good d) mouth ‘taali-seeti’ dialogues. Wait, we said that before.

And we’ve seen it all before. The set-pieces are familiar. The clashes between the bad guys and the cops coated with the ‘vardi-ki-aan-shaan-baan’ lines are the same. The background music which drowns out everything is right there. To remind us of ‘before’, actors who own popular hit songs are rustled up to shake a leg, and to top it all, the original cop-who-walks-slomo-like-a-panther comes on to tell the

A solid turn by Ashutosh Rana as a cynical weary old cop lifts the film as he shares significant screen space with Singh. Shetty slings in a rapeof-an-innocent as a tipping point, and we have no doubt which way our hero will swing. The fallout of the incident plays out in problematic ways: it is just a device to provide a noble change-ofheart for the hero; the victim is merely a to-be-dispensed-with-convenience.

The reference to the 2012 Nirbhaya may have been used as sharp social commentary in another kind of film; here it only provides false gravitas.

Heavy-handed sentiment only serves to cloy Shetty’s universe, closely aligned as it is to macho posturings and cars-tumbling-in-the-air empty rhetoric.

Sara Ali Khan’s second appearance in the same month (after Kedarnath) proves that she is no fluke. She switches on the sparkle, and gets a few lines and a song or two, which is what female leads have to be content with in these testosterone-heavy musclebound movies. Now that she’s got her mainstream chops, maybe she will be careful to retreat to films where she has more to do: masala-coated formula has a way of swallowing up freshness.

Finally, it is Singh, bubbling over as the ‘bhaifrom-another-aai’, that you take away from this jaded thing.

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Kader Khan dies: Bollywood actor was 81

by Denise Petski

V

eteran Boll y w o o d a c t o r screenwriter Kader Khan died Monday after a long illness at a hospital in Toronto, Canada, his family confirmed to Indian media outlets. He was 81.

“My dad has left us. He passed away on December 31 at 6 pm as per Canadian time due to prolonged illness,” his son Sarafaraz told India news agency PTI. “He slipped into coma in Kader Khan. Image © IMDB the afternoon. He was in the hospital for 1617 weeks.” and wrote on nearly 250 films. He apBorn to an Afghan father and a peared in several Bollywood hits inmother from British-controlled India, cluding Coolie, Naseeb (Destiny) and Khan made his acting debut in 1973 Aankhen (Eyes). in Daag: A Poem of Love. He went His death was mourned by Prime on to appear in small roles in films Minister Narendra Modi and top Bolincluding Gupt Gyan, Bairaag, Goonj, lywood personalities, including star and Amari among others. His career Amitabh Bachchan. peaked between 1982 and 2005 when “Kader Khan brightened the screen his versatility as an actor was estabwith his stupendous acting skills. He lished as both villain and comic relief was also a prolific screenwriter associin films such as Masterji, Dharm Adated with many memorable films. Sadhikari, Nasihat and Dosti Dushmani, dened by his demise. Condolences to among many others. his family and admirers,” Modi wrote He went on to act in over 300 films, on Twitter. - MSN

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US judge says Obamacare can stand while appeal is heard

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YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

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

in 2012, five of the nine Supreme Court justices upheld the law. All five remain on the court.

Still, it remains unclear how they might rule in the new case. If the decision is upheld, it could significantly disrupt the US health care system.

In a stay order issued Sunday, Texas-based Judge Reed O’Connor said that while he was confident his ruling would be upheld, it should not take effect until the outcome of an appeal is known “because many everyday Americans would otherwise face great uncertainty.”

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Judge Reed O’Connor

The law, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, was premised on a so-called threelegged stool.

Republican-held Congress in 2017 in their tax code overhaul.

It forced insurers to offer customers with pre-existing conditions the same plans at the same prices as the healthy; subsidized the cost of insurance for those in lower-income brackets; and required that Americans sign up for an insurance policy that meets minimum standards.

That appeal process is widely expected to take at least a year.

Opposition Democrats, who have seen the law survive previous legal and legislative attacks, view it as a signature achievement of former president Barack Obama.

The 2012 case was over whether such a penalty was legal -- but now that it is gone, O’Connor said in his December 14 ruling, the whole ACA should be stricken down because that provision was “the keystone” of the program.

The lawsuit was brought by 20 conservative states and two individuals, while it was opposed by 17 Democratic attorneys general led by Xavier Becerra of California.

The last requirement was enacted to prevent a scenario in which healthy people waited until they got sick to take insurance, thereby driving up premiums and creating a vicious cycle of rising costs.

Republicans on the other hand dismiss it as governmental overreach and President Donald Trump made repealing the law a key part of his campaign platform.

The defendants had asked the court to clarify whether the December 14 ruling was immediately binding, resulting in Sunday’s stay.

It was accompanied by a penalty for non-compliance, which was eliminated by the

In a separate Obamacare case

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A: You should be able to access and print your I-94 online at www. cbp.gov/I94. You will need your passport number to access the I-94. All entries at sea and air ports of entry since April 30th, 2013 are automated and can be accessed through the Customs and Border Protection website.

Q: I am applying for adjustment of status and I came to the US more than 10 years legally. I lost the I-94 but I have my old passport and visa including a page on the passport which clearly shows my entry date to the United States as a B-2 Visitor.

Is that sufficient to prove legal entry to the US as a B-2 Visitor, or do I still need to obtain a replacement I-94?

A: Since you entered the US legally but prior to CBP’s automation of I-94s, you will not be able to access your I-94 online through CBP’s website at www.cbp. gov/I94. You will need to file Form I-102, Application For Replacement / Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Record. The Filing Fee for Form I-102 is $445.00.

Q: USCIS issued my mother with a replacement I-94 for her change of status from B-2 Visitor to E-2 Treaty Investor. However, I noticed that there is a mistake in the information on the replacement I-94 due to USCIS error. What does she need to do to get that typographical error on the I-94 corrected?

A: The admission stamp and notation of your admission date and class of admission on the passport will suffice as proof of your legal entry for the adjustment of status.

A: It is advisable to File Form I-102, Application For Replacement / Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Record to request for a correction on the I-94. If the correction was due to an error by USCIS, there is no need to pay the Filing Fee. Alternatively, she may make an Infopass appointment to the nearest USCIS local office to request that a corrected Form I-94 be issued.

If the error is due to your mother’s error, then the only solution is to file the Form I-102 and have USCIS correct the I-94. Such a request on Form I-102 will require the payment of the Filing Fee.

Q: I came to the United States as a B-1 Visitor 8 years ago by air and I have lost my I-94 and the accompanying passport with the visa as my apartment was burnt down last year. I do not have a copy of the I-94 or a copy of the lost passport and visa.

How do I go about getting a replacement for the I-94?

Q: I entered the US via land and was issued a paper Form I-94. I did not notice the information on the I-94 until I got to the hotel and there is a mistake on the year when the I-94 was issued.

Instead of 2019, the I-94 said 2018. I did not enter the US on January 1st , 2018. I entered the US on January 1st, 2019. What should I do about this? I am only visiting

the US for one month and I intend to depart at the end of January 2019.

A: In this situation, please contact the local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office or visit the CBP Deferred Inspection Office closest to your location. You can visit the CBP website at www.cbp.gov or call CBP at 1-877-CBP-5511 Monday through Friday between 8.30 a.m and 5.00 p.m., Eastern Time. If you are currently in Houston, TX, the CBP Office is located at 19581 Lee Road, Humble TX 77338. Make sure you take the incorrect I-94, your passport and visa including any other relevant evidence about your trip to show CBP for the correction of the error on the I-94.

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 713623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

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Q: I entered the US legally by air as a B-2 Visitor 4 months ago and was given 6 months authorization to remain here. I intend to apply for an extension of my B-2 Visitor status and I need to provide the I-94. I was not provided with the I-94.

How do I get the I-94?

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT I-94 ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE RECORD

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ASHINGTON | AFP | Monday 12/31/2018 - A US judge who ruled earlier this month that Obamacare is unconstitutional has said the health care law can stand while his decision is appealed.

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 16

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High school senior supports Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic’s ‘selfless mission’

by Krisha Tripathy

nity service. With the help of the very supportive Executive Committee under Mr. Kalpesh Patel’s Presidential leadership, we planned numerous events throughout the year- including a kite-flying festival, Holi, Garba, Diwali, a car wash, and a restaurant fundraiser, each of which we actively tried to raise funds at. We also held different charity events, such as a canned food drive and a clothing drive, which we used to help those in need by working with the Clear Lake Baptist Church.

B

ruce Lee once said, “Real living is living for others.” It is this altruistic nature of the field of medicine that drew me into donating to the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic. Currently, I am a senior at Clear Lake High School, and I involve myself in Debate, Orchestra, Red Cross, DECA, Student Government, Indian Culture Club, and many more clubs at my school. I have always had a desire to leave my mark on the communities I am involved in, whether it is by involving myself in school activities or playing an active role in my city.

Giving back to the communities that have given me a place to grow and learn, and contributing to the greater good of society has been the main priority for me. After hearing about the selfless mission of the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to make an impact on others’ lives.

Supporting a clinic that believes access to medical care is a human right, regardless of the ability to afford it, was invaluable to me. My desire to promote this noble service was my motivation for working hard to raise funds

Over the course of the year, we raised over $1,350, the most the Youth Committee has ever raised. After working so hard to raise this amount, we decided to donate $750 of our profits to the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic, fulfilling our goal from the beginning of this year, and surpassing the amount we had expected to raise for donation.

