Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com December 1-15, 2016
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016
Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho Photographer: Ben Hioe
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Japan-U.S. leadership in Asia-Pacific - Making a new trade architecture in the region Presented by Consulate General of Japan Atlanta, Japan-American Society of Georgia, CIBER at GA Tech Date: Thursday, Dec 8, 2016 Time: 3:00 pm -4:00 pm Venue: Bill Moore Student Success Center, 225 North Avenue, NW, Atlanta GA 30332 RSVP: keizai@aa.mofa.go.jp Laotian American Society (LAS) Annual Gala Date: Dec 10, 2016 Time: 5:00 pm - 12:00 midnight Venue: Signature Ballroom, 80 Horizon Drive, Suwanee GA 30024 Admission: $65 adult / $650 table For more info: www.lasga.org NACA Chinese New Year Gala Date: Saturday, Feb 4, 2016 Time: 6:00 pm Venue: Canton House For more info: www.naca-atlanta.org
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS
Local Asian American student assisted in Thanksgiving Day dinner at NYC’s prestigious James Beard House Atlanta, Dec 1, 2016 — Six culinary students from The Art Institutes system of schools participated in the “James Beard Student Experience” from November 21-26, 2016 in New York City, working alongside Art Institutes chefs at New York City’s James Beard House to prepare a multi-course Thanksgiving Day meal. Tien Dung Tran, an Asian American student with The Atlanta’s Art Institute student was among the selected for the prestigious event. Students competed against fellow Art Institutes students from across the country to earn their spot in the famed restaurant’s kitchens. Additionally, they’ll participate in an immersion day at the Urbani Truffle Academy and shadow a chef at a New York City restaurant, according to official press release. “For a student chef, this experience is overwhelming. I will learn from experienced chefs, and see what the
atmosphere is like in the busy kitchen,” said Tran, a Bachelor of Science at Atlanta Art Institute.
Laotian American Society (LAS) plans annual fundraising gala celebration Suwanee, November 21, 2016 — Members of Laotian American community in metro Atlanta will gather to celebrate the annual Laotian American Society (LAS) gala on Saturday, Dec 10, 2016. The fundraiser event has attracted strong interest and support from other Laotian community in North America. This year’s gala will feature the traditional Lao Natasinh Dancers, Fantazy – a musical band from Florida, Linda – a Canadian pop artist, and local artist Jimmy K. Papillon.
To earn their spot in the James Beard House kitchens on Thanksgiving Day, the students had to create a sample late fall or Thanksgiving menu that featured hors d’ oeuvres and a five course menu. They also had to submit an original recipe for one of their menu items. For more information, contact Atlanta Art Institute
“We look forward to a successful fundraising evening — as the money raised will go towards LAS work in the community, youth & senior programs, LAS college scholarship and culture program,” said Dao Malaythong, a senior member of the LAS Board. Highlight of this year’s gala is the keynote speaker for the evening – Ms. Channapha Khamvongsa, Executive Director at Legacies of War, an organization which seeks to address the problem of unexploded cluster bombs
in Laos, to provide space for healing the wounds of war and to create greater hope for a future of peace. Guests will be treated to a wide variety of authentic Laotian cuisine including Lao sausages, Nam Khao (crispy rice salad), Larb Khai (spicy chicken salad), Khao Poon (red curry chicken noodle soup) and a sumptuous spread of desserts. The gala has already garnered strong interest and seats are limited to 350 guests. Admission tickets are priced at $65 per person or $650 per table of 10. “We will have many items to auction off as well as raffle items. So, please bring extra cash!” said Ms. Malaythong with a wide smile. Laotian American Society (LAS) Annual Gala Date: Saturday, Dec 10, 2016 Time: 5:00 pm – 12 midnight Venue: Signature Ballroom, 80 Horizon Drive, #402, Suwanee GA 30024 For tickets/info: www.lasga.org
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016
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NATIONS
“We’ve been doing a lot of dumb trade,” Ross said. Mnuchin said the Treasury and Commerce departments have trade enforcement capabilities. With regard to China’s foreign exchange policy, he said, “If we determine we need to label them as a currency manipulator that’s something the Treasury would do.”
Trump says he will leave business to focus on running country Washington DC, Nov 30, 2016 — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump vowed on Wednesday to step back from running his business empire to avoid conflicts of interest, while turning to Wall Street for nominees for two key economic leadership posts who promised tax reform and a tougher approach to China. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump gestures to the news media as he appears outside the main clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar U.S. President-elect Donald Trump gestures to the news media as he appears outside the main clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar Trump sent out a series of early morning tweets saying he will hold a news conference in New York on Dec. 15 with his children on how he will separate himself “in total” from his worldwide business holdings. Steve Mnuchin, a private equity investor, hedge fund manager and Hollywood financier, and billionaire Wilbur Ross, who heads a private equity firm,
appeared on CNBC and confirmed their nominations to be Treasury secretary and Commerce secretary, respectively. The Trump transition team announced the nominations on Wednesday morning. Transition sources also said Trump had chosen Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts as deputy commerce secretary. Mnuchin and Ross laid out Trump’s economic objectives, including a tax reform plan that would, among other things, cut corporate tax rates to 15 percent. “We think by cutting corporate taxes we’ll create huge economic growth and we’ll have huge personal income,” Mnuchin said on CNBC. Mnuchin and Ross said lower tax rates would be offset by reductions in the number of income tax deductions. They said trade reform would be a top agenda item. Both men criticized regional trade pacts, saying they favor bilateral agreements with trade partners.
