Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

www.gasiantimes.com

August 15-31, 2014

Promotion of Vietnamese American General made U.S. military history

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho

Tel: 678-971-9388 Advertising: gat@gasiantimes.com Editorial: info@gasiantimes.com URL: www.gasiantimes.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4502 Suwanee GA 30024 Copyright Georgia Asian Times 2004-2014

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GAT Calendar of Events GAT welcome submission of announcement pertaining to community related events.

Please email event, date, venue, and time to gat@gasiantimes.com.

GAT does not guarantee insertion of event announcement and has the right to deny any posting.

3rd Annual Back to Business Conference for Metro Atlanta Presented by Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell, U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. General Services Administration Date: Tuesday, Aug 19, 2014 Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Venue: Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Admission: Free & registration required For more info: www.backtobusiness2014.eventbrite.com or 404-3306052 International Food Festival featuring Taste of Taiwan Date: Saturday, Aug 30, 2014 Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Venue: Duluth Festival Center, 3142 Hill St., Duluth GA 30096 Facebook: Taste of Taiwan in Duluth

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Atlanta Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014 Time: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Venue: Clarks Bridge - Kayaking Facility, Lake Lanier, Gainesville For more info: www.dragonboatatlanta.com JapanFest 2014 Date: Sept 20-21, 2014 Time: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Venue: Convention Center at Gwinnett Center 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097 Cost: $8 / Children under 6 free

10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: October 10-24, 2014 Venues: Plaza Theatre, GSU-Cinefest, Georgia Gwinnett College, University of West Georgia-Carollton For more info: www.atlaff.org

Taste of Chamblee 2014 Presented by City of Chamblee and The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation Date: Saturday, October 4, 2014 Time: 12 noon - 7:00 pm Venue: Downtown Chamblee Admission: Free

Chopstix For Charity Date: Saturday, October 18, 2014 Time: Venue: Le Fais Do-Do Tickets: $45 regular, $80 specials (2 tickets) For more info: www.naapatlanta.org/ chopstixforcharity

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS

MARTA expanding rail station concessions Atlanta, August 7, 2014 — MARTA rail customers may be able to pick up a quick breakfast or even do some shopping while waiting for the train as the transit system ramps up the next phase of its concessions program.

This new initiative will include food, beverage and specialty retail offerings at select rail stations that will expand and enhance MARTA’s existing beverage and snack vending program that was launched in 2010.

MARTA will partner with real estate firms Greystone Management Solutions, a division of Greystone & Co., Inc. and Smith Real Estate Services Inc., an Atlanta-based, female-owned firm, to develop an expanded program.

The team will assist MARTA with site selection and product mix to develop a request for bids to attract leading retailers. Greystone has provided similar asset management services to transit agencies in other major cities including New York and Boston.

“This next phase of rail station concessions complements our ongoing Transit-Oriented Development plans,” said MARTA GM/CEO Keith T. Parker, referring to the new, live-

work-play communities that are being planned. “We look forward to receiving food, beverage and retail concepts that will help create a sense of place in and around MARTA rail stations and improve the overall experience of our customers.”

An Invitation for Bids (IFB) will be released in the coming months for the expanded program.

“We are pleased to be working with MARTA to help introduce a concessions program that will capture new, non-farebox revenue for the agency and improve passenger amenities for MARTA’s customers,” said Charles Di Maggio, Chief Operating Officer of Greystone Management Solutions.

In addition, MARTA recently issued an IFB for a six-month pilot food truck concessions program at its Vine City station during Georgia Dome events, which will include the upcoming Atlanta Falcons football season.

Republicans announces four new rising stars including GA State Rep. Washington, D.C., August 7, 2014 – The Republican National Committee at its Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chairman Sharon Day announced four individuals to the RNC Rising Stars program.

The other individuals are: Will Hurd, Republican Nominee for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, BJ Pak, Georgia State Representative, Amanda Pasdon, West Virginia House of Delegates, and Evelyn Sanguinetti, Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

This group joins the 14 Rising Stars announced at previous meetings in Boston, MA, Washington, DC, and Memphis, TN.

“I am proud and excited to welcome Will, BJ, Amanda, and Evelyn as the fourth installment to our Rising Stars program,” said Chairman Priebus.

“These four individuals embody the GOP’s message of freedom and opportunity and I look forward to working with them as we grow and strengthen our party.”

The RNC launched the Rising Stars program just one year ago in an effort to highlight and support Republican leaders who are making names for themselves within the party.

Each star will be showcased on GOP. com and offered a national platform to share their stories and perspectives: Among the selected individuals is BJ Pak, Georgia State Representative.

“We can all learn from the diverse stories and perspective that this group has to offer,” said Co-Chair Day. “I am continually impressed by the incredible accomplishments and talent that each Rising Star class brings to the table.”

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

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BUSINESS

Premium Japanese Sake launches its brand in the Atlanta market Atlanta, August 7, 2014 — Hayashi Honten, an award winning Japanese sake brewery officially launches its products to the Atlanta market at a sake tasting reception at Nakato Restaurant in midtown.

P1040409Hayashi Honten is a fifth-generations family owned and operated sake brewery located in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture. Founded in 1920, the brewery is located near three major rivers in Gifu Prefecture.

The brewery has a unique reputation of being the only company in a male-dominated industry led by a woman President.

Rieko Hayashi is a passionate leader and has inherited the family brewery secrets from her great grandfather.

“I knew I wanted to be a sake brewer since I was six years old. I wrote in my kindergarten scrapbook that I will take over the business when I grew up,” said a smiling Miss Hayashi, who is hosting a group of restaurant buyers and distinguished community leaders at the reception.

Her venture into the Atlanta market started with the assistance of JETRO Atlanta two years ago. Miss Hayashi was connected with Savannah Distributing Company, a licensed local company specializing in sake and foreign liquors distribution in Georgia.

“It has been a long two-year process where we finally are selected to represent Hayashi Honten, a fine sake brewery,” said Eric Wittgen, a senior Director at Savannah Distributing Company.

Miss Rieko Hayashi, President of Hayashi Honten Company, a fifth-generation brewer based in Gifu Prefecture.

Miss Hayashi is also introducing new branding of her sake and company to the North American market. Other than Georgia, her sakes are currently available for sale in New York and Massachusset market.

Her latest branding is centered on a legendary Kabuki actor named “Hyaku-Jyu-Rou,” who lived in Kakamigahara City over 90 years ago.

Hyaku-Jyu-Rou made a generous donation of 1200 cherry blossoms sapling trees to the city near the famous Sakai River.

