Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com December 15-31, 2019
Season’s Greetings & Happy New Year
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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“How to do business with the City of Atlanta” Informational session and step by step instructions. By City of Atlanta-Mayor’s Office of Contract Compliance Date: Jan 7, 2019 Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm Venue: City of Atlanta’s Old City Council Chambers 68 Mitchell Street, NW-3rd Floor, Atlanta GA 30303 For more info: 404-330-6010 RSVP: asnead@atlantaga.gov NACA Chinese New Year & Fundraising Banquet Date: Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Canton House For more info: www.naca-atlanta. org 2019 New American Hero Award Organized by American Korean Friendship Society
Date: Friday, March 6, 2020 time: 6:00 pm Venue: TBA Event is by invitation only. 2020 Symposium on ASIAUSA Partnership Opportunities (SAUPO) Organized by Kennesaw State University Date: Friday, April 10, 2020 Venue: Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center, 2450 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta GA 30339 For more info: https://conference. kennesaw.edu/saupo/
Contact: Jennifer Rose and Rose Pak ATLANTA • 770.457.8118 iig-insurance.com
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS
Henry Cho and Angelica Hale headlined for literacy fundraiser for immigrant children and family Duluth, December 13, 2019 -Two nationally recognized Asian American entertainers including comedian Henry Cho and Filipino-singer Angelica Hale from America’s Got Talent headlined a literacy fundraiser for immigrant children and family. The fundraiser “Literacy: From My Story to Our Story” is to help launch Catalyst Coalition, a newly organized nonprofit organization focusing on English proficiency for immigrant children and parents at Davis Media Studio in Gwinnett. Henry Cho who is a nationally renown comedy who has appeared on NBC’s Tonight Show, CBS’s The Late, Late Show, and has a comedy central special running on Netflix. “It’s my pleasure to be part of this fundraising to help children and families. I do about 20 charity shows every year and this is
amongst the important one that I chose to participate,” said Cho in an exclusive interview with Georgia Asian Times. Angelica Hale is an American child singer who resides with her family in Georgia. She competed in the 12th season of America’s Got Talent, and became the runner up. She also competed on the first season of America’s Got Talent: The Champions, where she received the Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel for her performance of “Fight Song.” Literacy or reading English, is a proven gateway to greater academic success, job opportunities, and civic participation. Newly arrived immigrants and their children make up a large percentage of those who are illiterate in our country, with Georgia ranking the 6th worst state in adult literacy rates.
“We are honored and excited that two nationally-recognized, Asian American entertainers supported the work of our nonprofit by performing at our first fundraiser,” said Jin Lee, Founder and CEO of the Catalyst Coalition. “Helping both immigrant children and their parents to read are critical in ensuring that the next generation of immigrants in Georgia are going to succeed and prosper,” said David Kim, Head of Programs for Catalyst Coalition. “Fifty-two percent of children in Gwinnett County enter kindergarten unprepared, and two-thirds of those kids read below grade level by the time they enter the third grade. Our immigrant communities are mature enough and have established ourselves enough to give back to other immigrants and lift our entire community and state up,”
said Kim in his remarks. Kim Holland, Director of Early Learning & School Readiness at Gwinnett County Public Schools, delivers a scientific based researched data detailing the importance of early childhood literacy especially in underprivileged families. Research shows that under privileged children grasped about 3,000 words comprehension versus 20,000 words for privileged children by the age of five. To support or donate to Catalyst Coalition: - Text to give 404-512-2222 - Venmo@catalyst-coalition - https://donorbox.org/ ccgive
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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METRO ASIAN NEWS
Miss South Africa wins 2019 Miss Universe crown Atlanta, December 9, 2019 -- Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe in Atlanta after a lavish ceremony filled with glitter and heartfelt speeches about female empowerment. She upsets the favourites from India, the Philippines and Thailand. Zozibini Tunzi, 26, finished first ahead of the Puerto Rican and Mexican finalists in a flashy televised event, hosted by American comic turned TV personality Steve Harvey.
who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful,” she said on Sunday (Dec 8). “I think that it is time that that stops today,” she said to thunderous applause. Tunzi beat more than 90 contestants from around the globe in the 68th installment of Miss Universe, which was held in Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Studios.