FOCUS NOW ON SECRETARY OF STATE Trump also is working to fill out his foreign policy team, with a major focus this week on who his secretary of state should be. He dined with a former rival, 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, at a French restaurant near Central Park on Tuesday night. Romney, held in suspicion by Trump supporters because of his harsh criticism of Trump, made an impassioned statement in support of Trump after their meal. Trump was to meet on Wednesday with another potential secretary of state pick, retired Marine General John Kelly. He also is considering former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee and former CIA Director David Petraeus for the job. Trump also had meetings planed with Linda McMahon, a former Senate candidate in Connecticut, former Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue and U.S. Senator Dan Coats of Indiana. A variety of critics have raised questions about how Trump would avoid a conflict of interest between the presidency and a real estate empire with properties around the world.
“I will be holding a major news conference in New York City with my children on December 15 to discuss the fact that I will be leaving my great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said. Trump said he is not required by law to alter his relationship with his business, but added: “I feel it is visually important, as president, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.” “Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The Presidency is a far more important task!” Three days after Trump won the presidential election on Nov. 8 the Trump Organization said it was looking at business structures aimed at transferring management control to Trump’s three oldest children. Clearly reluctant to give up a business that made him a brand name around the world, Trump also had previously argued that he had no need to separate himself from the Trump Organization. But criticism has mounted. An analysis by the New York Times, published last Saturday, said Trump’s companies have business operations in at least 20 countries. The Wall Street Journal said in a Nov. 17 editorial that Trump should liquidate his assets in order to avoid any appearance of a conflict. - Reuters (Reporting by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu; Editing by W Simon and Bill Trott)
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
NATION
Congress Approves Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino World War II Veterans Washington, D.C., Dec 1, 2016 — The U.S. Congress finally granted national recognition to the 260,000 Filipino and American soldiers who served under the United States Army Forces of the Far East (USAFFE). They have waited for more than 72 years. The House of Representatives approved S.1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, passed by the Senate via unanimous consent in July. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. “Today is truly a great day, a significant seminal period in American history – second only to the liberation of the Philippines and surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces on August 15, 1945,” says Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP). “Now we can tell our veterans with pride in our hearts that this grateful nation has, at last, granted them recognition for the selfless sacrifice they endured in war, and restored their dignity and honor in service to their nation.”
Seventy years ago this past February, the Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946, a bill that stripped Filipino soldiers the benefits promised them by President Roosevelt. In hailing the bill’s passage, Taguba recalls the many conversations he’s had with veterans who endured “a lifetime of injustice and indignation” inflicted by the Rescission Act. “Yet, they remained steadfast and resolute, hoping our country they willingly defended would right the wrong brought upon them. Their courage and strength were their salvation. They placed their trust and expectations on their sons and daughters, on members of Congress, and the American people who believe in them.”
residing in the U.S. today. “We responded to President Roosevelt’s call to serve and risked our lives fighting under the American flag. But after the war was over, we were treated unjustly, which was painful and humiliating.” Rudy Panaglima, 86, of Arlington, VA. has also harbored the same disappointment and frustration over the years, but is nonetheless “thrilled that the U.S. has now recognized us. It’s better late than never.” Panaglima was only 13 when he served with guerilla forces near his home in Cagayan, as a courier and scout. In 1995, he availed of the naturalization benefits granted to Filipino World War II veterans and immigrated with his wife Pura to the U.S. Paving the way
Long overdue “I’m very happy because this recognition is long overdue,” says 99-year old Filipino World War II veteran Celestino Almeda of Gaithersburg, MD, one of the less than 7,000 surviving veterans
The Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 garnered bipartisan support from 312 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 71 in the Senate, paving the way for Congress to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal, which – along
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom - are the highest civilian awards in the United States. The CGM bill was introduced in June last year in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), with U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) as lead co-sponsor, and in the House by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI-2), with U.S. Rep. Joseph Heck (R-NV-3) as lead co-sponsor. “We did our due diligence by securing more than the two-thirds majority required in both chambers, to ensure its passage,” says Marie Blanco, FilVetREP’s legislative director. “We know how much it means to our veterans and their families.”
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016
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FEATURE
“All South Koreans want Park to leave as soon as possible... they don’t want her to stick around so long,” its leader Choo Mi-Ae said.
Activists called for a sixth weekly protest on Saturday in central Seoul, despite Park saying she would be willing to cede power.
Four month deadline
South Korean ruling party urges Park to quit in April Seoul, Dec 1 — South Korea’s ruling party today urged scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye to step down in April next year, giving her a week to accept their ultimatum or risk impeachment.
The party considered the timetable the most appropriate to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, maintain stability and give political parties time to prepare for the presidential election, Chung said.
Park this week said she would be willing to step down early after coming under huge pressure to quit over an influence peddling scandal that has drawn more than a million people onto the streets in protest.
Park said Tuesday she would let parliament decide her fate following accusations that she colluded with Choi Soon-Sil — a secretive confidante dubbed “Korea’s Rasputin” — to coerce firms to “donate” tens of millions of dollars to foundations which were used for Choi’s personal gain.
The ruling Saenuri Party’s 128 lawmakers unanimously agreed to demand Park resign in late April and called for a presidential election to be held in June, six months earlier than scheduled. “All the lawmakers of the party unanimously approved this timetable”, parliamentary floor leader Chung Jin-Suk was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency after a crucial party meeting.
Park has been named as a suspect in the investigation, making her the first sitting president to be subject to a criminal probe while in office. And although Park’s announcement reduced the momentum of calls for her impeachment, the main opposition Democratic Party insisted that Park should be stripped of office by the end of January.
Lawmakers from Park’s own party had backed the opposition-led move to impeach her as early as tomorrow. But one of them, former Saenuri Party head Kim Moo-Sung, said they were now willing to give Park four months to leave office. “If the president agrees to step down on April 30, there is no need to push through with impeachment”, Kim said. The party would give Park until Thursday next week to accept their demand. “Otherwise, we would have no other option but to take part in the vote for an impeachment motion Friday next week”, said Kim, who is leading the anti-Park group within the ruling party. While she retains the presidency, Park cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she could be charged once she steps down. Massive weekly protests have been intensifying over the past month, with up to 1.5 million people braving freezing temperatures in Seoul on Saturday to demand Park’s resignation, according to organisers.