Its an annual tradition for the residents of the city to celebrate cherry blossom with picnic and sake drinking under the trees in the Spring season.

In honor of the contribution by the Kabuki actor, Miss Hayashi decided to embrace the “kumadori” makeup worn

by Kabuki actors as the official illustration on the sake labels.

“We pride ourselves as remembering the old while embracing the new,” said Miss Hayashi proudly while pouring a cup of sake to her guests.

For more information on Hayashi Honten Company, visit http://www. eiichi.co.jp 110-Black Won silver award at “WSWA” and highly recommended by “Ultimate Wine Challenge” Volume: 1.8 ml; 720 ml.

Sake type: Junmai-Dai-Ginjo Alcohol content: 15.5% Recommended drinking temperature: Chilled Best paired with: fish & light dishes 110-Red This is a sake drinker’s Sake. Very popular in Japan. Can be enjoyed both cold and hot.

Volume: 1.8 ml; 720 ml.

Sake type: Extra dry Junmai Alcohol content: 15.3% Recommended drinking temperature: Chilled/Hot Best paired with: fish and any dishes 110-Purple Brewed using traditional technique and process. Scored 95 points and received Ultimate Recommendation from “Ultimate Wine Challenge

2014”.

Volume: 1.8 ml; 720 ml.

Sake type: Junmai-Ginjo Alcohol content: 15.5% Recommended drinking temperature: Chilled-Normal temperature Golden Amber A Japanese twist on a classic western flavor. A blend of East & West ~ taste like whiskey going down and a Sake aftertaste.

Volume: 720 ml.

Sake type: Junmai Alcohol content: 18.4% Recommended drinking temperature: Chilled with ice or slightly warm.

Best paired with: cheese, chocolate, or dry fruits Tera Easy to drink and has a perfect balance between sweet and dry flavors.

Volume: 720 ml.

Sake type: Junmai Alcohol content: 8.8% Recommended drinking temperature: Chilled.

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BUSINESS

August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

For largest US companies, jobs growth has lagged profits, revenues Washington, Aug 11, 2014 — Employment growth at the largest US companies has lagged far behind increases in revenue and operating profit since the start of the century, as firms reaped the benefits of globalization, technology, and other ways to operate more productively, according to a Reuters analysis of corporate data.

From 2001 to 2013, inflation-adjusted revenue at 100 of the largest publicly traded companies grew 71 per cent and inflation-adjusted operating profit rose 150 per cent. Global headcount reported in company financial filings rose 31 per cent.

Their headcount grew faster globally than overall employment in the United States, but it is unclear from corporate disclosures how much of the hiring took place outside the United States.

Information from individual companies suggests a lot of the new jobs were created overseas, especially given that in this period there was off-shoring and outsourcing of work that was done previously in-house and in the US There was also substantial growth in sales in foreign markets and a resulting expansion of operations overseas.

The data highlight a central question that officials in the Obama administration and at the US Federal Reserve confront: has the nation’s ability to generate well-paying jobs in manufacturing and other sectors been fundamentally scarred by changes in the global economy that may predate the 2008-2009 economic crisis but were more starkly revealed in its aftermath.

The answer could have major implications for economic policy decisions, such as how long the Fed keeps interest rates at very low levels to stimulate jobs growth.

At the Fed, Chair Janet Yellen has spoken of the steady drift in national income “away from labor and towards

capital,” while some policymakers worry the full depth of the changes are not yet clear.

“We have to understand what structurally is going on ... Is the country really changing in a fundamental way?” Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart said last month, citing the possibility that “polarized labor markets” could become entrenched. That would mean a workforce based on large numbers of lower paid workers, with a few highly paid managers, professional and technology workers, and a permanent hollowing out of the middle class. This would be a potential drag on overall purchasing power and economic growth.

Data on the 150 publicly traded companies with the largest sales was collected from Thomson Reuters’ Eikon system. Banks and financial firms were excluded because the way they report results isn’t comparable to other companies and to tie the analysis more closely to the production of goods and services.

Several companies, such as energy investment company Energy Transfer Equity, were excluded because their records did not extend back far enough or were complicated by corporate maneuvers, such as breakups.

The resulting list of 100 large companies covers a range of industries, from consumer giants Wal-Mart and McDonalds, to old-line industrials such as Caterpillar and General Motors as well as technology giants like IBM and Microsoft.

Google was included but its public records did not include employee headcount for 2001 and 2002 and it declined to provide data for those years. The search company reported full time employment of 47,756 for 2013.

The collective headcount of the 100 fell in only one of the years included

in the study, dropping 1.33 per cent in 2009, the year in which the financial crisis and accompanying recession had the most savage impact.

Tyson workforce drops But 30 of the companies actually cut jobs between 2001 and 2013 — even while managing, in some instances, very big increases in profit and revenue growth.

For example, between 2001-2013, Verizon continued reshaping itself from a provider of landline phones to focus on wireless telephony and network services. Annual inflation-adjusted operating profit more than doubled while the workforce shrank more than 30 per cent.

Meat provider Tyson Foods grew through the efficiencies of scale that came through a series of strategic acquisitions, as well as technology that, for example, has pushed up the amount of meat that a beef carcass yields. Its operating profit increased an inflation-adjusted 20 per cent between 2002 and 2013, and its revenue by an inflation-adjusted 14 per cent. Yet, its headcount dropped 4.2 per cent over that time. (Tyson’s purchase of rival IBP in 2001 wasn’t fully reflected in its public accounts until 2002).

Though fast-growing technology

companies led employment growth over the period, that may not be sustained, as those firms get bigger. The pace of hiring at Apple and Amazon, for example, has slowed after a 12year spell in which both companies boosted headcount roughly ten fold.

Robert Litan, a Brookings Institution scholar who has been studying employment at the country’s older companies, said the recession in 2001 marked a turning point when firms began managing headcount more aggressively through the use of more efficient global supply chains, technology and other methods such as outsourcing US work.

A recent analysis he co-authored with economist Ian Hathaway found the US economy and employment increasingly dominated by older companies — suggesting that the workforce decisions of large, legacy firms may be growing more important to employment overall.

That could be a problem in itself. The United States’ capacity to produce new jobs may take a hit if the country does not find ways to encourage more start-ups and find ways to help young companies succeed and grow.

“We cannot count on the Fortune 500 to absorb all our workers. That is not what they do. They make more out of what they’ve got,” Litan said.