Television personalities Vanessa Lachey and Olivia Culpo served as backstage commentators, and a panel of seven women determined the winner.
The two big favorites ahead of the competition, Miss Thailand Paweensuda Saetan-Drouin and Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados, only made it to the final 10.
Tunzi earned cheers during her closing speech, a new segment of the competition, in which she talked about wanting to empower young women to feel confident.
The Philippines’ Catriona Gray, who presented Tunzi with the crown, took home the Miss Universe crown in 2018.
“I grew up in a world where a woman
Although she did not make the finals, Miss Myanmar Swe Zin Htet made
waves last week when she came out as the competition’s first openly gay contestant. “I have that platform that, if I say that I’m a lesbian, it will have a big impact on the LGBTQ community back in Burma,” Htet told People magazine on Monday (Dec 9), using her country’s historic name. Homosexuality is illegal in the South-East Asian country and is punishable by up to life in prison. In 2018, the competition also featured Miss Spain Angela Ponce, who blazed a trail as Miss Universe’s first transgender contestant. Miss Philippines, however, won the hearts of pageant fans with her national costume. The 22-year-old was awarded Best National Costume at the pageant via online voting. But the pageant has had a controver-
sial past. Multiple contestants have alleged that US President Donald Trump would regularly enter the competitors’ changing room while he owned the organization from 1996-2015. Additionally, Miss Universe continues to host the swimsuit competition, which has drawn criticism for objectifying the contestants, although that part of the pageant was not televised.
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
NATION
U.S. House committee nears vote on impeachment articles against Trump
Washington DC, December 12, 2019 - U.S. lawmakers moved closer on Thursday to impeaching Republican President Donald Trump, as members of a House of Representatives committee debated formal charges that are likely to be sent to the full House for a final vote next week. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to approve two articles of impeachment later on Thursday, setting up a vote by the Democratic-controlled House next week that is expected to make Trump the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. If the House impeaches Trump, who is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, he would then go on trial in the Senate. The Republican-led chamber is unlikely to vote to find the president guilty and remove him from office. Republicans on the Judiciary panel repeatedly complained about the procedures followed by Democrats in the impeachment inquiry, and said Democrats had overplayed their hand in a desperate attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election. Republicans requested another hearing and said their rights had been trampled in the inquiry, but were voted down by the panel’s Democratic majority. Republicans also moved to strike the first charge of abuse of power but the committee rejected it on a party line vote.
“Rules have just been thrown out the window in this process,” said Republican U.S. Representative Debbie Lesko. “It continues to amaze me how corrupt, how unfair this process has been from the start.” Democrats accuse Trump of abusing his power by trying to force Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and of obstructing Congress when lawmakers tried to look into the matter. Former Vice President Biden is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to run against Trump next year. Republicans on the committee said there were no crimes alleged in the impeachment articles and “abuse of power” had become a catch-all for Democratic complaints about Trump. “This notion of abuse of power is the lowest of low-energy impeachment theories,” said Republican Representative Matt Gaetz. Democrats chided Republicans for their loyalty to Trump. “Forget about President Trump. Will any one of my colleagues on the other side say that it is an abuse of power to condition aid on official acts?” said Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal. “Is any one of my colleagues willing to say that it is ever OK for a president of the United States of America to invite foreign interference in our elections?”