Park on Wednesday approved a lawyer recommended by the opposition-controlled parliament as an independent prosecutor to carry out a new probe into the scandal. The special prosecutor will interview Park and be given 120 days to follow up on the findings of state investigators. She has backtracked on earlier promises to make herself available for questioning in a judicial probe.
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS
Fearing tighter US visa regime, Indian IT firms rush to hire, acquire Bengaluru, Nov 28, 2016 -- Anticipating a more protectionist US technology visa programme under a Donald Trump administration, India’s $150 billion IT services sector will speed up acquisitions in the United States and recruit more heavily from college campuses there. Indian companies including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro have long used H1-B skilled worker visas to fly computer engineers to the US, their largest overseas market, temporarily to service clients. Staff from those three companies accounted for around 86,000 new H1-B workers in 2005-14. The US currently issues close to that number of H1-B visas each year. President-elect Trump’s campaign rhetoric, and his pick for Attorney General of Senator Jeff Sessions, a longtime critic of the visa programme, have many expecting a tighter regime. “The world over, there’s a lot of protectionism coming in and push back on immigration. Unfortunately, people are confusing immigration with a highskilled temporary workforce, because we are really a temporary workforce,” said Pravin Rao, chief operating officer at Infosys, India’s second-largest information technology firm.
While few expect a complete shutdown of skilled worker visas as Indian engineers are an established part of the fabric of Silicon Valley, and US businesses depend on their cheaper IT and software solutions, any changes are likely to push up costs. And a more restrictive programme would likely mean Indian IT firms sending fewer developers and engineers to the United States, and increasing campus recruitment there. “We have to accelerate hiring of locals if they are available, and start recruiting freshers from universities there,” said Infosys’ Rao, noting a shift from the traditional model of recruiting mainly experienced people in the US. “Now we have to get into a model where we will recruit freshers, train them and gradually deploy them, and this will increase our costs,” he said, noting Infosys typically recruits 500700 people each quarter in the US and Europe, around 80 percent of whom are locals. Acquisitions Trump’s election win and Britain’s referendum vote to leave the European Union are headwinds for India’s IT
sector, as clients such as big US and British banks and insurers hold off on spending while the dust settles. In India’s IT hub of Bengaluru and the financial capital Mumbai, executives expect a Trump administration to raise the minimum wage for foreign workers, pressuring already squeezed margins. Buying US companies would help Indian IT firms build their local headcount, increase their on-the-ground presence in key markets and help counter any protectionist regulations. Indian software services companies have invested more than $2 billion in the United States in the past five years. North America accounts for more than half of the sector’s revenue. “We have to accelerate acquisitions,” said Rao at Infosys, which in the past two years has bought companies including US-based Noah Consulting and Kallidus Technologies. Jatin Dalal, Wipro’s chief financial officer, said his growth strategy is to buy companies that offer something beyond what Wipro already does, or new, disruptive firms – such as Appirio, a US cloud services firm. The chief executive of Tech Mahindra, C.P. Gurnani, said his firm, which two years ago bought network services management firm Lightbridge Communications Corp, is on the look-out
for more US acquisitions, particularly in healthcare and fintech – financial technology firms that are disrupting traditional banking services. Offshoring & automation In a broader shift from labour intensive onsite projects, Indian IT firms are also turning to higher-tech services such as automation, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. With better technology and faster networks, IT firms are encouraging Western clients to adopt more virtual services. Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka says he has focused on automation and AI as growth drivers since 2014. “The AI platform is 5-6 percent of our revenues,” he told Reuters. “Three years ago, it was zero.” More automation would mean fewer onshore developers. “The ‘Plan B’ would be to accelerate the trend … to reduce their reliance on people and increase their focus on delivering automation, leveraging the cloud for their clients,” said Partha Iyengar, Gartner’s head of research in India.
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016 Page 9
BUSINESS
Oil prices head higher after surge on OPEC output deal London, Dec 1, 2016 -- Oil prices rose $1 a barrel on Thursday, building on big gains made after OPEC and Russia agreed to restrict production, even as analysts warned other producers were likely to top up supply. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed on Wednesday its first oil output reduction since 2008 after de-facto leader Saudi Arabia accepted “a big hit” and dropped a demand that arch-rival Iran also slash output. The deal also included the group’s first coordinated action with nonOPEC member Russia in 15 years. On Thursday, Azerbaijan said it was also willing to engage in talks on cuts. “OPEC, it seems, has gone for the most bullish option,” said Tamas Varga, analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates. “OPEC has done its best to stabilise the market in the $50-$60 price range, but if they fail to deliver in the coming months, make no mistake, oil prices will fall well below the $40 mark again.” Benchmark Brent crude for February rose $1.10 a barrel to a high of $52.94 and traded around $52.90, up $1.06 by 1315 GMT. On Wednesday, the expired January Brent contract ended up $4.09 or 8.8 percent at $50.47. U.S. light crude oil was up $1 a barrel at $50.44.
The OPEC deal triggered frenzied trading, with Brent futures trading volumes for February and March, when the supply cut will start to be visible in the market, hitting record volumes. The March 2017 Brent futures contract traded a record 783,000 lots of 1,000 barrels each on Wednesday, worth $39 billion and beating a previous record of just over 600,000 reached in September. Despite the agreed deal, doubts were widespread. “Scepticism remains on individual countries’ follow-through, which is keeping prices below year-to-date highs (of $53.73 per barrel in October) for now,” Morgan Stanley analysts said. Oil prices are still only at September-October levels – when plans for a cut were first announced – and crude prices are less than half mid-2014 levels, when the oil price began to collapse. OPEC produces a third of global oil, or around 33.6 million bpd, and the deal aims to reduce output by 1.2 million bpd from January 2017, similar to January 2016 levels. Analysts said the cuts could leave the field open for other producers, especially U.S. shale drillers. “We do not believe that oil prices can sustainably remain above $55 per barrel, with global production responding first and foremost in the U.S.,” Goldman Sachs said.