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

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BUSINESS

Masking changes Company officials and outside analysts say several complementary forces are at work: globalization and outsourcing, investments in labour-saving technology, and the more traditional efficiencies gained through takeovers and scale.

Much of this has been positive for the US and global economies – for example by manufacturing more goods in China using lower-cost labour the prices for computers and TVs has plunged in the past 20 years, a benefit for consumers. But this may only partially offset the impact on many families of a loss of higher-paid manufacturing and other jobs.

Some of the employment trends began many years ago but may not have been obvious because they were masked by changes in demographics.

The increasing numbers of women in the workforce, for example, kept family incomes growing through the 1990s, White House economic adviser Jason Furman recently noted.

Some analysts caution that it is difficult to draw broad conclusions based on data from the largest companies.

Through the 1990s, firms shed “noncore” operations, such as in-house security, something that boosted jobs at smaller companies, noted David Chavern, president of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Centre for Advanced Technology and Innovation.

Advances in global trade and logistics allowed companies like Apple to rely on contractors such as China’s Foxconn for their production of iPhones, iPads and other products.

To that extent, Apple’s formal headcount does not reflect many of the people who rely on the company for jobs. Apple’s headcount skyrocketed more than eight-fold over the last 12 years to more than 80,000.

But reported headcount at Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, the Taiwan listed name for the Apple contractor Foxconn Technology Group,

has grown even faster, to more than 1 million workers from just 1,528 in 2001. Foxconn does work for a lot of companies but a significant part of its growth is because of orders from Apple.

The US economy is also one where small- and medium-sized firms drive much of the job growth. Verizon, for example, cut call centre staffing as Internet start-ups began providing 411 directory assistance service for free, often financed by advertising. Some jobs, such as web design and technology consulting, also lend themselves to freelance careers as much as working inside a large company.

Technology may allow top companies to perform well but also “opened up other venues of success for labour that we would be thrilled with,” said Joel Prakken, a senior managing director at the Macroeconomic Advisers consulting firm.

US poised to start producing experimental Ebola drugs en masse Washington DC, August 10, 2014 Three facilities in the US established by the government to respond to a major public health emergency have indicated they are standing by and ready to assist the US if it decides to scale up its efforts to tackle the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The three facilities, called Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (ADM), were set up by the US Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with private industry.

They are intended to be used to quickly make vaccines and therapeutics in the event of a major public health threat, such as pandemics or chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear emergencies.

Higher-paid jobs Companies are not required to include payroll data in their financial filings so the analysis could not include wage trends.

But amid overall wage stagnation there is concern about a growing divide. According to Bureau of Labour Statistics data, the number of people employed in the top ten highest paying job categories fell 4 per cent from 2001 to 2013 while their pay rose 28 per cent on an inflation-adjusted basis. The number of people employed in the lowest ten paying jobs expanded nearly 15 per cent, while their inflation-adjusted wages fell 5.5 per cent.

Some of the high-end manufacturing and research industries often seen as critical for US job and wage growth are also those where revenue and profit have become more clearly divorced from the need for more workers.

Retailers like Wal-Mart — which by their nature are more labour intensive and pay lower wages — were among

The centres have the expertise and facilities to switch production lines at short notice to produce vaccines in large quantities. If smallpox were to reemerge, for instance, the centres would be mobilized to produce a vaccine, or in the event of a large scale Anthrax bioterrorism attack.

Ebola has no known cure or vaccine, but an experimental drug called Zmapp has been used to treat two US doctors who caught Ebola in West Africa, with promising results.

the businesses where employment and financial performance increased more in-line with one another, according to the analysis.

“Whether you like it or not what the global economy is delivering is that the productivity growth that has been realized has been earned by a small

Global health agencies have begun to consider whether to roll out such experimental drugs in large quantities to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has so far spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, but the drugs have only been tested on monkeys, making widespread public consumption dangerous.

In addition to Zmapp, other Ebola treatments have shown promise in lab animals. An antibody cocktail developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, a tiny biotechnology company in San Diego, a vaccine by Profectus in New York and an RNA-interference drug being developed by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals in Vancouver have all shown positive results in the lab.

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals were recently given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration to resume safety trials with human volunteers.

Any decision to order any of the three advanced labs to begin producing an Ebola treatment in large quantities for use in West Africa would be made at the highest levels of the Obama administration, with an order likely coming directly from President Obama himself.

fraction of highly skilled people and returns to capital,” said Matthew Slaughter, a management professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

FOCUS

Promotion of Vietnamese American General made U.S. military history Fort Hood, August 6, 2014 — Col. Viet Xuan Luong becomes the first Vietnamese American to be made a general in U.S. history in a ceremony that included the participation of Austin police and members of the local Vietnamese community. lvx2Members of the Police Department’s office of community liaison accompany more than 100 members of Austin’s Vietnamese-American community to a public ceremony in which Luong was promoted to brigadier general.

Luong’s family evacuated Vietnam as political refugees during the fall of Saigon in 1975 and emigrated to the United States. He is the deputy commander of maneuvers for the 1st Cavalry Division based in Fort Hood.

Hundreds of people from Vietnamese communities around the country traveled to Central Texas to witness his promotion.

“We are not American by birth but by choice, however, when it comes to defending our great nation and the constitution we won’t take a backseat to anybody,” Luong said.

“This is a momentous occasion for my family and it’s a privilege and honor just to be and officer and to be able to attain this rank is really something spectacular.”

He was also joined by his wife, three children, his mother, and seven sisters.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, conveyed his congratulations.

“This is a proud day for the Luong family, the Fort Hood community, the Vietnamese-American community in Texas and for our nation. Luong’s promotion to brigadier general is a testament to the American dream, our nation’s spirit of opportunity, and the power of hard work and determination. I know the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood will continue to be well served under General Luong’s leadership,” he said.

Luong becomes deputy commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, which played a major role in the war in his native Vietnam.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a

long time. We always knew he would be successful but being here is amazing,” said Minh Luong, his youngest sister.

“As a sister I’m like all that for him, but as a devoted American I just couldn’t be more proud and touched

by the support the community is giving us.”

“I’m deeply humbled by all that,” said Luong who has more than 20 years of service in the military.

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

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ENTREPRENEUR

She continued with her plan by starting a startup and began to brainstorm.

Her goal was to serve the people in the community.

Innovative idea leads to startup helping stroke patients

By Aryn Tan Two graduates of Georgia Tech Biomedical Engineering Program in 2013 identified an acute health problem that can be treated with innovative therapy.