Being able to accomplish this goal as a team was the most rewarding part of our service to the community. Knowing that

we are helping to sustain the amazing volunteer work of these doctors and management who dedicate their time to providing free services to various patients, regardless of who they are, is a priceless feeling.

We hope to continue this mission of donating to the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic for years to come and help bring much needed healthcare service to those in need.

Krisha Tripathy, President, India Center of Clear LakeYouth Committee 2018 presenting a check to KC Mehta, Director, Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic (IDCC). throughout the year.

As President of the Youth Committee in the local Indian Center of Clear Lake, I had

the goal of finding a balance between immersing the youth in cultural activities and simultaneously pushing commu-

Krisha Tripathy with her parents Dr. Ashok Tripathy and Reena Tripathy at the Charity Clinic with KC Mehta.

Young girl’s tragic story makes Humility and Resolve: The Chase for Success her symbol of Yemen war The circumstances surrounding her move from Sanaa to the Saudi capital remain unclear.

by Jamil Nasser with Dana Moukhallati in Dubai

S

ANAA, Yemen | AFP | Buthaina Mansur al-Rimi’s life has changed drastically since last year -orphaned in Sanaa, the little girl controversially ended up in Saudi Arabia for medical care and has just returned to Yemen’s capital.

The Huthi rebels say Buthaina, her uncle Ali and his family were “kidnapped” by the coalition and taken to government-held Aden, before travelling onwards to Riyadh.

Saudi media said she was brought to the Saudi capital at the request of the internationally-recognised Yemeni government.

Although the Saudi government has never commented officially on Buthaina’s case, pictures of her apparently boarding a private jet from Riyadh to Sanaa were published by the Al Riyadh newspaper on December 19.

Her entire immediate family was wiped out in an air strike by a Saudiled coalition that backs Yemen’s government, using an explosive device Amnesty International says was made in the US. Images of Buthaina’s rescue and a picture of her swollen and bruised at a hospital trying to force open one of her eyes with her fingers were beamed worldwide.

The Huthis’ Al-Masirah media outlet has published stories welcoming them back from the “grasps of Saudi Arabia”.

Buthaina says she wants to go to school

and become a doctor. (AFP Photo/Mohammed HUWAIS)

That international fame saw her become something of a propaganda pawn in the war between Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels and Saudi media.

In an interview with AFP, Buthaina and her uncle Ali -- her legal guardian -- recall the strike that killed her parents, four sisters, only brother and another uncle.

- ‘The house fell’ “I was in my mother’s room with my father, sisters, brother and uncle,” Buthaina tells AFP from rebel-held Sanaa, where she has returned from Saudi Arabia to live with Ali and her cousins.

“The first missile hit, and my father went to get us sugar to get over the shock, but then the second missile hit, and then the third,” she says.

“And then the house fell,” adds the little girl, who says she is eight.

It was the night of August 25, 2017.

The uncle who died was her “favourite”, she says.

Along with her family, eight other civilians -- including two children -were killed in a house nearby.

A few days later, the picture of Buthaina attempting to force open her right eye went viral.

The Saudi-led alliance admitted responsibility for the air strike describing it as a “technical mistake”.

But it drew strong international condemnation.

In the week ahead of that strike, 42 people were killed in other air strikes, according to the UN. A month after her close family was wiped out, pictures of Buthaina appeared in Saudi media showing her being treated in Riyadh.

“Eye of humanity exposes the enemy”, ran one headline.

Mahdi Al-Mshat, head of the rebels’ Higher Political Council, has ordered Buthaina and her remaining family be offered a home and salary, according to the rebels’ Saba news agency.

- ‘She doesn’t forget’ Buthaina says she is looking forward to going to school for the first time.

Looking healthy, she sits on the floor of her uncle’s home in Sanaa.

She plays alongside her cousins with a doll, braiding its hair.

“I want to go to school and become a doctor,” she tells AFP, her own hair tied in a ponytail.

“I want the war to stop and for us to live in peace... for the children of Yemen to live in peace,” she says.

Her uncle, sitting behind her, nods.

Both the Huthis and the Saudi-led coalition stand accused by a UN panel of experts of acts that could amount to war crimes.

Speaker: Hon Judge R. K. Sandill, Harris County Civil Courthouse

by Soham Jadhav

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rue leaders hone their skills through life changing experiences. These experiences tend to be different from those of an average person, making the individual unique. Judge Sandill describes his unique experiences through references to pain, hardships and close decisions. However, throughout the ups and downs of his life, Judge R. K. Sandill carries a high level of humility and resolve, and therefore is able to chase down success.

Judge Ravi Kumar Sandill was born in Canada to Indian immigrant parents. He was forced to move around Canada and the United States throughout his childhood due to his father’s enrollment into the US Military. He completed his high school education in England, and attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received an undergraduate degree in politics. On his journey to the Harris County Civil Court, he was also fortunate enough to strike an internship with President Bill Clinton’s Economic Policy Advisors. Eventually, Judge Sandill pursued law school at the University of Houston, before being at the Texas First District Court Appeals.

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At the Harris County Civil Court, Judge Sandill built an impressive reputation and succeeded in multiple degrees, achieving massive success over his young career. At this point, his optimism and resolve were tested due to a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He elaborated on his thoughts throughout the treatment process and reflected on his determined mindset to live life. Judge Sandill described this as a tipping point in his life. He described how his resilience, resolve, and determination were built through this key experience, and throughout the rest of his career, these values helped his succeed.

Ultimately, Judge Sandill related his life experiences to the lives of YLDP students. He inspired to be a platform for which young students could build effective values in order to achieve success. He also contrasted on how our problems can actually turn out to make us better and more successful people, but this can only be achieved by showing respect and having a drive to succeed. At the end of the day, this lecture helped YLDP students reflect upon their outlook of life and build certain values that will one day help them lead the movement to make a difference in the world.

VOICE OF ASIA 17

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

January is Tamil Heritage Month

Section 2

January is National Mentoring Month

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Study links dads’ postnatal depression with depression in teenage daughters New UK research has found that daughters of fathers who experience postnatal depression are more likely to suffer from depression themselves during their teenage years.

New Online Tool Displays Cost Differences for Certain Surgical Procedures Procedure Price Lookup will help patients with Medicare consider potential cost differences when choosing among safe and clinically appropriate settings Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new online tool that allows consumers to compare Medicare payments and copayments for certain procedures that are performed in both hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers. The Procedure Price Lookup tool displays national averages for the amount Medicare pays the hospital or ambulatory surgical center and the national average copayment amount a beneficiary with no Medicare supplemental insurance would pay the provider.

Teenage girls are more likely to suffer from depression if their fathers suffered post-natal depression, according to new research.© Martin Dimitrov/Istock.com

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arried out by researchers at Imperial College London, University College London, the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol, the new study looked at 3,176 families to investigate the link between fathers’ depression at eight weeks after the birth of their children and their children’s risk of depression at age 18.

The researchers also included factors such as the mother’s depression, the parent’s involvement with their child, conflict between parents, and any behavioral problems in the children as well as hyperactivity at age 3.5 years.

The findings, published in JAMA Psychiatry, showed that there was a “small but significant” increased risk of depression for girls at age 18 if their fathers had experienced depression after their birth. However, sons had no increased risk of depression.

It is unclear why girls may be affected at this age by paternal postnatal depression, but the researchers suggested that depression in either parent can disrupt family life and cause higher levels of stress for the whole family, as well as affecting the way in which parents interact with their children.

The specific aspects of a fatherdaughter relationship may explain why as girls go through adolescence, they have a higher risk of depression themselves if their fathers also suffered from depression.

Co-author Professor Paul Ramchandani said, “Research from this study of families in Bristol has already shown that fathers can experience depression in the postnatal period as well as mothers. What is new in this paper is that we were able to follow up the young people from birth through to the age of 18, when they were interviewed about their own experience of depression.”

“We were also able to look at some of the ways in which depression in fathers might have affected children.

It appears that depression in fathers is linked with an increased level of stress in the whole family, and that this might be one way in which offspring may be affected.

“Whilst many children will not be affected by parental depression in this way, the findings of this study highlight the importance of providing appropriate help to fathers, as well as mothers, who may experience depression.”

The researchers also point out that almost one in 20 new fathers suffer depression in the weeks after their child is born.

- Relaxnews

First evidence that too much salt may increase the risk of a heart flutter

N

e w preliminary European research has found that too much salt in the diet may be linked with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), also known as a heart flutter.

Carried out by scientists at University of Too much salt in the diet has been linked to an increased risk Oulu, Finland, of a heart flutter. © donald_gruener / Istock.com the new preliminary study “This study provides the first evilooked at 716 men and women age 40-59 years old and followed them for dence that dietary salt may increase over an average of 19 years to investi- the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, gate if a high salt intake is a risk factor adding to a growing list of dangers from excessive salt consumption on for AF. our cardiovascular health,” said lead The findings, published in the An- author Tero Pääkkö. nals of Medicine, showed that dur“With estimates suggesting that ing the study 74 participants were diagnosed with the condition, and over three-quarters of salt consumed that those who consumed the highest is already added in processed foods, levels of salt had a higher risk of AF reducing salt intake at a population compared to those with the lowest in- level could have a hugely bentake of salt. eficial impact Salt consumption was also indepen- on new-onset dently associated with an increased atrial fibrillation risk of AF even after taking into ac- and overall carcount several other risk factors in- diovascular discluding age, body mass index (BMI), ease,” explains blood pressure and smoking.