WEF: Asean a ‘more open market’ than EU, US Paris, Dec 1, 2016 -- Asean, the 10-state Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a more open market for international trade than either the European Union or the United States, according to a World Economic Forum report released Wednesday. The WEF hailed the “increased integration into the global economy” of Asean members, which comprise Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. “Asean’s progress as an economic power comes at a time when the United States and European Union are becoming less open,” it said in a key finding of the 2016 Global Enabling Trade Report. The scorecard, which comes out every two years, measures the overall capacity of 136 economies to enable the flow of goods across borders. US President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to withdraw from international trade agreements and possibly levy trade tariffs. European states, buffeted by populists, have been under pressure to ditch a trade deal with Canada and a proposed agreement with the United States.
WEF founder and executive chair Klaus Schwab warned that to stave off protectionist impulses, the benefits of free trade must be shared more broadly. “Free trade remains the most powerful driver of global economic development and social progress. The challenge for leaders today is to confront protectionism but they also have a duty to make trade a source for more inclusive growth,” he said in a statement. Elsewhere in its report, the WEF warned that “large swathes of the global population” were being left out of international trade and global value chains, many in the most populous countries of Asia and Africa. China is the only country in a list of the 10 most populous to rank in the top half of the WEF list. “Businesses and entrepreneurs in many developing and emerging economies are being constrained… due to costly and inefficient border processes,” said Philippe Isler, director of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. “Governments must consider trade facilitation reforms as a strategic priority to make trade work for all.”
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
LIFESTYLE
Paris restaurant ‘best in world’ but Japanese chefs come out top Tokyo, Dec 1, 2016 -- A Paris restaurant run by chef Guy Savoy was named the best in the world Wednesday — according to the French-based guides aggregator La Liste — but Japanese restaurants came out on top overall. Double Emmy-award-winning US television chef Eric Ripert came joint second for his New York fish restaurant Le Bernardin, sharing the honour with the minuscule Tokyo restaurant, Kyo Aji. Kyo Aji helped ensure that Japan triumphed again in the country rankings, with 116 of the top-rated 1,000 restaurants, three more than France, with Chinese chefs coming third. But restaurants in Italy came out best on value for money. Savoy’s restaurant in la Monnaie, the old French national mint on the Left Bank of the River Seine, is famous for its artichoke soup with black truffle and filo pastry mushroom brioche and “cold steamed” blue lobster. His 18-course “Innovations and
Inspirations” menu costs 490 euros ($520) without wine.
the New York Times and the prestigious Michelin rankings.
It was the top-rated French restaurant last year coming in fourth place in the La Liste, which was set up as a “more scientific and reliable” rival to the British-based 50 Best Restaurants ranking.
But tragedy struck the first winner Franco-Swiss chef Benoit Violier, who killed himself a month after winning for the Hotel de Ville at Crissier near Lausanne in Switzerland.
Savoy — who trained the volcanic British chef Gordon Ramsay and remains his mentor — controversially did not make the 50 Best this year. Nor did Kenichiro Nishi of Kyo Aji, whom La Liste called “the undisputed master of kaiseki”, the traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. French-born Ripert, 51, a Buddhist who picked up his Emmys for his PBS show “Avec Eric”, already holds the maximum three Michelin stars. Tragedy La Liste bills itself as a “guide of the guides”, pulling together reviews from almost 400 guide books, newspapers and online sites from TripAdvisor to
Savoy, 63, a three-Michelin-starred chef, comes from humble origins. His father was a municipal gardener in the small town of Bourgoin-Jailleu near Lyon in eastern France where his mother ran a fast-food “buvette”. He later trained as a chocolate maker before being taken on as an apprentice by the legendary Troisgros brothers for their restaurant in nearby Roanne. La Liste’s founder Philippe Faure, the head of the French tourist board, has accused the 50 Best of consistently “denigrating” French restaurants in its listing. While 50 Best has repeatedly denied the charge, no French restaurants have
made its top 10 for the last few years. Faure said his listing was compiled impartially from a rigorous mathematical analysis of hundreds of guides and thousands of reviews. La Liste has now also launched a smartphone application in six languages aimed at international travellers for its 1,000 top-rated restaurants in the world, plus the 10,000 eateries which its analysis found to be the best value.
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016 Page 11
ENTERTAINMENT
Alec Baldwin’s Trump can’t stop tweeting during national security briefing on ‘SNL’ ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ plans 2018 Broadway debut Los Angeles, Dec 3, 2016 — After a hit debut on London’s West End this summer, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is in talks to move to New York’s Broadway in 2018, producers said yesterday. The play, based on author JK Rowling’s popular boy wizard character, is being planned for Broadway’s Lyric Theatre, which will undergo a multi-million dollar revamp to house the elaborate production, the show’s producers said in a post on Rowling’s website Pottermore.com. The Lyric Theatre is one of Broadway’s largest venues, with nearly 1,900 seats, and has housed complex theatrical productions such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2005 and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, which ran from 2010 to 2014. In preparation for Cursed Child, the Lyric Theatre will be remodelled with a slightly reduced 1,500 seats, “to ac-
commodate the dramatic look and feel” of the play. Cursed Child is sold out at London’s Palace Theatre until 2018, although more tickets are expected to be released in January. The play is set 19 years after Rowling’s book series concluded the boy wizard’s teen years with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. The play is penned by Jack Thorne, with a story co-created by Rowling, and centres on the lives of an adult Harry Potter and his son. A book of the Cursed Child script, released to coincide with the opening of play, has become a best-seller this year, with more than three million copies sold in the United States within its first month. — Reuters
New York, Dec 4 , 2016 — Alec Baldwin reprised his impersonation of Donald Trump in another Saturday Night Live cold open, poking fun at the president-elect’s frequent activity on Twitter. Baldwin’s Trump couldn’t stop himself from retweeting random supporters in the middle of a national security briefing at Trump Tower. “God, Seth seems so cool,” he said after retweeting a high school teenager (played by SNL’s Pete Davidson), “His twitter bio says he wants to make America great again.” Kate McKinnon, as Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, attempted to cover up for the distracted president-elect: “There is a reason Donald tweets so much. He does it to distract the media from his business conflicts and all the scary people in his cabinet.” “That’s not true,” Baldwin’s Trump replied, clarifying, “My brain is bad.” Kenan Thompson and Alex Moffat, playing two of Trump’s aides, pleaded, “Mr Trump, please stop retweeting all these random, real people. You’re not getting any work done.”