Arnab Chakraborty and Christine Hang are co-founders of Flow MedTech — a startup focused on stroke therapy management. Specifically, their company supplies therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. They focus directly on the left atrial appendage.

According to Arnab Chakraborty, “4.4 million people suffer with this condition currently and it is expected to rise to 15.5 million in the upcoming years.”

They felt it was an important issue to address. The initial concept was to create a device that would reduce the number of people affected with atrial fibrillation and stroke risk.

Thus, they launched their idea into a competition called InVenture Prize with the help of VentureLab. The InVenture Prize is led by faculty and is an innovation competition for undergraduate students at Georgia Tech. Students can work independently or in teams to develop and present inventions, which will be judged by experts.

Georgia Tech’s VentureLab aims to

build technology startups. They utilize market need, and customer relations to understand business models for startups. In addition, VentureLab assists in finding grant funding, office space, mentors, and other opportunities.

Christine Hang started thinking about a startup in her sophomore year of college at Georgia Tech. Originally, she was a biomedical engineering major with a focus in pre-med then switched pre-dental.

Similarly to most college students, Christine switched her major a couple of times, until she finally decided on one that fit her needs. In her senior year of college, she became a biomedical engineering major with a business focus. She chose this major for the broader perspectives it brought.

Through her major, Christine was able to network and find others who had similar interests in developing a product. She started talking with people who could potentially make and commercialize devices.

Through campus events exposure, she learned about the opportunity of Georgia Tech InVenture prize, which allows students to compete and share his or her own ideas in a competition.

With such a successful potential idea, Christine became a semifinalist.

Christine saw the demand around her own community and wanted to fill the gap; by creating a medical device solution.

She also knew it would be viable for a business plan. Another benefit would include being able to treat a couple of patients at a time versus treating just one patient.

In addition, it would help supply a large clientele market. Even though she started without a manuscript, she continued to persist and grow by slowly working at her startup.

Through the Georgia Tech Alumni, she was able to network and continue to develop this start up.

Christine’s future plans for her startup are quite optimistic. In 3 years, she foresees that there will be a full blown clinical, safety, and efficacy of the medical device.

In 5 to 7 years time, she hopes to acquire a strategic partner. It was extremely helpful that her family and friends were supportive.

She currently works varied hours, which can span from 7 am to 9 pm on the weekdays to develop her startup.

She also continues to educate others about understanding the importance of creating the medical device and offers advice on developing a start-up.

For anyone thinking about starting a startup, Christine recommends to start off with an idea that has a market fit and that will be viable in our market.

She says, “It is equally important to have a customer discovery process and interview potential customers that would be buying it in the future.”

It is crucial to go research and interact with the customer base of this product. This way you can find out the concerns and demands currently.

Another piece of advice is that in order to have a startup, you have to be passionate about what you are dealing with. It was encouraging that her parents were supportive of her decision to start-up something new; rather than pushing her to have a career that is restrictive.

Her final piece of advice is, “At the end of the day, to be successful is all about communication. It starts by including the benefits of a startup and how it is a serious business venture.”

It is something she is focusing her time and energy on. She is incredibly grateful about being apart of InVenture Prize and continues to work diligently on the future of Flow MedTech.

For more information on Flow Medtech, visit www.flow-medtech.com Aryn Tan is a guest writer and currently enrolled at University of Georgia.

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EVENT

August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Sake Tasting Reception ~ Hayashi Honten Company, August 7, Nakato Restaurant

Ms. Rieko Hayashi, President of Hayashi Honten Company introducing her company’s sake to the Atlanta market.

Kazuo Sunaga, Consul General of Japan - Atlanta, welcoming the guests to the tasting at Nakato Restaurant.

L-R: Eric Wittgen, Director of Savannah Distributing Company and Ms Hayashi welcoming the guests to the reception.

Ms. Hayashi introducing 110 Purple, a line of sake that her company specially produced using the traditional method of brewing.

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

Page 11

ENTERTAINMENT

Actor Robin Williams found dead in apparent suicide

San Francisco, August 8, 2014 — Oscar-winning American actor Robin Williams was found dead at his home in northern California on Monday morning in what the authorities are treating as a suspected suicide.

Officials from the coroner’s office said his death was due to asphyxia by hanging.

The sheriff’s office said it had received an emergency call about noon local time on Monday, saying that Williams was unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco. His body was found by his personal assistant.

Williams’s press representative, Mara Buxbaum, said he had been battling severe depression recently.

“This is a tragic and sudden loss.

The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time,” Buxbaum said.

Last month the 63-year-old “Good Will Hunting” actor, who has struggled

with addiction in the past, entered a Minnesota rehabilitation centre. His representatives at the time said Williams was not using drugs or alcohol but had gone to the centre to “fine-tune and focus” his sobriety after working a longer-than-usual schedule.

Williams’s wife, Susan Schneider, urged his millions of fans to remember his genius for creating laughter.

“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” said Schneider. She became the actor’s third wife when the couple married in 2011.

Fans worldwide united in grief via social media, with #RobinWilliams trending on Twitter throughout the day.

Fellow comedic actor Steve Martin said in a tweet: “I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.”

One of the most beloved American entertainers of his generation, Williams rose to fame in the iconic US television sitcom “Mork & Mindy”.

“I am utterly heartbroken.... As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

He later reeled off a string of bigscreen hits, which included 1987’s “Good Morning Vietnam”, where he played a motor-mouth US military disc jockey; 1989’s “Dead Poets Society” as a maverick English teacher; and 1997’s “Good Will Hunting”, which earned him an Oscar for best supporting actor.

US President Barack Obama paid tribute to him as “one of a kind” while Hollywood director Steven Spielberg hailed Williams, a close friend, as a “lightning storm of comic genius”.

Williams’s last tweet was on July 31 to congratulate his daughter Zelda on her birthday and post an Instagram photo of the two of them, taken when she was a toddler.

He wrote: “#tbt and Happy Birthday to Ms. Zelda Rae Williams! Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!”

Zelda Williams wrote a tribute to her father Tuesday on Twitter with a quote from “The Little Prince”, the classic book by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “You – you alone will have the stars as no one else has them … In one of the stars I shall be living.

In one of them I shall be laughing.

And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night … You – only you – will have stars that can laugh.”

She ended the tweet with her own words: “I love you. I miss you. I’ll try to keep looking up.”

Williams is survived by third wife Schneider and three children – Zelda, Zachary and Cody – all of them in their 20s.