Pääkkö.

“Although further Excessive salt consumption is al- c o n f i r m a t o r y ready known to increase the risk of studies are needcardiovascular disease -- especially ed, our results high blood pressure, myocardial in- suggest that peofarction and stroke. ple who are at an

“Price transparency in health care is a priority for the Trump Administration. Working with their clinicians, the Procedure Price Lookup will help patients with Medicare consider potential cost differences when choosing where to have a medical procedure that best meets their needs,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.

The Procedure Price Lookup tool is launching as required by Congress in the 21stCentury Cures Act. Medicare’s statutes require that CMS maintain separate payment systems for different types of healthcare providers, meaning both CMS and patients may pay different amounts for the same service, depending on the site of care.

“The different payment rates are a prime example of Medicare’s misaligned financial incentives, under which providers can make more money if they see patients at one location as opposed to another,” Administrator Verma said.

Procedure Price Lookup, part of the agency’s eMedicare initiative, joins other patient-oriented transparency tools, including an overhauled version of the agency’s drug pricing and spending dashboards, which provide patients with Medi-

increased risk of atrial fibrillation may benefit from restricting salt in their diet.”

AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder. The likelihood of developing the condition increases with age, with AF affecting around 7 in 100 people aged 65 or over. Symptoms include chest pain, a ‘racing’ or unusual heartbeat palpitations, weakness, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900 care and Medicaid spending information for thousands more drugs than ever before and, for the first time, list the prescription drug manufacturers that were responsible for price increases.

CMS recently launched the eMedicare initiative to empower beneficiaries with cost and quality information. This announcement included the launch of an enhanced interactive online decision support feature to help people better understand and evaluate their Medicare coverage options. eMedicare also offers a mobile-optimized out-ofpocket cost calculator to provide beneficiaries with information on overall plan costs and prescription drug costs.

For a blog post on the Procedure Price Lookup took by Administrator Verma, please visit: https:// www.cms.gov/blog/you-haveright-know-price.

The Procedure Price Lookup tool is available at: https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/.

To select right Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Supplement Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for you, contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

The condition also causes 20 to 30 percent of all strokes and increases the risk of other conditions such as dementia, heart attack and kidney disease, and premature death, therefore the finding that a high salt diet may be an avoidable risk factor could help people make a simple lifestyle change to help reduce the risk of developing AF and other cardiovascular conditions.

- Relaxnews

DIET & EXCERCISE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

Fitness trends 2019: how your workout will change next year If you feel you’re getting stuck in a rut, changing up your exercise routine can be a great way to boost both performance and motivation. And with many popular workouts getting fresh updates for 2019, with at-home fitness getting some high-tech accessories, and new trends in yoga emerging, next year is an opportunity to get better results than ever before.

Boxing for fitness looks set to continue gaining fans in 2019. © Lorado / Istock.com Boxing is back With the end-of-year release of “Creed II,” the eighth installment in the “Rocky” film series, not to mention Nike’s Apollo Creed-inspired sportswear range, we might be feeling inspired to pick up some gloves by New Year. According to Harvard Medical School, fitness boxing, which requires you to work out in a class rather than in a ring, can improve strength in the upper body as you throw punches and the lower body as you squat down in a boxer crouch. It also gives you a good cardio workout and helps improve balance and coordination. And it’s not just for guys, with famous models such as Adriana Lima big fans of boxing thanks to the great fitness results it can bring.

Strength training without the weights According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which annually surveys fitness industry experts for their trend predictions, bodyweight training is set to be the fifth biggest trend of 2019.

A type of strength training which uses no free weights or

machines, just the body’s own resistance, it builds strength throughout the body, and improves balance and flexibility. As it can be done at home without any fancy equipment it’s also pretty easy to fit into your routine. Research released in the second half of this year has also advocated the benefits of strength training, with one study by researchers at the University of Iowa finding that a total of 1 to 59 minutes of resistance training per week, split over either one, two, or three sessions, was associated with a 40 to 70 percent reduced risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event.

Home workouts go high tech The trend for home workouts is growing, and moving on from simply following videos on YouTube. 2018 has seen high tech releases such as the smart Mirror, which streams live real-time workouts straight into your home. Users train in front of the Mirror, taking part in class workouts or one-to-one sessions with your own personal trainer. The QAIO Flex offers a similar service, allowing users to link the mirror up

to their smartphone to access workout applications, then watch them on the smart touch display screen. And currently being funded on Indiegogo, the Hydrow by CREW is an indoor rowing machine which uses new technology to broadcast live workouts to its screen, giving users the experience of being out on the water in the comfort of their own home.

Yoga gets a colorful update The trend for yoga shows no signs of slowing down. It is still in ACSM’s top 10 fitness predictions for 2019, coming in as the seventh biggest trend for next year after also being ranked at number 7 in last year’s survey. So after beer yoga, goat yoga, and the popularity of yoga wheels, what can we expect for 2019?

In addition to the continuing popularity of traditional yoga practices, 2019 will also see a growth in Chroma Yoga, which combines yoga with light color therapy, sound frequencies and aromatherapy for a more immersive, multisensory experience. Look out for it in a class near you soon.

- Relaxnews

Just six months of regular exercise may boost thinking skills in seniors

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Nutrition trends 2019: what you’ll be eating and drinking for better health next year

H

in 2019.

ere we round up the next nutrition trends that look set to be big

Healthy fats Thanks to the rise of the keto diet -- the low-carb high fat-diet which aims to put your body into a state of ketosis to burn fat instead of carbs for energy -- healthy fat is on the menu for 2019. Think grass-fed organic butter, coconut oil, and tucking into snacks called “fat bombs,” which include highfat ingredients such as nut butters, seeds, cacao butter, and full-fat dairy products. MCT oil, standing for medium-chain triglycerides, also looks set to be a big part of the trend. A saturated fat commonly found in coconut oil, some believe it can help us feel fuller for longer, promote weight loss, and raise levels of “good” cholesterol. However, coconut oil has also received its fair share of criticism, with others saying that it can raise both good and bad cholesterol levels and that medium-chain triglycerides make up only a small amount of the fatty acids in coconut oil.

Oat milk With current concerns about not only how we can eat healthier but also more sustainably, 2018 has seen a shift away from the once popular non-dairy option of almond milk, as reports abounded that it apparently takes around 1 gallon of water to produce just a single almond. This, combined with our endless love of coffee, has seen us shift towards oat milk for a more eco-friendly option, a dairyfree option which also mixes better into our cup of java. According to Well and Good, oat milk brand Oatly has increased its production by 1,250 percent to meet the current demand for the drink, also releasing this year a special Oatly Barista version with a higher fat con-

A new year is often the time when many of us aim to set new healthy resolutions and also try something new. With recent years seeing “superfoods,” ancient grains, and lesser-known vegetables all make their way into our daily diets, here we round up the next nutrition trends that look set to be big in 2019.

Oat milk looks set to replace almond milk as the most popular dairy-free milk next year. © photo_chaz / IStock.com

tent for coffee fans. Expect to be sipping it in a coffee shop near you in 2019.

Adaptogens Adaptogens are generally agreed to be substances, often plants and herbs, which “adapt” to what the body needs and help protect it against stress. Although the term was coined back in 1947 their popularity has spiked in the last few months, and the trend looks to grow even further in 2019 as we look for news ways to boost health and cope with our hectic lifestyles. Some of us may already know maca powder, the Peruvian vegetable which can be ground down into a power and added to smoothies, however many of us will be less familiar with amla, rhodiola, ashwagandha, and shatavari, the ingredients released in SuperYou by Gwyneth Paltrowapproved brand Moon Juice earlier this year. To help us feel calmer, Adaptogen gummies Nerve Less were also released

at the end of this year, further proof that adaptogens are beginning to go mainstream.

You can also expect to see them cropping up in your coffee next year for a boost that even caffeine can’t give.

Hemp As we turn to cannabisbased products for better health, pain management, and even beauty, hemp, which is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, will also be making its way into our food. Although not completely new -- hemp seeds and oils can already be found in the food aisle and various products -- the trend looks set to go big for 2019.

Whole Foods has also named it one of its top trends for next year, reporting that many brands, retailers, and culinary experts are experimenting with hemp, so expect to see it pop up in many more of your food products and snacks next year.

- Relaxnews

Cholesterol levels are higher after Christmas finds new study New European research has found that an adult’s cholesterol levels may be higher after Christmas due to indulging in rich, high-fat foods over the festive period.

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ew US research has found that doing aerobic exercise three times a week for just six months could be enough to see an improvement in the thinking skills of older adults with cognitive impairments.

Carried out by researchers at Duke University Medical Center, the new small-scale study looked at 160 participants with an average age of 65.

Participants had risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, and problems with thinking skills and cognitive impairments -- defined as difficulty concentrating, making decisions or remembering but not severe enough to be diagnosed with dementia.

All participants were also defined as sedentary at the start of the study.

To examine the effects of both exercise and diet, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: aerobic exercise alone; following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet alone; both aerobic exercise and the DASH diet; or health education, in which they received educational phone calls once every one or two weeks.

Those who were assigned to the exercise groups exercised three times a week for 45 minutes. Each session included a ten-minute warm-up and 35 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, or cycling on a stationary bicycle.

Those who followed the DASH diet, which was designed specifically for those with high blood pressure, ad-

Regular exercise could help boost thinking skills in older adults, according to new research. © FatCamera / Istock.com hered to a low-sodium, highfiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean meats.