Trump interjected, “That’s not true. I was elected 25 days ago and already unemployment is at a nine-year low, millions and millions of people have health care, and Osama Bin Laden is dead.” Turning his attention back to the security meeting, Baldwin’s Trump tried to address international issues in Pakistan (“Should I text them?”) and North Korea (“Should I call them?”) before McKinnon’s Conway rushed him off to attend a dinner with Mitt Romney. “Do I have to?” Trump whined. “Then can we at least have a picture of us together where he looks like a little b****.” Trump’s dinner meeting with Romney, his potential pick for secretary of state, sparked a social media frenzy, when a photo of the pair made rounds on the internet. In the image, Romney’s face is that of Chris Christie’s Super Tuesday “hostage” expression, which went viral on Twitter. Emma Stone hosted the December 3 episode with musical guest Shawn Mendes. — The Hollywood Reporter/ Bloomberg
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December 1-15, 2016
Georgia Asian Times
FASHION
Goose bumps and bruises as Victoria’s Secret models take to Paris catwalk Paris, Dec 1, 2016 -- It took a fair bit of cheek — and not a little phlegm on a freezing Paris night — for the brash US lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret to hold its first-ever fashion show in the city that invented sexy underwear. And true to the brand’s brazen style, the spectacle featured a (slightly wounded) megastar, history-struck A-lister models — and a jewel-encrusted multi-million-dollar “fantasy” bra. Lady Gaga — the star draw for the annual extragavanza famous for bringing kitschy Las Vegas glamour to the catwalk — picked up a “couple of bruises from (the) dance rehearsal”, she told her 64 million Twitter followers. The show’s mostly American models said they felt “goose bumps” — and not just because of the sub-freezing temperatures. They were also stepping out under the hallowed dome of the Grand Palais, the Art Deco temple where the luxury French label Chanel holds its couture shows. Karl Lagerfeld, the forthright Chanel
designer, was unfortunately not on hand to give his view of the proceedings.
emerald- and diamond-encrusted “Bright Night Fantasy Bra”, which costs $3 million (2.83 million euros).
Three of his favourite models — Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Kendall Jenner from the Kardashian dynasty — were among the brand’s “angels”, so called because the models wear wings on the runway.
The 25-year-old Californian had earlier batted away allegations that she had bleached her skin for the show.
The 35-year-old Brazilian beauty Adriana Lima struck a blow for older models, walking her 15th show on the pink-themed set. The mother-of-two had earlier said she keeps in shape with porridge for breakfast and a buckwheat drink before bed. “Eating buckwheat before bedtime actually helps you burn calories while you sleep,” she said. $3-million bra Another landmark was Jasmine Tookes becoming the “first black woman to sport the Victoria’s Secrets Fantasy Bra in nine years”, after Selita Ebanks and Tyra Banks. She closed the show modelling the
hanna and Beyonce. And in marked contrasted to the usual Paris fashion shows, even if the models were not wearing much they all had smiles on their faces.
“Are you kidding me! Who in the world does that?” she wrote on Instagram.
“It was very much an America-style fireworks show that shouldn’t be taken too seriously,” said one not overly impressed guest called Ronan .
“Lighting is everything… not to mention I’m way darker in the summer and much lighter towards the winter. My skin tone changes all the time just like everyone else,” she added.
The star-studded show, which will be broadcast in 190 countries from December 5, is being seen as an attempt by the label to break into the lucrative European market.
Former Swedish professional basketball player Elsa Hosk also made her debut to promote the brand’s new sportwear range.
The hype surrounding the event began months ago, with the brand launching the hashtag #trainlikeanangel on social media, showing the models working out to get in shape for the catwalk.
Although Victoria’s Secret has nearly 1,000 shops in the US with $7.6 billion sales last year, it is almost unknown in France, where there is a long tradition of high quality lingerie. Among French fashion figures who attended was Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing, a favourite of singers Ri-
Victoria’s Secret has regularly faced criticism for presenting women with an unrealistic body imagine, with models admitting that they are on special diets for weeks before the show.
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016
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SPORTS ing football, which is something that the fans like. But we need results.” Mourinho was not present in the dug-out, having earlier been given a one-game touchline ban for angrily booting a water bottle during United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham in the league on Sunday.
London, Dec 1, 2016 -- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho lauded his players’ “beautiful football” after they overwhelmed West Ham United 4-1 to set up a League Cup semi-final date with Hull City. United are toiling in the Premier League, where a run of four consecutive home draws has contributed to their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1989. But they produced some irresistible football against West Ham at Old Trafford on Wednesday, prevailing through a brace apiece from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial.