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

LIFESTYLE

McDonald’s Japan unveils “tofu nuggets” after China meat scandal Tokyo, July 30, 2014 — McDonald’s restaurants in Japan are turning to time-honored Asian soul food — tofu — as the chain scrambles to minimize the damage from an embarrassing tainted meat scandal in China. mcdonalds_chinaThe fast-food giant’s more than 3,000 restaurants in Japan today started selling “Tofu Shinjo” nuggets modeled on a traditional side dish that meshes tofu, vegetables and fish.

For ¥249, customers can sink their teeth into four pieces of the chicken-free creation.

The rollout comes days after the firm said that its Japanese restaurants had stopped sourcing poultry products

from a nugget supplier in Shanghai, in response to a scandal that saw expired meat sold to fast food giants.

Yesterday, McDonald’s Japan President Sarah Casanova made a televised apology, as she warned the “appalling” incident — and subsequent switch to chicken suppliers in Thailand to plug the gap — would depress company profits.

The disgraced factory and other Chinese distributors had supplied nearly 40 per cent of the chicken used for McDonald’s Japanese restaurants.

A company spokeswoman said today that, despite its fortuitous timing, the tofu offering had been in the works before China’s latest food safety scandal.

“It is a part of wider, limited-time-only offering for the summer featuring a Japanese-style menu,” she said.

At the chain’s restaurants in mainland China, notices posted at every cash register told customers in Chinese and English: “We regret to let you know that currently we will only be able to provide a limited menu at our restaurant.

“At McDonald’s, we strictly comply with the applicable laws, regulations and the related standards. Thank you for your understanding.”

In Shanghai, where the factory at the heart of the scandal has been shut

down by authorities, the chain’s trademark Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets were unavailable.

“It’s the same situation, only fries and drinks — that sort of food — are available,” an operator from the McDonald’s delivery hotline said, adding: “It’s the same nationwide.”

In Hong Kong, the chain said it has disposed of 43 tons of food products produced by the closed factory since Monday.

“The food products were first sealed before they were sent to the city’s landfills under the inspection of the authorities,” said a company spokeswoman.

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

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SPORTS

The 25-year-old, who won the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah by a record eight shots, became the fourth youngest player to land four majors, with only Tom Morris Jr., Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods ahead of him.

Mickelson, who had been bidding for a sixth major title, recorded his first top-10 finish on the 2013-14 PGA Tour after a disappointing season.

McILroy wins PGA Championship, claims fourth major Louisville, August 10, 2014 Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy recovered from a stumbling start to overcome a series of challengers and clinch his fourth major title by a shot at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

A stroke in front of the chasing pack overnight, the Northern Irish world number one lost the lead but regained control after the turn, signing off with a three-under-par 68 at Valhalla Golf Club for a 16-under total of 268.

Phil Mickelson, the 2005 winner, birdied 18 to finish alone in second with a closing 66, with Swede Henrik Stenson (66) and American Rickie Fowler (68) a stroke further back in third.

“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams I’d have a summer like this,” British Open champion McIlroy told CBS Sports after being presented with the

coveted Wanamaker Trophy, which he hoisted high in celebration.

“I’ve just played the best golf of my life and just really gutted it out today. It was a little different from the previous major wins that I’ve had and I think I showed a lot of guts out there today to get this job done.”

Trailing by three at one point, McIlroy got within a stroke of the lead with a spectacular eagle at the par-five 10th where he hit his second shot from 281 yards to seven feet, before effectively sealing the title with birdies at the 13th and 17th.

In gathering gloom at Valhalla, where play was suspended for just under two hours earlier in the day due to water-logged conditions, McIlroy parred the last to win his third consecutive title on the PGA Tour, and his second major this year.

“It was good for me to get back in the mix and to feel the pressure and get in the thick of it,” said the American left-hander. “I kind of ran out of steam there after 12, wasn’t able to get a couple of birdies coming in like I needed to.”

With birdies abundant on a receptive, rain-softened layout, the galleries were treated to a breathtaking display of shot-making in the final round.

RACE AGAINST DARKNESS However, the late starters faced a race against darkness in their bid to finish the 96th PGA Championship on Sunday.

Play was halted just before noon as heavy rain swept across the par-71 Valhalla layout, leaving rivers of water on several fairways and pools covering many greens.

Roughly an inch of rain had saturated the course by the time play resumed at 2:44 p.m., and with dusk fast approaching a Monday finish seemed likely.

One ahead going into the final round, McIlroy ran up a three-putt bogey at the par-three third to slip to 12 under, level with Mickelson and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

Moments later it became a five-way tie at the top when Fowler birdied the fourth and Stenson the fifth.

Fowler seized the lead with a spectacular chip-in for birdie from just off the right edge of the green at the fifth, but was caught soon after by Mickelson and Stenson.

An up-and-down birdie at the seventh put Fowler one ahead again but the lead did not last long as Stenson soon joined him, draining a 27-footer at the ninth.

McIlroy, who had bogeyed the sixth after finding a bunker with his approach, picked up his first shot of the day at the seventh, hitting a delicate chip from beside a bunker to four feet and sinking the putt.

Out in one-over par 36, McIlroy eagled the 10th, narrowly missed birdie putts at 11 and 12 before sinking a five-footer at the 13th to join Mickelson and Fowler in a tie for the lead at 15 under.

Fowler dropped back with a bogey at 14, and Mickelson dropped his only shot of the day at the 16th before McIlroy effectively made the title safe when he rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th green.

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

SPORTS er ‘new chapter’ at West Ham United with former Southampton boss Mauricio Pocchetino in charge while Everton, unlucky to miss a top-four spot last season having gleaned 72 points, visit promoted Leicester City.

United enjoyed wins against European champions Real Madrid and Liverpool during their north American tour and added a 2-1 victory against Valencia on Tuesday in their final warm-up fixture, after which striker Wayne Rooney was named as the club’s new captain in the wake of Nemanja Vidic’s departure.

Quick feet

Manchester United feeling optimistic under Van Gaal London, Aug 14, 2014 — Manchester United’s pre-season performances have been encouraging but rehabilitation under new manager Louis van Gaal begins in earnest on Saturday when they kick off the new Premier League season at home to Swansea City.

the Premier League with long-serving defender Gary Monk now in charge, should give United temporary leadership of the table although champions Manchester City and Chelsea will be determined to put down early markers away from home.

Dutchman Van Gaal, whose managerial haul includes league titles in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany, faces arguably his toughest task to date in restoring United quickly back to the top of English football’s pecking order.