The findings, published in Neurology, showed that after six months of exercise, the increase in physical activity appeared to improve executive function, a set of skills which includes a person’s ability to regulate their own behavior, pay attention, organize and achieve goals, when compared to those who did not exercise.

Moreover, study participants’ scores on thinking tests improved by the equivalent of reversing nearly nine years of aging.

However, the researchers found no improvement in memory.

There was also no improvement found in participants who only consumed the DASH diet, and for those who received only health education, their performance on executive

function tests actually worsened by a half year from their scores at the start of the study.

“The results are encouraging in that in just six months, by adding regular exercise to their lives, people who have cognitive impairments without dementia may improve their ability to plan and complete certain cognitive tasks,” said study author James A. Blumenthal, Ph.D. Those who took part in both the exercise and diet also had higher average scores compared to those who took part in exercise or diet alone, however Blumenthal added that although there may be an added benefit of the DASH diet when combined with exercise, the number of participants was quite small and therefore the findings should be interpreted with caution.

“More research is still needed with larger samples, over longer periods of time to examine whether improvements to thinking abilities continue

Consuming high-fat foods could cause some individuals cholesterol levels to spike immediately after a period of holiday feasting. © GoodLifeStudio/Istock.com

C

arried out by researchers from the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at Copenhagen University Hospital and the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, the new study looked at 25,764 Danes aged 20 to 100 taking part in the Copenhagen General Population Study.

The researchers measured the participants’ total and lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as the “bad” cholesterol.

The findings, published in

and if those improvements may be best achieved through multiple lifestyle approaches like exercise and diet,” Blumenthal said.

- Relaxnews

the journal Atherosclerosis, showed that nine out of ten participants had elevated cholesterol levels after Christmas, with total cholesterol levels 15 percent higher and LDL cholesterol levels 20 percent higher after the holidays than they are in the summer.

“Our study shows strong indications that cholesterol levels are influenced by the fatty food we consume when celebrating Christmas. The fact that so many people have high cholesterol readings straight after the Christmas holiday is very surprising,” says study author Dr. Anne Langsted, M.D. “For individuals, this could mean that if their cholesterol readings are high straight after Christmas... they could consider having another test taken later on in the year,” says another of the article’s authors, Dr. Signe Vedel-Krogh, M.D.

The researchers also stress that as well as re-testing such patients later in the year, patients should definitely be retested before starting any cholesterol-lowering treatment, and that people who already have high cholesterol should be even more aware of their cholesterol levels during the Christmas holidays.

“In any event, there is a greater risk of finding that you have elevated cholesterol if you go to the doctor and have your cholesterol tested straight after Christmas. It is important to be aware of this, both for doctors who treat high cholesterol and those wishing to keep their cholesterol levels down,” she concludes.

Too much cholesterol in the blood can clog the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

-Relaxnews

VOICE OF ASIA 19

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE NEXT APPLE? Is Huawei set to become the world’s top smartphone maker in 2019?

Xiaomi.

In the medium term, another Chinese phone-maker, Xiaomi, could take the No.1 spot in the market.

With its extensive range of cheap handsets for all kinds of consumers, and an increasingly international marketing strategy, Xiaomi has everything it needs to be a key player in the years to come.

Huawei P20 Pro event at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, on March 27, 2018. (Photo: Relaxnews / David Bénard)

In imitation of Huawei’s strategy of developing a lower-end subsidiary, Xiaomi has also decided to develop a second “more fashionable” brand, which it has christened Poco.

In addition, it is currently the world’s biggest producer of

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EIJING, China - Official figures have yet to be published, but the world’s second-biggest mobile phone producer, Chinese company Huawei, claims it has crossed the symbolic 200-million-unit mark in 2018, and is now aiming for 250 million units in 2019. If it achieves this goal, it may well steal the market’s number one spot from Samsung.

Huawei certainly has what it takes to succeed in its bid to overtake its South Korean rival. Along with a brand that is increasingly recognised around the world, the company has a demonstrated knack for cutting-edge innovation that is the envy of its competitors.

In 2018 alone, the Chinese producer launched not one but two revolutionary smartphones: the P20 Pro, the first smartphone equipped with a triple camera and a 3x optical zoom (the P20 Pro still tops the DxOMark rankings for smartphone image quality), and the Mate 20 Pro, an ultra-powerful handset that can wirelessly charge other compatible smart-

phones. Both devices are every bit as good as their high-end counterparts sold by Apple and Samsung.

Another of Huawei’s strengths is its aggressive positioning in the mid-range market, via its subsidiary Honor.

Honor products benefit from the same innovations as their high-end siblings just a few months later, and retail for less than €500, overshadowing competing models from Chinese brands OnePlus and

Given the power and dynamism of the Asian market, which have made it the world’s fastest-growing, it’s no surprise that Chinese phone manufacturers are reporting soaring sales. It’s also likely that they will become increasingly dominant in Europe and America; the threat of a US boycott won’t be enough to put the brakes on Huawei’s international expansion.

- Relaxnews

But he said the questions around Facebook are “more than a one-year challenge” and that the California giant was in the process of “multi-year plans to overhaul our systems.”

“In the past we didn’t focus as much on these issues as we needed to, but we’re now much more proactive,” he said.

The comments follow a message from Zuckerberg in January, before many of Facebook’s troubles emerged,

A series of anxiously awaited “phone home” signals arrived after 10:30 am (1530 GMT), indicating that the spacecraft had made it, intact, through the risky, high-speed encounter.

“We have a healthy spacecraft,” said mission operations manager Alice Bowman, as cheers erupted in the control rooms at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland.

Artist conception of New Horizons Spacecraft. (Courtesy NASA) “The object is in such a deep freeze that it is perfectly preserved from its original formation,” he said.

main mission of flying by Pluto in 2015, returning the most detailed images ever taken of the dwarf planet.

“Everything we are going to learn about Ultima -- from its composition to its geology to how it was originally assembled, whether it has satellites and an atmosphere and those kinds of things -- are going to teach us about the original formation conditions of objects in the solar system.”

Stern said the goal was to take images of Ultima that are three times the resolution the team had for Pluto.

- Coming into focus -

- Frontier of planetary science Ultima Thule is named for a mythical, far-northern island in medieval literature and cartography, according to NASA. Project scientist Hal Weaver of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory said humans didn’t even know the Kuiper Belt -- a vast ring of relics from the formation days of the solar system -- existed until the 1990s.

“This is the frontier of planetary science,” said Weaver.

More images and data will start arriving later Tuesday, offering scientists the first upclose look at an ancient building block of planets, Bowman said.

Scientists are not sure exactly what Ultima Thule (pronounced TOO-lee) looks like -- whether it is cratered or smooth, or even if it is a single object or a cluster.

The flyby took place about a billion miles beyond Pluto, which was until now the most faraway world ever visited up close by a spacecraft.

But a new, though still blurry image released Tuesday showed its oblong shape resembles something like a bowling pin or a peanut, and its dimensions are about 22 miles long and nine miles wide (35 by 15 kilometers).

Hurtling through space at a speed of 32,000 miles per hour, the spacecraft made its closest approach within 2,200 miles of the surface of Ultima Thule.

“This is a night none of us are going to forget,” said Queen guitarist Brian May -- who also holds an advanced degree in astrophysics -- and who recorded a solo track to honor the spacecraft and its spirit of exploration.

Lead planetary scientist for New Horizons, Alan Stern, said Ultima Thule is unique because it is a relic from the early days of the solar system and could provide answers about the origins of other planets.

Capping a tumultuous year marked by data protection scandals and government probes, Zuckerberg said he was “proud of the progress we’ve made” in addressing Facebook’s problems.

Zuckerberg’s comments come at the close of a year when Facebook was roiled by revelations about the misuse of personal data by the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 US election and on data sharing with business partners.

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AMPA, Florida | AFP | Tuesday 1/1/2019 NASA rang in the New Year on Tuesday with a historic flyby of the farthest, and quite possibly the oldest, cosmic body ever explored by humankind -- a tiny, distant world called Ultima Thule -- in the hopes of learning more about how planets took shape.

smart watches and bracelets.

F

He said Facebook now has more than 30,000 people “working on safety” and invests billions of dollars in security.

by Kerry Sheridan

Huawei Mate 20 Pro: Powerful and glamorous with a standout design.

acebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said Friday the world’s biggest social network has “fundamentally” changed to focus on securing its systems against manipulation and misinformation.

“We’re a very different company today than we were in 2016, or even a year ago.

We’ve fundamentally altered our DNA to focus more on preventing harm in all our services, and we’ve systematically shifted a large portion of our company to work on preventing harm.”

‘We have a healthy spacecraft’: NASA has historic flyby of faraway world

About 10 hours earlier, NASA celebrated the New Year’s flyby, as mission managers -- alongside kids dressed in space costumes -- blew party horns to mark the moment at 12:33 am (0533 GMT) when the New Horizons spacecraft aimed its cameras at the space rock four billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers) away in a dark and frigid region of space known as the Kuiper Belt.

Zuckerberg sees ‘progress’ for Facebook after tumultuous year

“For 2018, my personal challenge has been to focus on addressing some of the most important issues facing our community -- whether that’s preventing election interference, stopping the spread of hate speech and misinformation, making sure people have control of their information, and ensuring our services improve people’s well-being,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Stern said his bet is that the object is a single body, not two pieces orbiting each other, but he would wait until more, clearer images arrive Wednesday to say for sure.

The highest resolution images are expected in February, Stern said.