“I’m pleased with the goals because the performance is something that we are used to,” Mourinho told Sky Sports, before ducking his post-game press conference. “We are playing very, very well at home and today was more of the same. “After that goal (West Ham’s equaliser), we had 10 minutes where we felt it deeply and the players on the pitch could not hide that because West Ham’s first shot, they equalised. “But in the second half the team got again the confidence to play and to win comfortably and play beautiful attack-
“That showed clearly his evolution because against Feyenoord we could think, ‘OK, it is a different profile of football.’
He could not be seen in the directors’ box and when asked where he had watched the game, he said it was a “secret”.
“But today was against a proper and typical Premier League team and Micky could perform this way. So I’m really happy.
He had seen his side concede inside two minutes on Sunday, but here it was United who struck first as Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s deft back-heel released Ibrahimovic to beat West Ham goalkeeper Adrian.
“We know the reason why we bought him and we were waiting for his adaptation and it looks like it’s coming.”
Ashley Fletcher, who left United for West Ham in July, equalised in the 35th minute after David de Gea allowed Dimitri Payet’s shot to bounce away from him.
Mourinho buoyed by ‘beautiful’ Manchester United
against a Premier League team with Premier League qualities, with Premier League characteristics,” Mourinho said.
But Martial scored twice, confidently tucking away right-wing passes from Mkhitaryan and then Antonio Valencia, before Ander Herrera teed up Ibrahimovic for United’s fourth goal in stoppage time. Herrera was freed by Bastian Schweinsteiger, who received a warm ovation from the Old Trafford faithful as he came on to make his first appearance since last season.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic professed himself “very disappointed” and said his team had paid the price for conceding early goals in both halves. “You can’t have a slow start anywhere, especially not here,” said the Croatian. “Because they’re good anyway, but especially when they’re 1-0 up and can play on the counter-attack. “At half-time we said we can’t allow them to do it again, but it was exactly the same at the start of the second half.” Bilc lost wing-backs Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio to injury and said both players would be assessed on Thursday.
Bilic counts cost Mourinho has softened his stance regarding the former Germany captain, who he had previously frozen out, and also saw Mkhitaryan produce another assured display on just his third United start. Mkhitaryan shone in United’s recent 4-0 win over Feyenoord in the Europa League, but Mourinho was more pleased to see the former Borussia Dortmund star impress against domestic opposition. “I’m so happy because today was
“(Cresswell) told me when he was coming off that he felt his groin was tight. He didn’t pull anything, so hopefully it’s not a major injury,” said Bilic, whose side host Arsenal this weekend. “A couple of days’ rest and I hope he’ll be ready for Saturday. With Antonio we still don’t know.”
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS
Rosberg talks of ‘difficult’ relationship with F1 rival Hamilton Wiesbaden, Nov 30, 2016 -- Newly crowned Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg said Wednesday his relationship with rival and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton would “always be difficult” after a fierce title battle. Rosberg claimed his maiden world title with a second-place finish in Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix despite Hamilton claiming a fourth straight race victory. But the German conceded relations with Hamilton “will always remain difficult”. “We’re rivals. But the fact we’ve known each other since childhood helps in the difficult periods,” Rosberg told reporters in his hometown of Wiesbaden. He was asked several times about Hamilton’s tactics, with the Briton slowing down towards the end of the race while blocking Rosberg in the hope two other drivers — Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen — could catch and overtake him.
El Clasico to hold minute’s silence for air crash victims
“I find it a shame that we’re talking about that so much. I can also understand Lewis, he’s a fighter, the world title was at stake. One can understand sometimes overstepping the limits when you’re fighting for the world title.”
Madrid, Nov 30, 2016 — Saturday’s blockbuster La Liga clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be preceded by a minute’s silence for the 71 people killed in a plane crash that decimated the Brazilian football team Chapecoense.
Rosberg also refused to expand on how he would have reacted had he been in Hamilton’s place, with the Briton needing to win and see his rival finish off the podium to snatch the title.
“Every day and every weekend there are hundreds of thousands of players travelling in cars, buses, trains and planes... they are always exposed to this risk of accidents,” said La Liga president Javier Tebas today.
“It’s too hypothetical. For me, there’s no sense in talking about this story,” Rosberg said.
“We want to recognise, remember and offer our condolences to the families.” A minute’s silence will also be held before all matches in the Copa del Rey across Spain on today and tomorrow. Madrid, Barca and Atletico Madrid were among a host of Spanish clubs to express shock and sadness at the plane crash in Colombia yesterday. Former Atletico midfielder Cleber Santana was one of those killed as the
plane went down just before reaching its destination in Medellin, where Chapecoense were to play in a Copa Sudamericana final. Three Chapecoense players were among six survivors rescued from the wreckage.
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016
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HEALTH Study: Under-50 smokers face 8-fold higher heart attack risk Smokers under 50 are eight times more likely than non-smokers of the same age to have a major heart attack, scientists said Wednesday. The gap in risk between those who do and don’t consume tobacco diminishes with age, dropping to a five-fold difference among 50-to-65 year-olds, and a three-fold gap among over-65s, the team said. The findings are surprising because younger men and women typically do not have as many of the health problems — diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol — associated with an increased chance of heart failure. “Smoking is perhaps the most powerful of all risk factors, exerting its effect much sooner than any other,” concluded the study, published in the journal Heart.
All smokers face a markedly higher danger of heart attacks than non-smokers, but it had not been clear how the risk compared between age brackets. To find out, a team of researchers led by Ever Grech of The South Yorkshire Cardiothoracic Centre at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, England, examined data from 1,727 adults who underwent treatment for a common type of heart attack — known by the acronym STEMI — between 2009 and 2012. Such attacks result in a large portion of the heart muscle dying. Nearly half the patients were current smokers. The rest were almost evenly divided between ex-smokers and people who had never picked up the tobacco habit.