City face Newcastle United on Sunday while Chelsea, with a parade of new signings including Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, have to wait until Monday to launch their assault on a first league title since 2009-10 away to promoted Burnley.

United’s 20th league title in Alex Ferguson’s farewell season was followed by a slump to seventh - their worst showing in recent years as Ferguson’s successor David Moyes found himself horribly out of his depth.

The only way is up, it seems, under van Gaal, though how fast and how high depends on him quickly implementing his own style on a squad that still looks thin on a quality in several areas despite £56 million of spending.

A home lunchtime clash with Swansea, starting their fourth season in

Like Van Gaal and Costa, Chile striker Alexis Sanchez will also get his first taste of the Premier League as Arsenal begin with a Saturday evening London derby against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool, runners-up last season, begin life after striker Luis Suarez at home to Southampton from whom they signed Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren with a chunk of the cash they received from Barcelona for the controversial Uruguayan.

Tottenham Hotspur begin yet anoth-

With the onus on Rooney and fellow forward Robin van Persie to score the goals, United’s lack of central midfield flair, so apparent last season, could be solved by the quick feet of Ander Herrera who has signed from Athletic Bilbao.

Van Gaal knows a fast start will be vital to challenge last season’s top four and believes confidence is high as Swansea loom, although he also offered a cautionary note to the fans.

“They expect a lot and you can’t change everything in three or four weeks,” he said of the Old Trafford faithful who will have no European football to distract them this year.

“And the players can’t change either.

We have to wait and see and develop.

We need time but we have won every game up until now and that’s fantastic when you see our opponents. We have great confidence to play against Swansea City.”

While United are still expected to add to their ranks before the transfer window closes on September 1, Chelsea and City appear to have concluded their main business.

Costa, whose goals fired Atletico Madrid to the Spanish title last season, scored twice in a 2-0 friendly win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge in which Jose Mourinho played

his likely starting team to face Burnley on Monday.

Mourinho, in the second season of his second spell in charge, believes Brazilian-born Spain international Costa will relish the physicality and pace of English football.

“It’s about his defensive work, mentality and ambition,” said the Portuguese coach, whose side shot themselves in the foot during the run-in last season.

“This is the player we bought and we were waiting for since last season.

This is why we didn’t buy a striker in the winter market. We were waiting for him, we have him and hopefully everything goes well.”

One player who will not be pulling on a Chelsea shirt is midfielder Frank Lampard, who instead will feature in the light blue of Manchester City after one of the stranger pieces of transfer activity in the close season.

Lampard left Chelsea after 13 years in July to join MLS club New York City FC before being loaned to City for six months.

City, who also signed France centre back Eliaquim Mangala this week for £32 million to go with his Porto team mate Fernando and Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna, will take some shifting from their perch.

“I am happy with the squad because I think we have a stronger squad this year than last year,” said manager Manuel Pellegrini, who side started slowly last season.

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

Page 15

HEALTH Worm pill could provide relief from autoimmune disease symptoms Scientists have revealed that a molecule in parasitic worms could help explain why worm infections can effectively treat a range of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

According to the study, the peptide from parasitic worms called AcK1 was shown to dampen the immune system, which could pave the way for a new drug containing the peptide to provide relief from the symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

The new line of research offers an alternative to helminthic therapy, where people deliberately infect themselves with parasitic worms, in an attempt to put their autoimmune disease into remission. It’s thought that the worms have a calming effect on their host’s immune systems in order to ensure their survival.

Rather than using worms, the research team searched for the active components responsible for immunomodulatory effects in parasitic worms. By creating a cDNA library from the anterior secretory glands of the parasitic hookworm Ancylostoma caninium, they identified a peptide called AcK1 that dampens the immune system by inhibiting a potassium channel (Kv1.3).

Researchers found that AcK1 closely resembles ShK, a peptide from a sea anemone, which has been shown to suppress autoimmune diseases and is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Lead researcher Professor Ray Norton from Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) said experts around the world have yet to fully understand the causes of autoimmune diseases, which have risen significantly in parts of the world.

He said that there are more than eighty autoimmune diseases, ranging in severity from mild to life threatening in some cases. While some affect mainly one area or organ, others can affect many parts of the body and many people believe there’s a link between the rise in autoimmune diseases and an increased focus on cleanliness in western societies, because the immune system is no longer exposed to the broad range of infections that previ-

ous generations had to deal with.

Let the sunshine in for better health, says study Chicago, Aug 12, 2014 — A study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign indicates that all-day exposure to natural light, even by means of a window, leads to longer sleep duration at night, as well as increased physical activity and quality of life.

“There is increasing evidence that exposure to light, during the day, particularly in the morning, is beneficial to your health via its effects on mood, alertness and metabolism,” says senior study author Phyllis Zee, MD, a Northwestern Medicine neurologist and sleep specialist.

The study was conducted on office workers, and windows in the workplace could mean up to 173 per cent more white light exposure during the day and an average of 46 minutes more sleep at night, researchers concluded.

They also noted a trend of workers with more light exposure being more physically active than their counterparts.

In the study, researchers surveyed 49 day-shift office workers, of which 27 worked in windowless offices and 22 had windows in their offices.

Quality of life and everything health-related was self-reported, whereas sleep was assessed by means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

A subset of 21 participants was surveyed for light exposure, activity and sleep by means of actigraphy. Ten of these participants worked in windowless environments and 11 hailed from workplaces with windows.

Actigraphy logs ambulatory physiological data, in this case motion and light illuminance, by means of a scientific wearable device.

“Light is the most important synchronizing agent for the brain and body,” says Ivy Cheung, co-lead author and Ph D candidate in neuroscience in Zee’s lab at Northwestern. “Proper synchronization of your internal biological rhythms with the earth’s daily rotation has been shown to be essential for health.”

Sunlight is an important source of vitamin D and a CDC report indicates sun exposure is important even for breast-fed babies, despite the high quantities of vitamin D in breast milk.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Avoid contact with antibacterial compounds when pregnant Washington, Aug 12, 2014 — A study to be presented this week at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) indicates, ironically, that what keeps us clean can be hazardous to unborn fetuses and could cause developmental and reproductive problems.

The compounds in question, called triclosan and triclocarban, and are commonly used bacteria killers, present in more than 2,000 everyday products marketed as antimicrobial, including toothpastes, soaps, detergents, carpets, paints, school supplies and toys, according to researchers.

The chemicals, also referred to as TCS and TCC, respectively, were introduced to the market in 1964 and 1957.