Ultima Thule was discovered in 2014 with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Scientists decided to study Ultima Thule with New Horizons after the spaceship, which launched in 2006, completed its

Another NASA spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, also set a new record on Monday by entering orbit around the asteroid Bennu, the smallest cosmic object -- about 1,600 feet (500 meters) in diameter -- ever circled by a spacecraft.

NASA said the orbit some 70 million miles (110 million kilometers) away marks “a leap for humankind” because no spacecraft has ever “circled so close to such a small space object -- one with barely enough gravity to keep a vehicle in a stable orbit.”

The twin planetary feats coincided with the 50th anniversary of the first time humans ever explored another world, when US astronauts orbited the Moon aboard Apollo 8 in December, 1968.

“As you celebrate New Year’s Day, cast an eye upward and think for a moment about the amazing things our country and our species can do when we set our minds to it,” Stern wrote in the New York Times on Monday.

He said Facebook now has more than 30,000 people “working on safety” and invests billions of dollars in security. (© JOSH EDELSON / AFP) when he outlined his goals of stemming abuse and hate and foreign interference, among other things, on the network used by more than two billion people.

The research, he said, “found that when people use the internet to interact with others, that’s associated with all the positive aspects of well-being... But when you just use the internet

For 2018, my personal challenge has been to focus on addressing some of the most important issues facing our community - whether that’s preventing election interference, stopping the spread of hate speech and misinformation, making sure people have control of their information, and ensuring our services improve people’s well-being,’ he wrote on his Facebook page on December 28.

‘We’re a very different company today than we were in 2016, or even a year ago. We’ve fundamentally altered our DNA to focus more on preventing harm in all our services, and we’ve systematically shifted a large portion of our company to work on preventing harm.’

- Mark Zuckerberg “My personal challenge for 2018 is to focus on fixing these important issues,” Zuckerberg said in January.

In Friday’s message, Zuckerberg enumerated a series of steps taken over the past year, including fact-checking partnerships, advertising transparency and artificial intelligence to remove harmful content.

He added that Facebook’s systems were also being retooled with the aim of helping “improve people’s well-being,” based on research it conducted.

to consume content passively, that’s not associated with those same positive effects.”

One of the changes aims to reduce “viral videos” that are shared across the Facebook platform.

“These changes intentionally reduced engagement and revenue in the near term, although we believe they’ll help us build a stronger community and business over the long term,” Zuckerberg said.

- Relaxnews

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BEAUTY & STYLE

VOICE OF ASIA 20

The must-have beauty treats for your January detox

N

eed a January beauty detox and reset? Get your complexion back to its best for 2019 with these new skin-saving launches.

Milk Makeup

inflammation and protect the complexion from environmental stressors. https://highbeauty.com BeautyBio

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Finding your foundation match lies in this weird part of your face!

by Devon Abelman

D

epending on who you ask, you’ll probably learn a brand-new way to find your perfect foundation match. Chances are their methods will be about as complex as swatching it on the middle knuckle of your index finger under a blacklight at exactly 12:03pm while singing the alphabet backward in French.

You’ve been matching your foundation to the wrong part of your body all along. Who knew?

Add determining your undertone in there, and you have an all-day foundation-matching affair. Luckily, Nam Vo, a New York City-based makeup artist who’s taken Instagram by storm this year, has an easy way to find your shade. The reasoning behind it makes so much sense that you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it first.

Vegan beauty brand Milk Makeup has just unveiled a ‘Matcha Detoxifying Face Mask’ for your post-festive season skincare needs. The solid clay mask rolls onto the skin for a simple and clean application process and aims to purify the pores, absorb excess oil and rehydrate the skin. https://www.milkmakeup.com

Facial rolling emerged as a major trend this year, and it shows no signs of slowing down in the near future.

BEAUTYBIO’s new ‘Contouring + De-Puffing Rose Quartz Roller’ claims to de-puff the complexion, making it ideal if you’ve overindulged and underslept over the past few weeks. https://beautybio.com Glow Recipe

Drunk Elephant

Instead of matching the shade of your foundation to the usual spots people list off—like your jaw, neck, or the back of your hand—Vo suggests swatching it on the highest point of your cheekbone, the same place where you sweep on highlighter. She considers this area as the “median” skin tone of your complexion.

Think of your face like a burnt piece of toast. The perimeter of your face, including your forehead and chin, are the darkest due to sun exposure.

So matching your foundation to your jaw might look too dark when blended all over your face. The centre of your face, on the other hand, is lighter—the high points of your cheekbones being the part of your face with the least amount of discolouration and truest to your skin tone.

This same thought process applies to Katie Jane Hughes’s concealermatching trick. She finds her perfect shade by swatching under-eye con-

@gao_jiegao/Instagram cealer on the area between your nose and the apple of your cheek because it’s the part of the face with the least amount of redness. In other words, “it’s the most neutral-toned part of your face,” she told Allure.

With all this in mind, whatever foun-

dation shade matches the high point of your cheek will look the most flattering on you. It won’t be too light, too dark, too pink, or too yellow. “It’s that middle-of-the-road place,” Vo adds.

- Allure.com

Meet the girl from Gujarat whose hair has set a Guinness World Record Cult skincare brand Drunk Elephant is ringing in the new year with its debut retinol product. ‘A-Passioni Retinol Cream’ contains 1% pure vegan retinol to reduce the appearance of dryness, wrinkles and UV damage. It is now available at Sephora, and will be launching on drunkelephant.com in January.

Korean-inspired beauty brand Glow Recipe is focusing on intense moisturization with its new ‘Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask,’ which is packed with avocado oil and avocado butter to soften dry skin overnight. https://www.glowrecipe.com Zero Tea

https://www.sephora.com High Beauty

by Marci Robin

A

HMEDABAD, India - Sixteen-year-old Nilanshi Patel is being called the “real-life Rapunzel”, and it’s very easy to see why.

Think about how many times you’ve gotten a haircut in the last decade. If you’ve leaned toward shorter styles, you’ve probably made dozens of salon visits; even if your hair is long, you can probably use at least a one hand’s worth of fingers to count your trims. Sixteen-year-old Nilanshi Patel, however, hasn’t cut her hair in 10 years, and that decision has led her to a Guinness World Record: Longest Hair on a Teenager.

Nilanshi Patel, the 16 year old sensation. (Photo: Guiness World Records Online) when pulled straight.

CBD oil looks set to be one of the biggest skincare trends of 2019: get on board with High Beauty’s new ‘Cannabis Facial Moisturizer,’ which contains cannabis sativa seed oil to reduce

Patel says she washes her hair once a week and amazingly, it takes only a half-hour to dry. However, it takes an hour just to comb it—something her mother happily assists with. “My mother helps me to braid and to comb my hair,” she says, explaining that she has always been supportive of her decision to keep growing it. “I style it as a long braid and also as a bun“—the latter is her go-to style for special occasions and table tennis.

Amazon’s #1 bestselling detox tea has over 1400 reviews, so why not?

Amazingly, Patel’s hair isn’t even a third of the length of the that of the adult woman with the longest hair.

That Guinness World Record has been held since 2004 by China’s Xie Qiuping, whose hair measures more than 18 feet long. She started growing her hair at age 13—seven years older than Patel when Patel started—so the 16-year-old could conceivably surpass hers one day.

- Relaxnews

Salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide: What should you use when treating acne?

Pitting the two key pimple-fighting skincare ingredients against each other

W

hen it comes to battling acne on a daily basis, skincare advice is aplenty.

You’ve probably heard of terms like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide being thrown around by skincare purists, but these miracle workers come with their own set of strengths and limitations. Before you blindly pick a side and swear your allegiance to either camp, it pays to take a peek under the hood and understand exactly how these individual ingredients work on chasing those sudden acne breakouts away. To help decode the scientific speak, we got two Mumbai-based dermatologists, Dr Harshna Bijlani and Dr Madhuri Agarwal, to share their say on the matter. Here’s what we learned.

What is salicylic acid?

Dr Bijlani says, “Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is derived from willow bark. It works primarily by penetrating the pores and unblocking them to prevent acne. It also helps in controlling oil production for those

with oily skin, speeds up desquamation (the skin’s peeling process) and is a good ingredient to help with dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.”

“Salicylic acid is a popular ingredient that is used in topical preparations to reduce skin oiliness, since it is a natural exfoliator and can be used to treat mild to moderate acne,” adds Dr Agarwal. “It also reduces skin oiliness and greasiness, cleanses blocked pores and lightens the dark spots.”

How does salicylic acid work on treating acne?

“Salicylic acid is not an antibacterial agent, hence it does not fight acne. However, since it is a good exfoliator, it helps unclog pores, reduce sebum excretion and dissolve blackheads, which, in turn, prevent further acne from developing,” says Dr Bijlani.“Due to its exfoliation properties, it can be used as a face wash, toner, moisturiser or gel, and is commonly found in numerous over-the-counter

Photo: Allure.com

Patel, who lives in Gujarat, India, started growing her hair uninterruptedly after an unfortunate haircut at age six. “I got a bad haircut, and it was really bad for me,” she says in a video

by GWR. She recalls crying about it and deciding right then and there that she wouldn’t cut her hair again. Today, her dark, thick, wavy hair reaches her ankles, measuring 67 inches long

products. It is best suited for an oily or combination skin. For those with combination skin, typically the T-zone would be the oily part, so it is recommended to use salicylic acid only on this area, as opposed to the entire face, as it may tend to over-dry the skin.”