Trump has denied wrongdoing and condemned the impeachment inquiry as a hoax. “No crime!” Trump wrote on Twitter early Thursday. Much of the impeachment focus has been on a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. Trump has also instructed current and former members of his administration not to testify or produce documents, leading senior officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to defy House subpoenas. Democrats say that behavior by Trump constitutes obstruction of Congress. ‘PHONY HEARING’ Trump appeared to be watching some of the proceedings, tweeting rebuttals to Democratic arguments as they were made. He said Democrats were misrepresenting his talks with Ukraine and called the proceedings a “phony hearing.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters the full House would take up the articles of impeachment next week if approved by the committee. “The articles of impeachment will pass,” Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic caucus chairman, told reporters. A Senate trial is expected next month on the charges. Senior Republicans in the chamber appeared to be moving toward a consensus that a streamlined proceeding with no witnesses would allow Trump and the Senate to end the matter and quickly move on.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said on Wednesday no decision had yet been made over how to conduct the trial. Democrats sought to simplify the public case against Trump by not including other contentious aspects of Trump’s tenure, such as his efforts to impede former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. Democratic lawmakers from more conservative districts had argued the focus should stay on Ukraine. Still, several Democrats in swing districts remain unsure how they will vote on impeachment, although with a 36seat Democratic lead over Republicans in the House, passage is expected. Democratic Representative Jeff Van Drew, one of two House Democrats to vote against launching the impeachment inquiry, said he would definitely vote against the articles of impeachment but he very few other Democratic defections. Trump and Republicans have tried to use the issue as way to attack Democratic presidential candidates and those vulnerable House members. Pelosi said Democratic House leaders were not pressuring any uncertain members to support the impeachment. “I do not ask anybody what their vote is,” she said. Public support for impeachment has largely fallen along party lines, with the vast majority of Democrats supporting it and most Republicans opposing it. Trump’s approval rating, according to opinion polls, has largely remained consistent throughout the inquiry. Reuters
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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BUSINESS
U.S. housing starts rise; permits at 12-1/2-year high Washington DC, Dec 17, 2019 – U.S. homebuilding increased more than expected in November and permits for future home construction surged to a 12-1/2-year high as lower mortgage rates continue to boost the housing market and support the broader economy. Housing starts rose 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.365 million units last month, with single-family construction racing to a 10-month high and activity in the volatile multi-family sector increasing for a second straight month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Data for October was revised higher to show homebuilding rising to a pace of 1.323 million units, instead of advancing to a rate of 1.314 million units as previously reported.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast housing starts increasing to a pace of 1.345 million units in November. Housing starts jumped 13.6% on a year-on-year basis in November. Building permits increased 1.4% to a rate of 1.482 million units in November, the highest level since May 2007. The housing market is regaining momentum after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times this year, pushing down mortgage rates from last year’s multi-year highs. A survey on Monday showed confidence among homebuilders jumped in December to the highest level since June 1999. But scope for strong gains in the sector, which accounts for about 3.1% of the economy, is limited as builders complained they are “still under building due
to supply-side constraints like labor and land availability.” In addition to land and labor shortages, mortgage rates have backed up in recent weeks after the Fed signaled further rate cuts were unlikely. The U.S. central bank kept rates steady last week and indicated borrowing costs could remain unchanged at least until through 2020. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 3.73% from a year-low of 3.49% in early September, but is still below its peak of 4.94% in November 2018, according to data from mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac. Residential investment rebounded in the third quarter after contracting for six straight quarters, the longest such stretch since the 2007-2009 recession. It is expected to contribute to gross domestic product
again in the fourth quarter. Single-family homebuilding, which accounts for the largest share of the housing market, increased 2.4% to a rate of 938,000 units in November, the highest level since January. Single-family housing starts rose in the West and Northeast, but fell in the Midwest and the populous South. Single-family housing building permits rose 0.8% to a rate of 918,000 units in November, the highest since July 2007. Starts for the volatile multi-family housing segment increased jumped 4.9% to a rate of 427,000 units last month. Permits for the construction of multi-family homes rose 2.5% to a rate of 564,000 units. – Reuters
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS
U.S., Canada and Mexico sign agreement – again – to replace NAFTA Washington DC-Mexico City, December 10, 2019 – Top officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States signed a fresh overhaul of a quarter-century-old trade pact on Tuesday that aims to improve enforcement of worker rights and hold down prices for biologic drugs by eliminating a patent provision. The signing ceremony in Mexico City launched what may be the final approval effort for U.S. President Donald Trump’s three-year quest to revamp the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a deal he has blamed for the loss of millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs. The event at the National Palace was attended by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and U.S. White House adviser Jared Kushner. The result of a rare show of bipartisan and cross-border cooperation in the Trump era of global trade conflicts, the deal was inked the same day as he became the fourth U.S. president in history to face formal impeachment. It quickly got bogged down in more party division, however, as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would likely wait for a vote on the deal until after the impeachment trial. Nonetheless, Lighthizer called it “a miracle” that actors from across the political spectrum had come together, saying it was a testament to the benefits of the deal. Lopez Obrador credited Trump for working with him, while Freeland celebrated a win for multilateralism.