On average, current smokers were at least a decade younger than ex- or never-smokers when the heart attack hit, the study found. They were also twice as likely as non-smokers to previously have suffered from coronary artery disease.
“Further efforts to reduce smoking in the youngest are needed,” the study said. The researchers added “it is difficult to explain the much higher risk” of acute heart attack among younger patients.
Across the population of South Yorkshire, 27 percent of adults under the age of 50 consumed tobacco, said the study. But nearly 75 percent of STEMI heart attack patients under 50 were smokers.
Writing in the same journal, cardiologist Yaron Arbel of the Tel Aviv Medical Center in Israel, said the goal should be on helping younger smokers quit.
Overall, smokers were more than three times as likely to have a STEMI than ex- and non-smokers combined, the data showed.
And if that proves impossible, “even reducing the number of cigarettes smoked daily might make a difference,” he said.
The results should be a wake-up call to young smokers, the researchers warned.
Chronic gum disease tied to risk of erectile dysfunction Erectile dysfunction is more common in men with gum disease, according to a new review of existing studies. Chronic bacterial infection of the gums, or periodontitis, is common and a major cause of tooth loss for adults, the authors write. The condition has been tied to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and general inflammation, which in turn have been tied stroke and hardening of the arteries. Stroke and hardening of the arteries are also associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). “In our opinion, the actual biological mechanism of ED in periodontitis patients remains poorly understood,” said senior author Dr. Zhigang Zhao of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China.
“It might still be too early to suggest that men with ED should have their teeth checked; and that men with chronic periodontitis should worry about their sexual function,” Zhao said. “However, it might be beneficial to inform patients with chronic periodontitis about its association with ED.” The reviewers analyzed data from five studies published between 2009 and 2014, including one randomized controlled trial. In total, the studies covered 213,000 participants aged 20 to 80. Each study found erectile dysfunction was more common among men being treated for chronic periodontitis, particularly for those younger than 40 and older than 59. After accounting for diabetes, which can influence both
gum disease and sexual function, erectile dysfunction was 2.28 times more common for men with periodontitis than for men without it, according to the report in the International Journal of Impotence Research. “Since chronic periodontitis had been linked with several chronic disorders, it is sensible to recommend daily inter-dental cleaning to reduce dental plaque and gingival inflammation,” Zhao said. “Chronic periodontitis treatment can control or eliminate inflammation and may reduce the risk of ED.” One study in 2013 found that treating periodontitis improves erectile dysfunction symptoms. “Furthermore, clinicians should be aware of the potential role played by periodontitis disease in the develop-
ment of erectile dysfunction,” Zhao said. The new review did have limitations, including the fact that erectile dysfunction and chronic periodontitis are caused by similar risk factors, such as aging, smoking, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. While some studies did account for diabetes, most did not account for smoking or alcohol consumption, which can also affect oral health and sexual function, the authors write. Even after an exhaustive search, the evidence linking periodontitis and ED is limited, they write. - Reuters
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
Misc Asia
Urban sprawl threatens Thailand’s Ayutthaya world heritage site Bangkok, Nov 25, 2016 — Sprawling urban growth and water management problems are threatening conservation efforts at Thailand’s ancient city of Ayutthaya, experts say. The UNESCO World Heritage site located some 80 kms (50 miles) north of the capital, Bangkok, was once among the world’s wealthiest cities and a major trading port from the 14th to 18th centuries. Today, the city attracts tourists from around the world who come to admire the ruins and stone Buddha statues at Ayutthaya, once the ancient capital of Thailand, then known as Siam. However, poor urban planning and its impact on water management in the low-lying area pose a threat to the historic park, said Montira Horayangura Unakul, National Professional Officer with UNESCO’s Culture Unit. “Half the island is protected as a historic park and is also a world heritage site and the eastern half is where a lot of the modern development has taken place,” Montira told Reuters in a telephone interview. Rapid development has fueled concern over the area’s capacity to defend against floods.
Devastating floods in Thailand in 2011, which killed more than 900 people and cost billions of dollars, hit Ayutthaya. Dozens of temples were inundated for weeks, although most suffered little damage. “Once the waters receded there didn’t seem to be too much damage,” said Montira. “However, after that we found residual effects for example to mural paintings.” A lack of knowledge about traditional materials used at some sites is another problem that besets Ayutthaya and other heritage sites, including the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat temple complex in neighboring Cambodia. “An issue we are trying to address now is knowing what the ancient materials used in Ayutthaya were and what the composition of them was,” Montira said. Thailand held an international conference, in collaboration with UNESCO, last month to discuss conservation of brick monuments at the site.
Piko Taro rocks PPAP with Elmo and Cookie Monster Tokyo, Nov 21, 2016 -- Just when many were hoping the pen-pineapple-apple-pen (PPAP) craze had died a natural death, it appears to have become even more popular, now that it has spread to the famous children’s show Sesame Street. Piko Taro, the Japanese entertainer who made international headlines with his PPAP song, appeared as a guest on the Japanese edition of Sesame Street recently, as shared by the show’s YouTube channel. The entertainer, whose real name is Kazuhiko Kosaka showed-up in his trademark yellow leopard print suit, interacting with Elmo and the Cookie Monster, teaching them the PPAP dance moves. However, the lyrics to the song were modified to fit the show, with the words changed to ‘cookie butter choco cookie’. In the 5:16 minute video, Piko Taro graciously shows Elmo and the Cookie Monster how to expose their wrists to the camera while thrusting out their chests when doing the dance move as well as how to more accurately shape the images of a cookie, chocolate and butter with their hands.