“Benzoyl peroxide is a topical antibacterial agent that is available as a non-prescription over-the-counter cream to treat acne—it is one of the gold standards in treatment of acne.

Benzoyl peroxide is a well-known medication for reducing mild to moderate acne, and works effectively as a spot treatment for pus-filled acne, whiteheads and blackheads,” explains Dr Agarwal. “Due to its ability to kill bacteria, benzoyl peroxide is a very popular anti-acne ingredient that helps kill acne-causing bacteria, unclogs pores and prevent antibiotic resistance,” adds Dr Bijlani.

Dr Agarwal agrees, adding, “It helps unclog dead skin from the surface of the skin and the follicle-oil gland unit where the bacteria and pollutants are collected, thus treating and preventing further progression of acne. It also works on the superficial skin to remove the blocked, old dead skin, and stimulates formation of new, healthy skin.

Salicylic acid reduces the redness and inflammation caused by acne, and thus helps relieve the symptoms of acne.”

What is benzoyl peroxide?

“Benzoyl peroxide is chemical compound that controls acne breakouts by killing the P.acnes bacteria that causes acne. It converts into oxygen and non-

Although she says her friends call her a “real-life Rapunzel,” Patel also gets questions from people who assume her hair gets in the way of everyday activities. “I don’t face any problems with my hair. I do all the sports and all the things with my hair,” she says. “It’s a lucky charm for me, clearly.”

- Allure.com

toxic benzoic acid after coming in contact with the skin on application.

This oxygen released helps neutralise the P.acnes bacteria, thereby reducing signs of acne. Like salicylic acid, it is best suited for oily to combination skin types. Its use isn’t recommended on dry skin, as it can aggravate the dryness and cause irritation,” Dr Agarwal says.

“Both have their place in your skincare routine for treating acne,” believes Dr Agarwal.

I personally recommend application of salicylic acid 2% gel all over the oily areas of face, followed by 2.5% benzoyl peroxide over the active acne spots,” she adds.

- Vogue International

VOICE OF ASIA 21

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Home&Real Estate Land for Fluor’s new Sugar Land campus rezoned small standalone, one-story retail and food buildings, according to the city.

Another 16.08 acres in the eastern half of the site has been set aside for future development. Any such future development proposals would have to go through the zoning process and be reviewed by the Sugar Land Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council. The remaining acreage is allocated toward a new public street and a landscape buffer.

Plans for the future home of Fluor Enterprises Inc.’s Sugar Land campus are moving forward. Pictured is the company’s current Sugar Land campus. (File photo)

by Olivia Pulsinelli

P

lans for the future home of Fluor Enterprises Inc.’s Sugar Land campus are moving forward.

Sugar Land City Council approved rezoning the nearly 50.31-acre site at a Dec. 18 meeting, and the company aims to break ground in March, Community Impact reports.

The subsidiary of Irving, Texas-based Fluor Corp. (NYSE: FLR) currently has a Sugar Land campus at 1 Fluor Daniel Drive. The new site is in Telfair, a master-planned community

developed by California-based Newland Communities.

The plan is to use 28.5 acres of the new site at the southeast corner of Lexington and University boulevards for the future campus, according to a proposed site plan posted by the city of Sugar Land. The campus will include four office buildings, two parking garages, surface parking lots, an office amenities building, retail space and a day care. The four multistory office buildings will range in size from 79,000 square feet to 169,000 square feet, and the retail space will consist of four

H

OUSTON - More attention to the human factor in building use and design. A blurring of functions between some market segments. Yet more demand for connectivity, walkability and integrated systems. Amenities proliferation and rampant ecommerce. Throw in the wild card of wiggy oil prices and you have some of what’s predicted for Houston’s 2019 real estate market, based on a series of year-end real estate outlook presentations, industry panels and an informal poll of participants. There’s momentum, they said. And there are challenges.

Sugar Land offered an incentive package that included a tax abatement on Fluor’s $165 million in capital investment and workforce of at least 2,000 employees; the city also planned to grant some sales tax rebates on construction of the campus and assist the company’s efforts to win state incentives, the Houston Business Journal reported at the time.

Fluor Corp. is a global engineering and construction firm.

It is the fifth-largest employer in Fort Bend County, based on its 2,430 employees in the area - HBJ

At Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) leadership presentation on emerging trends, for example, keynote speaker Byron Carlock, who leads PwC’s U.S. real estate practice, shared findings from the 40th edition of their joint annual forecast report. Among the national factors he highlighted that resonated locally: an abundance of capital, demographic shifts, retail transformation (toward experiential offerings), urbanization, rejiggered space utilization and the continued impact of e-commerce.

Meanwhile, amenities have “gone wild,” Carlock observed.

The proliferation of services

and facilities for tenant use has now jumped from residential projects to multi-tenant office developments as ways to stand out from the competition.

tivity and mobility with them.

So, the suburbs aren’t dead, Carlock said, but this group of buyers is redefining what that location’s lifestyle means.

And then there’s AI and automation. “We watched ‘The Jetsons’ growing up and now we get to live it,” Carlock told the 300-strong ULI event audience.

In housing construction, specifically at the high-end, developer Will Stolz of Stolz Partners, said Houston’s luxury condo product is getting better and the market for them is growing organically as people visit their friends who already made that leap and realize, “I could live there.”

Though market conditions appear healthy across most of the 30 major market cities studied, the industry’s evolution “has led us to a plateau” of activity, he said. (About 1% of report survey respondents believe 2019 will be ho hum.)

Given today’s smoother underlying economics nationally, he said, “The next downturn is not going to be our industry’s fault.”

In Texas, immigration issues combined with a workforce getting older (the average is now age 42) is on the industry’s radar, he said, both affecting the labor force which affects construction. Oil prices had rebounded but fell to under $50 per barrel in December.

- Living On the housing end, the millennial generation’s bell curve has hit household formation.

Some are moving into the ‘burbs, taking their collective desire for community connec-

voiceofasia.news is your home and real estate news source

by Michele Koh Morollo

I

n Guilin, Studio 10 transforms two guest rooms in The Other Place to be mind-bending, whimsical retreats.

tique hotel in Pingle County, Guilin—a southeastern part of China famous for its majestic, otherworldly karst mountains formed from eroded stone.

The hotel—the brainchild

each 650 square feet, which were created by Shenzhen– based, interdisciplinary firm Studio 10.

Feifei approached Studio 10’s principal Shi Zhou with a

Fluor Enterprises announced back in July 2012 that it was buying land so it could stay in Sugar Land after its current lease expires in 2021.

2019 predictions For Houston’s real estate market

by Cynthia Lescalleer

Fall under the spell of this M.C. Escherinspired hotel in China

Maze juxtaposes pink and green. The walls, floors, and ceilings are painted concrete. Gravity-defying stairs look like they leapt from an Escher drawing. (Photo: Chao Zhang) Inspired by the surreal labyrinths of Dutch artist M.C. Escher, whose landscapes feature upside-down staircases and other cases of impossible architecture, two new guest

of Harvard alumni Yi Feifei—aims to usher guests into an alternate reality. Different creative professionals were responsible for the interior design of the 10 rooms, but two of the

The dreamscapes of Escher have fascinated Shi ever since she was in architectural school.

“Escher’s works are absolutely inspiring for architects,” says Shi. “After visiting the site—then just a bare, concrete room—for the first time, while standing in the unusually high, chapel-like ceiling, I felt that this space offered the opportunity to do something spatially unique. An Escher-inspired design with surreal, anti-gravitational-like elements started to emerge.”

Looking to Escher’s works such as Convex and Concave, Relativity, and Belvedere for ideas, Shi wove in non-angular elements such as arches and domes into both Dream and Maze.

Despite several properties under construction, the supply is “tight in 2019 and tighter in 2020,” Stolz said. “It takes a long time to get one off the ground.”

“We feel that arched doors and furniture seem more whimsical and playful, adding a bit fun, and softness to the rooms,” she says.

A custom luxury home builder, Scott Frankel, co-president of Frankel Building Group (FBG), said concepts like sustainability, connectivity and the integration of systems within a home “are no longer requests, negotiable or new. They’re basic expectations.”

From a design standpoint, client interest is now about “bigger spaces, not bigger homes,” meaning a return to thoughtful and deliberate design, he said.

Also, clients are entering the design-build process more educated about what they want, need and expect, he said. That has made custom projects as deliberate, precise and efficient as the clients themselves.

Following Hurricane Harvey, home elevation has become a more pointed discussion and concern for Houston clients, Frankel said. The company, however, was a proponent of pier-and-beam foundations even before new city regulations kicked in this fall requiring higher homes in flood plains.

-Forbes

request for something fresh, creative, unique, and otherworldly—a retreat that would be a true escape from city life.

She also asked that they make the best use of the shape of these two rooms, which have pitched roofs and 23-f00t-high ceilings.

“The pink palette for Dream corresponds to the color of cotton candy and marshmallows, or of sweet dreams, which for some reason I always imagine to be pinkish-toned,” says Feifei. rooms have opened in The Other Place, a 10-room bou-

most mesmerizing are the newly renovated Dream and Maze,

While both Dream and Maze have the same design concept, the different color scheme of the rooms—pastel pink for Dream, and forest green for Maze—makes each room a distinct entity.

“Both of these color schemes express the concept of utopia or ‘The Other Place,’ and differentiate the rooms from the common spaces that we live in everyday,” says Shi. - Dwell

SMALL BUSINESSES

VOICE OF ASIA 22

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FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

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Things will be going your way again by Thursday. It’s one of those up-and-down weeks. The fun to be had on Friday is of the spontaneous, unexpected variety (the best kind of fun), but Saturday and Sunday are more even-keeled and quietly satisfying.