“We have accomplished this together at a moment when, around the world, it is increasingly difficult to get trade deals done,” she said. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was signed more than a year ago to replace NAFTA, but Democrats controlling the U.S. House of Representatives insisted on major changes to labor and environmental enforcement before bringing it to a vote. The delay at times threatened to scuttle the deal, creating investment uncertainty in all three countries and worrying U.S. farmers already suffering tariffs stemming from Trump’s trade war with China. Intense negotiations over the past week among Democrats, the Trump administration, and Mexico produced more stringent rules on labor rights aimed at reducing Mexico’s low-wage advantage, including verification of compliance at the factory level by independent labor experts. “It is infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a news conference, adding that USMCA was now ready for a House vote. Some Mexican business groups fear that Lopez Obrador and his chief negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Jesus Seade, have ceded too much, and called the labor verification a violation of Mexican sovereignty. Gustavo Hoyos, president of employers federation Coparmex and a vocal Lopez Obrador critic, called the government “a bad negotiator.” Other business groups focused on the positive and welcomed the looming end to months of uncertainty.
Seade himself said some of the changes were reasonable but not necessarily “good for Mexico.” NEW WRINKLE Republican and Democratic U.S. lawmakers say there is broad support for revising the pact, which backers say encompasses $1.2 trillion in annual trade across the continent and supports 12 million U.S. jobs and a third of American agricultural exports. U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, a Democrat, said sections of the text would be reviewed by lawmakers, but he saw no reason for “unnecessary delays” in bringing it to a vote on the House floor. However, in a new wrinkle to swift ratification in the United States, McConnell said the Republican-controlled Senate would not take up the deal before congressional recess, potentially pushing the vote into next year. That seemed to put him at odds with Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, who said the White House would “push hard” to get the implementing bill passed before year end. Pelosi spokesman Henry Connelly said McConnell had “no excuse” not to bring up USMCA, pointing to fast approvals of previous trade pacts. Trump launched a renegotiation of NAFTA in his first year in office, intent on delivering on his 2016 campaign promise to replace what he has derided as the “worst deal ever.” Canadian and Mexican leaders reluctantly agreed to join the negotiations with their largest trading partner. “America’s great USMCA Trade Bill
is looking good. It will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA. Good for everybody,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday. “Importantly, we will finally end our Country’s worst Trade Deal, NAFTA!” For Democrats, the deal serves as a retort to Trump and Republican assertions that their only agenda was pursuing his impeachment. In addition to the labor provisions, Democrats said they won elimination of a 10-year data exclusivity period for biologic drugs from the agreement, which they feared would lead to higher U.S. drug prices. But Pelosi said she lost her bid to remove liability protections for internet service providers, a provision she had called a “giveaway” to big tech companies. Lighthizer included a last-minute demand of Mexico for a tighter definition of steel and aluminum in the deal’s automotive rules of origin – to be “melted and poured” in North America. While USMCA originally required 70% of the metals used in North American vehicle production come from the region, it did not specify production methods, opening the door to the use of semi-finished metals from China and elsewhere. Mexico and Canada agreed to a seven-year phase-in of the new standard for steel, industry sources familiar with the deal said. The aluminum demand was dropped, but with the caveat that it would be reconsidered in 10 years. – Reuters
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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TECHNOLOGY
Spotify for iOS finally gets a sleep timer NEW YORK, Dec 4 — The Spotify app for iOS-powered devices has gained the Sleep Timer feature that Android users have had access to since May. Despite the music — and now podcast — streaming service having launched over a decade ago, Spotify just now gave iPhone and iPad users the ability to set sleep timers, as reported by Engadget. The feature began rolling out for iOS devices Monday, about six months after it became accessible to Android users back in May. Now users of both operating systems can set timers 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, or one hour long or until the end of the currently playing track.
A similar tool has been available for Apple Music, though users have to set it within the device’s native clock app. Spotify Sleep Timer began rolling out globally this week, allowing listeners across the world to fall asleep to their favourite tunes without having to worry about manually turning the sound off.