“We looked at the exposure of pregnant women and their fetuses to triclosan and triclocarban, two of the most commonly used germ-killers in soaps and other everyday products,” says Benny Pycke, Ph D, of Arizona State University. “We found triclosan in all of the urine samples from

the pregnant women that we screened. We also detected it in about half of the umbilical cord blood samples we took, which means it transfers to fetuses. Triclocarban was also in many of the samples.”

Although the compounds are quick to be flushed out of the human body by means of sweat and urine, exposure to them is nearly constant.

“If you cut off the source of exposure, eventually triclosan and triclocarban would quickly be diluted out, but the truth is that we have universal use of these chemicals, and therefore also universal exposure,” says Rolf Halden, Ph D, the lead investigator of the study at ASU. In addition to concerns about the potential harms to unborn babies, research also indicates that the ingredients in these products could be contributing to growing antibacterial resistance.

The European public health administration has communicated concerns to the public about triclosan and its portential role in this problem.

Researchers at ASU are familiar with the subject, and thanks to Halden, the director of the Center for Environmental Security, a joint research hub created with support from ASU’s Biodesign Institute, the FDA is tackling the problem.

In an interview upon publication of another ASU study in April, Halden gave a nod to the move — or change them.

“The FDA’s move is a prudent and important step toward preserving the efficacy of clinically important antibiotics, preventing unnecessary exposure of the general population to endocrine disrupting and potentially harmful chemicals, and throttling back the increasing release and accumulation of antimicrobials in the environment,” said Halden at the time.

Pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have announced that they are phasing out the compounds for some products.

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia Cambodia hails Khmer Rouge verdict Phnom Penh, Aug 8, 2014 — Cambodia welcomed the conviction of two Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity, amid concerns from rights groups that political interference would prevent other regime officials from being brought to trial.

Yesterday, Cambodia’s UN-backed tribunal sentenced “Brother Number Two” Nuon Chea, 88, and ex-head of state Khieu Samphan, 83, to life imprisonment.

It was the first-ever conviction for top leaders of a regime responsible for the deaths of up to two million Cambodians through starvation, overwork or execution from 1975-1979.

“We never lost sight of justice for the victims of these horrors so we welcome this delivery of judgement,” said cabinet spokesman Ek Tha. The complex case against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan was split into a series of smaller trials in 2011 to get a faster verdict given their advanced age and the vast number of accusations.

A second trial against the pair began last week, while the tribunal is also investigating two new possible cases involving several lower-ranking cadres.

But Prime Minister Hun Sen—an ex-regime official who defected in 1977 -- has strongly opposed pursuing further cases, raising concerns the government is protecting one-time Khmer Rouge cadres now in the ruling party.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) today welcomed the convictions but criticized government-installed Cambodian judges and prosecutors of obstructing investigations.

“The goal of justice for Khmer Rouge victims has been irrevocably tarnished

by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s political interference, the failure to bring more cases, long delays, and pervasive corruption,” said HRW Asia director Brad Adams in a statement, calling for free investigations of other suspects.

But the verdict was also hailed by many victims, foreign governments and social rights campaigners yesterday.

“This is the justice that I have been waiting for these last 35 years,” said Khieu Pheatarak, who lost 20 family members under the regime, after watching the judgement.

Nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s population was wiped out in the communist regime’s quest to build an agrarian utopia.

The Khmer Rouge court, set up in 2006, has been hit by chronic cash shortages—relying almost entirely on foreign donations—as well as being dogged by allegations of political interference.

The Cambodian cabinet spokesman said the government had never interfered in the court’s work.

“We leave the court to do their job,” he said in an email, refusing to comment on additional cases.

The convictions yesterday followed a two-year trial focused on the forced evacuation of around two million Cambodians from Phnom Penh into rural labour camps and murders at one execution site.

HRW criticized the trial as being too narrow in scope to cover the systematic executions conducted during the “Killing Fields” era.

In their second trial, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan face charges including genocide of Vietnamese people and ethnic Muslims, forced marriages and rape.

Lawyers for both men have said they will appeal yesterday’s conviction in a process that could take at least another 18 months for a final judgement

Dutch company to search for missing MH 370 at Indian Ocean Perth, August 6, 2014 — Australia has awarded a contract to a Dutch company to search the Indian Ocean floor for the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines jetliner that disappeared in March.

The Fugro engineering company is expected to start the search in mid-September. It could take up to a year to scour the 60,000 square-kilometer search area.

Transport Minister Warren Truss said Wednesday the search will be challenging, but he is “cautiously optimistic” the missing Boeing 777 will be found within the target area.

Fugro will search the ocean floor using two vessels towing underwater vehicles equipped with side scan sonar, multibeam echo sounders and video cameras.

Two other ships are currently carrying out a complex, bathymetric survey in the area to learn more about the depths and shapes of the underwater terrain, which is 5,000 meters deep in some places.

The airliner was headed from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 when it disappeared with 239 people on board.

It did not send a distress call and its communications devices were disabled or malfunctioned.

Malaysian authorities say they believe someone intentionally diverted the plane. Australian officials said in June they are now confident the jet was on autopilot when it crashed and that the plane’s pilots were likely unresponsive due to a lack of oxygen.

Georgia Asian Times August 15-31, 2014

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Misc Asia

Chinese county exports human hair, dubbed ‘black gold’ Taihe, August 14, 2014 — Long, black and lucrative: sacks bulging with human hair spill onto the streets of a rural county whose farmers have helped make China the world’s biggest exporter of products made from the material.

As dawn broke over the morning market in Taihe, vendors bringing hairy wares from across China haggled with dozens of buyers, and tempers frayed.

“We have to bargain for hair,” said buyer Liu Yanwen, 35, who sported a buzzcut and arrived at the market at 5.30am in search of deals.

“We have a factory where we’ll turn it into products for export overseas,” he added, clutching a head’s worth of straight, thick black locks.

Gao Pu, a vendor whose head was also shaved, opened a knapsack containing dozens of bunches of hair onto the ground and declared: “It comes from the heads of ordinary Chinese folks.”

Prices can go as high as 5,400 yuan per kilogramme for cuts of 20 inches.

“In the past making hair products was tough, and we did it all by hand...

Now we’ve gone from small to big and are selling internationally.”

China exported nearly 75 per cent of the world’s “bird skin, feathers, artificial flowers, human hair” products, in 2012, according to the World Trade Organization’s International Trade Centre.