21 April to 20 May It is not in your nature to be rash, but a hurried feeling defines Thursday and Friday for you. Again: weird. Breathe deeply. Take things slowly. Everything else will be back to normal (actually, better than normal) this weekend.

21 May to 20 June

By Thursday and Friday, you’re an advice-collecting machine, leaving no stone unturned and exhausting your friends. By the weekend you’ve achieved a higher degree of focus than you’ve had in a while.

However, focus and clarity are not the same things, and clarity’s still a short ways away.

21 June to 22 July Thursday and Friday, everyday concerns return you to a more practical mindset (again, don’t react emotionally). Saturday and Sunday are crowded with people -- maybe there’s a party planned? If not, maybe there should be.

23 July to 22 August You’ll enjoy learning something new on Thursday and having your opinion about something challenged (and changed) on Friday. As clear as everything once seemed to you, the weekend brings the news that nothing is black and white -- a crucial point, and a good thing to be reminded of.

23 August to 22 Sept Although, speaking of things you have in common, resources are tight on Thursday and Friday and a generous impulse on your part to give up what you have may not be feasible. Compatibility and philosophical depth make the weekend interesting.

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Week of January 4, 2019 21 March to 20 April

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23 September to 22 Oct Try something new! Others will respond with unprecedented enthusiasm, in short, the natural beauty of the world will amaze you. Thursday and Friday are what you make them, and the weekend is an extended, harmonious reverie.

23 October to 21 Nov Tuesday and Wednesday will be so full of activity completely outside the home realm Thursday and Friday you’re at your happiest helping other people. By Saturday you’ve narrowed your attention to a certain single someone; spend Sunday focusing on this relationship.

22 November to 21 Dec Romantic events of Thursday and Friday ground you once again firmly in the present. Saturday and Sunday, communication is good, and so is the food. Don’t overeat, but don’t be shy.

22 December to 20 Jan Toward the end of the week, you take your fun wherever you can find it.

Worry is more the order of the moment. Until Saturday, that is. Saturday and Sunday are glorious days. A kid may tell you a joke that has your gut muscles hurting for days.

21 January to 19 Feb On Thursday, money is the last thing on your mind -- except as far as altruism is concerned. Friday sees you pondering such high-minded subjects as humanitarianism and freedom, but the weekend returns you to much smaller concerns.

Express yourself eccentrically on Sunday.

20 February to 20 Mar Thursday and Friday, whatever discoveries you made earlier in the week will suddenly be called into question, but this is what always happens when an intelligent person thinks intelligently about their own intelligence: an endless cerebral fog. Ground yourself this weekend.

ACROSS 1. ____bat or ____phobe 5. *Old Man’s turf 8. Old-fashioned “over” 11. Group of countries 12. Bayonet action 13. Sailing vessel with two masts 15. *”Up the Down Stair____” by Kaufman 16. Philosopher Marx 17. Poetic although 18. *Whaling writer 20. Soak some ink 21. Golf course 22. Hawaiian dish 23. *”Slouching Towards Bethlehem” essayist 26. Tax break 30. Singer Yoko 31. Bodily fluids 34. Three-ply snack 35. Parkinson’s disease drug 37. Debt acknowledgement 38. Special way of doing something 39. EU money 40. Chevy Chase’s 1985 comedy 42. One little piggie?

43. Plunder 45. Bias crime perpetrators 47. Pied Piper’s follower 48. Feed the fire 50. Rare bills 52. *Female Nobel winner 55. Olden day calculators 56. Home-grown healer 57. H.S. math class 59. Azaria and Aaron 60. Known for its cabs 61. Sports award 62. ‘re 63. “But I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight, Merry Christmas to all...”

64. Wander about

DOWN 1. *”Dr. Seuss’s ____” alphabet book 2. Chowder protein 3. “A ____ is a ____ is a ____...”

4. Plural of ocellus 5. Corn holder 6. British peers 7. Having the means 8. Doctor Octopus’ first name 9. Not counterfeit 10. Greek R 12. Fit for some jeans 13. Shish ____ 14. *”Invisible Man” author 19. Actress Davis 22. Product of inflammation 23. Dished out 24. Empower 25. Morrison’s “The ____” 26. “Open and ____” case 27. About to explode 28. Joanna Gaines’ concern 29. Ox connectors 32. Grain grinder 33. *Master of the macabre 36. *”American Authors” genre 38. Shade of Dockers 40. In good shape 41. Movement disorder 44. Desert mirage 46. SAT administrator 48. Type of renewable energy 49. Figure of speech 50. Type of ski lift 51. Do like the moon 52. Lion’s do 53. Guesstimate phrase 54. Australian palm 55. Norwegian band 58. Sweaty spot

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VOICE OF ASIA 23

CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

Job Posting: Broadcast and IT Systems Specialist KTRK-TV ABC13, the ABC Owned TV Station located in Houston, TX is seeking an experienced Broadcast and IT Systems Specialist. Responsibilities include providing technical and IT troubleshooting for all systems, installing, configuring, and maintaining broadcast and IT equipment, interfacing with third party vendors and support technicians as well as responding to help desk tickets and calls. Other duties include testing and updating software, leading projects for new system installations, adhering to IT policies and best practices for Broadcast IT Infrastructure, facility support and completing regular training and continuing education.Candidate must have a passion for and be comfortable working with current IT and TV technologies, concepts and emerging trends. This individual must be a self-starter and able to learn quickly in a fast paced environment, working both independently and as part of a diverse team. The ideal candidate must excel in our departmental foundations of communication, customer service, accountability, planning and preparation, and responsiveness. Additionally, there must be an ability to work a schedule that may include weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays and be willing to be on call or work overtime. Strong troubleshooting skills for computer workstations, laptops, software, broadcast systems, and servers is required as is excellent organizational and documentation skills. Qualified candidates must be able to lift 50 pounds.Preferred qualifications include an advanced knowledge of new and traditional TV broadcast equipment and systems including but not limited to master control and newsroom automation, routers, asset management systems, non-linear editing systems,and networked storage systems. Knowledge of IT networks, enterprise software platforms, switches, cloud technologies, and virtual machines as well as experience in installation and implementation of broadcast and IT systems. A proven track record managing projects and experience using AutoCAD and Microsoft Visio are preferred. Associate degree in a television, engineering, or IT related field, or at least five years’ experience in TV or IT related industry is required.To be considered all interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, reference job # 623547BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. Equal Opportunity Employer - Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity

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ART & CULTURE

VOICE OF ASIA 24

The new black: Young Spanish designers reclaim traditions

M

ADRID, Spain — Young Spanish designers are reclaiming their “Spanishness”: age-old traditions, religious imagery and even the colour black, which centuries ago was a signature of the country’s all-powerful monarchy.

“It’s a very important moment (for Spain) with designers like Palomo Spain, Leandro Cano, ManeMane, who are reclaiming Spain’s position in fashion,” says exhibition curator Raul Marina.

“Young designers are making noise again, and they’re doing so via inspiration that is totally Spanish.”

- Black and side hoops Take black, a colour that has come to symbolise French chic as epitomised by Coco Chanel’s 1920s little black dress.

Its use in fashion actually originated in 16th century Spain.

Before that, it had been a difficult colour to wear. After multiple washes or through constant use, the dye would just subside and turn into a greyish, brownish mush.

But then Spain conquered the Americas, and more specifically Mexico in the 16th century.

There Spaniards discovered a tree called logwood.

It held a secret — from its wood could be made an intense and lasting black dye.

At the time, Spain was a major economic and political power.

King Felipe II adopted that intense black as his own and the fashion statement soon spread.

The monarchy was “a reference for all its European counterparts, as was its austere black gown which would become the expression of maximum elegance,” Amalia Descalzo, an expert in clothing history at Spain’s ISEM Fashion Business School, writes in the exhibition booklet.

And so it has continued.

Foreign and Spanish designers like Cristobal Balenciaga embraced black in their creations and the younger guard are doing so too, in their own way.

On show at Madrid’s Sala Canal de Isabel II is ManeMane’s black bodice and skirt, complete with a hat typical of the southwestern region of Extremadura, where brand founder Miguel Becer comes from.

The same century that Spain promoted black, it also created the verdugado, a structure worn under a skirt that held it into a fashionable shape.

That fashion statement also spread Europe-wide.

Later Spain unleashed another trend — the guardainfante, loosely translated as “infant-guard,” side hoops that extended the skirt at the sides.

“They said it hid ladies’ pregnancies,” says Marina.

The quirky guardainfante was famously immortalised in painter Diego Velazquez’s masterpiece Las Meninas.

That influence is visible in Juanjo Oliva’s yellow, bell-shaped velvet dress, on show in the exhibit.

- Bullfighting, flamenco Then come Spain’s world-famous exports — flamenco and bullfighting have inspired designers from other countries.

A Givenchy bullfighting-style jacket made out of black velvet with arabesque-like red embroideries and pearls.

A black Lanvin dress with a cascade of ruffles and cream-coloured polka dots inspired by southern Andalusia’s flamenco tradition.

“It’s often said that internationally, foreign designers have soaked up and felt prouder about Spanishness than us,” says Marina.

Leandro Cano’s white tutu-shaped dress with flower prints — as once worn by Lady Gaga — takes inspiration from the reign of King Felipe III. ManeMane’s creations on show are influenced by craftwork from Extremadura.