The two adorable muppets listen attentively and mimic Piko Taro’s moves to perfection when the three perform the PPAP song together, now changed to CBCC for the kiddie show. The video has garnered close to 1 million views since it was posted on Nov 17. The success that followed Piko Taro has taken the music industry by surprise, especially since four simple and seemingly unrelated words served as the basis for the “hit song”. The original PPAP video on Piko Taro’s official YouTube channel has recorded more than 88 million views to date. While the YouTube views are nowhere near Oppa Gangnam Style’s 2.6 billion, the sensation of PPAP has resulted in various attempts to replicate Kosaka’s unique dance moves, including by international celebrities. The song also secured a place in the Guinness World Records for the shortest song to make it into the Billboard Hot 100.
Georgia Asian Times December 1-15, 2016
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Misc Asia
India cash ban slims down big fat weddings New Delhi, Nov 30, 2016 — Jatin Pal’s wedding was just days away and his family were finalising plans for an extravagant multi-day celebration — then Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned high denomination notes overnight, casting a dark shadow over the festivities. Within hours of Modi’s surprise November 8 announcement, 500 and 1,000 rupee notes — some 85 per cent of all cash in circulation — were withdrawn, leaving millions across the vast country out of pocket. The move — described by the prime minister as a “surgical strike” against corruption and tax evasion — coincided with the start of India’s annual wedding season, when thousands marry during a three-month period deemed auspicious in the Hindu faith.
celebrations, according to an estimate by Goldman Sachs. Traders say almost all wedding-related purchases are traditionally made in cash from savings put aside over years — even decades — but that the currency ban means many families are being forced to cut back. “Indian parents start planning and saving for the wedding as soon as a child is born,” said Priyanka Gupta, owner of a bridal store, adding that she had seen a significant drop in business since the demonetisation. Delhi-based wedding planner Shrawan Kumar said most of his clients spend between 1.5 million and two million rupees, but that some had scaled back plans by as much as 40 per cent. Others have simply decided to postpone or even cancel.
“We marry once and you try to make it memorable in every possible way. But the cash crunch is proving otherwise,” said Pal. “This has soured the happiness and left a bad feeling.”
“I can’t pay the waiter, photographer, transport, florist, vegetable seller through cheques. We are at a loss,” Kumar said.
Life savings are ploughed into weddings in India, with a typical urban family spending up to US$75,000 on
Another casualty has been one of Delhi’s oldest gold markets, which has temporarily closed after tax officers
raided jewellers across the country on reports of a gold buying spree following the currency ban as people tried to turned their cash into gold. Almost 50 per cent of gold sales in India are linked to weddings, according to the World Gold Council, with most purchases made in cash.
is in the works — and instead borrowed around 450,000 rupees from friends. “It is frustrating when you have saved money for the wedding but can’t use it,” said Ranbir. “We should be making arrangements for over 700 guests who will come to the wedding. Look what we are doing.”
No black money Stubbornly long queues outside banks have become a ubiquitous sight across the country as the new rupee bills have been slow to get into circulation. The government has put temporary restrictions on the amount of cash people can exchange or withdraw in an attempt to wean the country off cash and bring more into the formal — and taxable — banking sector. Following outrage from families planning weddings, the government allowed a special one-time withdrawal of 250,000 rupees per wedding party to help cover costs — small fry for an Indian wedding. But Pal’s father Ranbir said they had twice tried and failed to get the extra money under the scheme — which requires paperwork proving a wedding
Short of cash, the family has had to scale back the celebrations. Madhur Jain, who runs a wedding card shop in Old Delhi, said he had received just three orders a week since the demonetisation, down from an average of 30. “The old notes are out and new notes are nowhere to be seen,” said Jain. But despite most customers paying in cash, bridal shop owner Gupta was quick to dismiss suggestions that socalled “black money” — unaccounted money — was involved in the industry. “There is no black money involved in the weddings,” she said. “More than anything this means shattered dreams of families (hoping) to celebrate an ideal wedding.”
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December 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
TRAVEL
Top things to do in magical France this holiday season Paris, Nov 30, 2016 - From a French cancan to a helicopter tour of Bordeaux wineries, TripAdvisor has created a list of holiday-inspired travel experiences in France for travelers of all tastes, from Francophiles to galloping gourmets and thrill seekers. It’s been a rather lackluster year for French tourism. Following the spate of terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice, international tourism dipped 8 per cent between January and October of 2016 and is expected to bring in just above 80 million visitors by the end of the year. That compares to 85 million international visitors in 2015.
Good news for travelers who won’t be deterred by random acts of terrorism: Hoteliers have been reducing holiday room rates while airlines have been posting competitive airfares to France in a bid to bring tourists back to one of the world’s leading travel destinations. Here’s a selection of magical French experiences for the holiday season and beyond, as curated by online travel booking site TripAdvisor (all of which can be booked on the site): Moulin Rouge If you’re looking for festive holiday sparkle and fur, look no further than the Moulin Rouge, where 60 beauti-
ful ladies wearing strings of sequins placed strategically in all the right places and extravagant head pieces strut, kick and dance for your entertainment. This holiday, make it extra special with a flute of champagne (served for shows after 9pm). Prices start at €112. Champagne-fueled shopping at Galeries Lafayette Shopaholics can get a special welcome to the iconic, theatrically stunning department store. In a tour operated between Viator and TripAdvisor, guests will get the VIP treatment with a special welcome at the Premium Lounge that includes a glass of champagne, macarons, goody-bag, and rooftop visit for a panoramic view of the city. Prices start at €40.
Helicopter tour of French vineyards This one’s for wine lovers with their head in the clouds. Oenophiles can get another perspective of the Medoc and Saint-Emilion vineyards which produce some of the headiest, most popular wines in the world. After getting a bird’s eye view of the grapevines, the tour continues in a wine cellar and lunch in one of the region’s many wine chateaux. Prices start at €320. Hot-air balloon ride in the Val de Loire area Scheduled to take off at sunrise and sunset, the three-hour hot air balloon experience takes riders across the region’s forests, lakes, orchards and vineyards. Prices start at €225.