The humble hair markets, ramshackle workshops and factories dotting the cornfields of Taihe generated US$88 million of exports in 2012, nearly half the county’s total, according to the local government.

It is one of many “industrial clusters” — areas specialising in a single kind of product, which have sprung up in recent decades as China’s export economy has boomed.

They are especially common in the country’s east, where poverty-stricken farmers have pioneered small businesses since the 1980s, and now entire areas are dedicated to creating lightbulbs, socks, cigarette lighters or bra hooks.

Hair today, gold tomorrow

Taihe, in the eastern province of Anhui, is home to more than 400 companies processing human hair into an array of curly extensions, wigs and other products which end up on heads in the United States, Europe and Africa.

Fu’s heir, his 36-year-old son Fu Qianwei, has a company with the English name Anna and export sales of US$8 million a year, mostly to the US.

Fu Quanguo, 64, pioneered the trade in the 1970s and now sports a crop of white hair. “We used to collect the human hair locally,” he said. “But now it comes from all kinds of countries, Myanmar, Vietnam, countries like that.

“Each country has different demands on length, thickness and quality,” the closely-cropped Fu said, as workers sewed and curled clumps of hair destined for Africa — often seen as primarily a source of raw materials for China, but which also buys its finished goods.

“As Africa’s economy grows, the market is growing and moving towards higher quality,” he said, standing beside boxes filled with “Afro Curly” extensions, featuring illustrations of smiling black female models.

In the factory, the hair is first disinfected in two huge barrels, before workers use paddles to stir clumps of strands in vats of steaming water.

It is dyed in colours from blonde to black — via red and purple — before being dried in ovens, brushed and sewn into hair extensions by the mostly female staff.

“I thread parts together, in a day I can do 1,500,” said Zhang Qing, 23, as she fed bunches of hair into a clattering sewing machine.

Zhang Hongmei’s low stool was surrounded by piles of dyed red hair which she straightened with a large brush.

Like most in the factory, she used to be a labourer in the fields. “If I wasn’t here I’d be working on the farm, but this work is less tiring and earns more money,” she said.

Hair product manufacturing is “by far the biggest industry” in Taihe, says the younger Fu, and now local authorities plan to create a huge industrial park devoted entirely to the sector.

Fu recalls growing up in the 1980s, “when we would be happy if we had rice rather than corn”.

Now he employs more than 200 fulltime staff and escorts foreign clients to dinners at pricey local restaurants in an imported car.

“I owe my income to the hair industry,” he said. “Because the value of hair is so high, people call it black gold.”

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August 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

Despite economic woes, France remained as 2013 top tourism destination Paris, Aug 14 , 2014— France kept its title as the world’s top tourist destination in 2013, drawing nearly 85 million visitors despite a lacklustre economic situation as Chinese interest intensified and North Americans surged back to the country.

With its Mediterranean beaches and skiable mountain ranges, rich architectural heritage and tourist attractions ranging from Versailles to Euro Disney, France grew even more popular last year, welcoming 2 per cent more visitors than in 2012.

It kept its top ranking ahead of the United States, which drew 69.8 million visitors, and Spain, with 60.7 million.

Indeed, if France‘s tourists established their own country, it would be Europe‘s most populous by a margin of several million, Bank of France data showed.

The tourism figures, which showed the number of Chinese people visiting France had shot up by 23.4 per cent, and tourists from India by 15.7 per cent for a total 4.5 million from Asia, brought a rare bit of good news in an otherwise grim economic landscape.

France‘s unemployment rate is stuck at record highs above ten per cent and economic growth data for the second-quarter, due to be unveiled on August 14, is expected to show a meagre expansion of 0.1 per cent.

Yet tourists chose to spent a total of nearly 600 million nights in France last year, an increase of 4.6 per cent compared to 2012. The average duration of their stays — 7.1 days — was 2.5 per cent longer than the previous year.

Government estimates put the contribution of tourism at around 6.5 per cent of GDP. Visitors from North America — whose number fell dramatically during the global financial crisis — continued to flock back, showing 5.8 per cent growth over the year, to 4.2 million.

The increased from North America and emerging markets offset a slight dropoff in visits from Spain, Brazil and Japan, which the Bank of France explained as a consequence of economic troubles in those countries.

In late June, President Francois Hollande’s government had considered a sharp increase in the tourist tax to shore up government finances as it struggles to bring down a public deficit to within an EU target.

However, the planned hike was scrapped in July after virulent protests from local authorities and hotel managers, who said such an increase could kill demand at the start of the summer tourist season.

Montenegro bets on seaside luxury to win tourists Paris, Aug 11, 2014 — Aiming to secure its status as one of the world’s most prestigious destinations, the Eastern European nation is opening a new high-end tourism complex along the shores of the Adriatic.

Dukley Gardens handed over the keys to the first residents in July, and the entire complex is expected to be fully open by December 2014.

Dubbed Dukley Gardens, the new resort and residence complex is located across from the seaside town of Budva in southwest Montenegro, offering unparalleled views over the Adriatic Sea. Situated in a region that is gradually opening up to tourism, the complex is designed first and foremost for wellheeled travellers looking for an intimate destination off the beaten path.

The development, which Stratex describes as “absolutely innovative for the Eastern Mediterranean,” will be presented on September 11 at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes as part of one of the global nautical sector’s most important events, the Yachting Festival.

The development company Stratex invested €100 million to build the new complex, which includes apartments for rent or sale, as well as a marina and seafront lounge to draw international jet setters.

Restaurants, childcare facilities, an immense beach and a parking lot for electric vehicles are also among the amenities at the resort, which occupies a large part of the Zavala peninsula. A pastry shop and an ice cream parlour will also be opened to satisfy travellers’ cravings.

In the vicinity of Dukley Gardens, tourists can explore the Tara Canyon as well as Budva’s imposing fortress and old town, which has preserved all of the country’s old world charm.

A destination on the up-and-up

Montenegro is aiming to attract more travellers from around the world and emulate its neighbouring country Croatia, which has become a very trendy destination in recent years but is now reaching saturation point due to the onrush of visitors.

Lonely Planet, after listing Montenegro in its Best of 2013 guide, followed its recommendation with an update to its guide on the emerging destination.

The latest Lonely Planet Montenegro travel guidebook was published in June 2013.

Currently, most of the international tourists traveling to Montenegro set up their beach chairs in the seaside resort town of Tivat, farther north from Budva. Tivat’s luxury yacht marina of Porto Montenegro is currently the country’s most popular, even among high-income travellers.