- ‘Awakening’ Fashion consultant Marta Blanco says there is an “awakening” in an industry she feels was marked by a sense that “anything Spanish harked back to the Franco regime.”

But 43 years after the death of rightwing dictator Francisco Franco, that’s waning.

“Someone like Leandro Cano can get inspiration from Spanish bullfighting, from religious imagery... without it evoking fascism,” says Blanco.

She believes there is also an “awakening” among Spanish consumers who feel “pride” in their country.

Spain’s superstar chef Ferran Adria created a global revolution in gastronomy, Spain won the World Cup in 2010, Euro in 2008 and 2012, Rafael Nadal is a major tennis star, Spanish brand Zara is everywhere.

“That creates empowerment,” says Blanco.

“Ferran Adria took away our insecurities, and now it’s happening in fashion.”

- AFP

P

Yet critics say its surging popularity among young girls in particular exposes them to caustic comments and other potential abuse by their peers, while offering a choice hunting ground for sexual predators.

The app itself promises a video-sharing community that’s “raw, real and without boundaries” and claims to be appropriate for children aged 12 and older.

Parents aren’t always convinced, given the numbers of young girls suggestively singing along to sexually explicit lyrics which are often degrading to women.

Such videos are the stock in trade of Halia Beamer, an American 13-yearold who has emerged as one of TikTok’s stars, chalking up more than five million followers.

commentary and satire.

According to Ramit Verma, creator of social media account ‘Official PeeingHuman’, memes are “time capsules” representing the culture prevailing at a particular point.

Like when a cow replaced antagonist Ganesh Gaitonde in a defining scene from Netflix’s India original “Sacred Games”, based on a book by author Vikram Chandra on Mumbai’s underworld.

It was a sure-shot viral meme -- a bovine standing amidst the burning mountain of Mumbai’s trash in selfdeified glory with the dialogue “kabhi kabhi lagta hai apun hee bhagwan hai” (it often feels that I am god) inscribed on it.

Bulls eye for the creator who used the pop culture medium to make a devastating comment on the current political climate and issues related to the cow and cow slaughter. The viewer may or may not have seen “Sacred Games” but the message hit straight home.

Memes were used to drive home other messages in 2018.

Films such as “Padmaavat”, “Manmarziyaan” and “Kedarnath” and the controversies they raised blurred the lines between cinema and politics.

And memes used India’s obsession with the two and turned them into instant social media art.

What makes current affairs and entertainment industry gel is that both are articles of mass consumption and, in the age of internet, people need everything that is a touch away, said the man behind ROFL Gandhi, a popular parody account of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, requesting anonymity., “We don’t have the time and patience to read or even go through something as concise as a tweet. A meme is something you read with your eyes but don’t have to apply much mind to,” Vyshnav Vinod, one of the content creators of the Bengaluru-based “Unofficial Sacred Games”, told PTI.

The social network became the most downloaded on Apple’s App Store in the first half of this year according to market analysis firm Sensor Tower, beating out titans like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

“If there is one thing Silicon Valley can learn from Chinese app development, it’s that it is tuned in to viralas-a-service, meaning that their most popular apps have really been about making content and personas viral and also hyper-engaged,” he said.

And when India’s twin obsessions cinema and politics combine, you get a meme that is not just just humour but a biting comment on contemporary times and also a tool of empowerment and expression.

According to ‘ROFL Gandhi’, memes lifted from a movie or a web series are tailor-made for political

Palomo Spain, whose flowery gown was worn by Beyonce in July 2017 for her first shot with her newborn twins, has a short white silk dress with a halo-shaped headdress on show.

ARIS, France | AFP - Millions of teenagers seeking their 15 seconds of fame are flocking to TikTok, but many of their parents are only now learning about the expressyourself video app -- often to their dismay.

“TikTok capitalises on short-term creative content that other platforms don’t encourage, by their design and community,” said Brian Solis at the US tech advisory firm Altimeter.

age which is perfect material for the meme community. It’s like either you make it or somebody else will make it,” Vinod said.

But that’s changing, he adds. Religion, tradition are making a comeback.

by Selim Chtayti

Analysts say it filled the void left

by Vine, which introduced countless numbers of teens to the creative possibilities of ultrashort videos but failed to find a sustainable business model.

EW DELHI - PTI - It’s all about art -- when M F Husain took brush to canvas, when Satyajit Ray got behind the camera and even when a clever somebody logs in to inscribe astute comment on image to produce what has come to be known as a meme.

Leandro Cano’s white tutu-shaped dress with flower prints -- as once worn by Lady Gaga -- takes inspiration from the reign of King Felipe III. (AFP Photo)

As TikTok videos take hold with teens, parents scramble to keep up

The site, owned by China’s ByteDance, boasted 500 million users as of June following its purchase last year of Musical.ly, which greatly expanded its reach in the US.

Memes emerge as social media art, comment and empowerment tool

N

That is one of the messages at the Modus exhibition currently running in Madrid, which explores the influence of Spanish history and tradition on global fashion, including up-andcoming designers.

FRIDAY, January 4, 2019

The viral cow meme was shared

- ‘Dangerous characters’ Media reports have documented cases of users being bombarded with disturbing comments, while others have been asked for private contact details or to post provocative images.

Last summer the Indonesian government banned the app after more than 170,000 people signed a petition saying that lip-syncing in revealing outfits was not suitable for children.

It was lifted only after TikTok representatives from China flew to Jakarta and promised to hire more people to weed out inappropriate content.

The US internet watchdog Common Sense says the combination of mature content and privacy risks means users should be at least 16.

“Because the age limit is so low, you attract a greater assortment of dangerous characters, and users lying about their age,” Solis said.

But raising the age limit would remove millions of people from the platform, and curb TikTok’s exponential growth.

In France for example, 38 percent of youths aged 11 to 14 have a TikTok account according to Generation Numerique, which tracks internet usage.

Girls are by far the majority among French pre-teens, with 58 percent saying they have an account compared with just 15 percent for boys.

French police warned parents last month about the dangers, saying their teens “may be targeted by indecent

“Movies and web series are a mass thing. If you look at Bollywood, we expect people to know about an upcoming movie and even if you are not going to watch the movie, you will at least watch the trailer. People on social media are creating memes out of trailers,” ROFL Gandhi, who wishes anonymity but prefers being called a “visionary troll”, told PTI. Citing “Mirzapur” as an example, he said no one initially cared for the crime thriller from Amazon Prime Video.

“Only a handful had watched the series. But after the memes, the appeal of ‘Mirzapur’, which caters to the middle class, suddenly caught on.

It started being viewed as a mass entertainment series. In two weeks, all social media platforms were flooded with ‘Mirzapur’ memes,” he said.

Memes sometimes also fuse past and present.

Veteran actor Amrish Puri’s dialogue Aao kabhi haveli pe from the 1986 fantasy film Nagina was used in a meme last year. And this year, “Stree”, one of 2018’s blockbusters, featured a song titled “Aao kabhi haveli pe”, which honoured its genre of horror comedy and and was also lauded for its subversion of the ‘witch’ concept to question prejudices.

Using “Waah Modiji Waah Waah” as an outro in video memes to lifting the “Banda ye bindaas hai” song from the film “Aks” as a tool to critique the government, Verma of ‘Official PeeingHuman’ described a meme as a unit of culture.

“The content is so relatable because most creators are individuals drawing experiences, emotions and inspiration for such content from their personal life and that of others around them...,” Verma told PTI. He believes Indian politics and films go perfectly together.

“Since we are a film obsessed nation, I try to pick up filmy things from other content on the internet to use in my videos every now and then because it increases the shareability and relatability quotient,” he said.

ROFL Gandhi predicts a short lifespan for memes, which may last for

sexual proposals”.

“TikTok promotes dancing and singing in particular, things which are still pretty feminine that boys don’t always dare to do,” said Cyril di Palma, Generation Numerique’s president.

- Hard choices ByteDance, whose app is called Douyin in China, says it works extensively to protect its users, with software that monitors content and “a continually growing team of moderators”.

But Di Palma says many parents are still unaware of the risks, “and are astonished to see their little angels in poses inappropriate for their age.”

The effects of early exposure to social media are so new that “parents, educators, even doctors... are either under-qualified or completely ignorant in the face of the need to guide a young generation in the dangers and possibilities of these new technologies,” Solis said.

William Soally, a French father whose 12-year-old daughter is a dance fan, took action after seeing alerts about TikTok among YouTube users.

“I talked about it with my daughter and we decided to remove the app from her phone,” Soally, 35, told AFP, acknowledging the move had initially provoked tears and worries about “a loss of social status”.

“The solution has to come from parents, who need to understand that the internet is not a world of Care Bears,” he added, referring to the 1980s cartoon characters.

on Facebook by ‘Unofficial Sacred Games’.

According to Vinod, the relatability of content, powered by the ‘share’ option, make memes an important part of the internet culture.

In 2018, memes gave due attention not just to incidents of mob lynching over alleged cow slaughter, credibility of leaders ahead of the 2019 general elections but also other issues.

“Shows like ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Mirzapur’ have interesting dialogues, cusswords and gruesome foot-

over a year or two.

“Seeing the history of social media, there is a time till when things will work. It’s a phase. Maybe we’ll find something more interesting to express ourselves,” he said.

But Verma is optimistic about memes playing a longer innings in pop culture.

“The term ‘meme’ might phase out in the future, but the kind of content it represents is not a fad. It is too empowering for the common person to give up on,” Verma said.