Will the entire iPhone 12 range feature OLED screens? SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 29 — Although it will not be out before the fall of 2020, Korean website ET News is already reporting on some of the alleged features of the future iPhone 12. The high-end Apple smartphone will reportedly no longer ship with an LCD screen, the entire future range will be exclusively equipped with OLED. As it stands, the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are respectively equipped with 5.8and 6.5-inch OLED screens, while the iPhone 11 still ships with a 6.1-inch LCD. Apple has reportedly decided to switch to an all-OLED range in 2020 with three new models equipped with screens of this type, which are thinner, more responsive, and have the advantage of offering a more contrasted image with much
deeper blacks. OLED screens are also more flexible, which may encourage Apple to propose its first ever models with curved-edge displays. The OLED screens will apparently be supplied by both Samsung and LG. This information confirms, in any case, that South Korea remains ahead of China in this field, although it could be that the American manufacturer’s choice is politically motivated. According to ET News, the future iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max (these names are by no means confirmed) will respectively be equipped with 5.4-inch, 6.1inch and 6.7-inch screens. And at least one of these models is set to be 5G-compatible.
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EVENTS
December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times Catalyst Coalition fundraising to improve English language proficiency in immigrants Dec 13, 2019
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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ENTERTAINMENT
Coming to ‘Star Wars’: Emotional end for Skywalkers, and then what?
LOS ANGELES, Dec 15 — The next Star Wars movie arrives in theatres on Thursday promising an epic conclusion to three trilogies over four decades and answers to at least some of the biggest questions that have puzzled fans of the galaxy far, far away. But one major mystery likely will linger after the credits roll: Where does the Star Wars movie franchise head next? The Rise of Skywalker will reveal new insights about the parents of Resistance fighter Rey, more information about what drives helmeted villain Kylo Ren and the backstory of ex-stormtrooper Finn, the movie’s stars said in interviews. “There’s a lot of joy and the ending is emotional,” said Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey. “That’s not to say it’s totally sad. It’s definitely emotional, but I think people will be uplifted when they leave the cinema.” Star Wars, the second-highest grossing movie franchise with more than US$9.2 billion in ticket sales, began with George Lucas’ 1977 movie about farm-
boy-turned-hero Luke Skywalker. The new film is billed as an end to that story told in eight previous instalments. As is typical with the latest Star Wars movies from Walt Disney Co, little has been made public about the plot. Clips show Rey wielding a lightsaber glowing red, the colour associated with the Dark Side, raising questions about whether she switches allegiances to fight the Resistance. Adam Driver said viewers will see an evolution for Kylo Ren that was set in place when he initially discussed the role with director J.J. Abrams for 2015 film The Force Awakens. “Our first meeting, he gave me this piece of information about the character that I thought was interesting,” Driver said. “It’s six years of anticipating this thing, building toward an event.” Carrie Fisher, the late actress who portrayed Princess Leia, also will appear through unused footage from Force Awakens.
And Finn’s past will be explained through the unveiling of a “really cool relationship”, actor John Boyega said. Abrams said audiences should expect “great, daring swashbuckle fun” as Rey, Poe and Finn team together, a “moving” story and even “horror” at times. “Things get pretty intense and scary,” he said. The next stop for the movie franchise is unclear. Disney chief executive Bob Iger has said the company will pause new Star Wars films after Rise of Skywalker. He told the BBC in November that he believed Disney released too many movies in the franchise over a short period. Ticket sales for 2017 film The Last Jedi reached a massive US$1.3 billion worldwide but fell short of Force Awakens. Last Jedi also sparked criticism from a vocal segment of fans who did not like the movie’s tone and parts of the story. And 2018 movie Solo took in just US$393 million globally. “There’s something so special
about a Star Wars film,” Iger said, “and less is more.” Disney still has a new Star Wars trilogy on its schedule starting in December 2022, but the original writers — Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss — pulled out of the project in October. In the meantime, Disney is running a Star Wars TV series called The Mandalorian on its Disney+ streaming service and plans at least two more. “Wherever Star Wars goes,” Abrams said, “it should be filled with, I think, the kind of surprise and heart and hope that I’ve always felt with these movies.” “That’s not to say they all should be any one thing,” he added, “but there is something about the beating heart of Star Wars, that George created 42 years ago... that’s kind of the mothership.” — Reuters
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
FASHION
Online store to relaunch French fashion house Sonia Rykiel PARIS, Dec 19 — The online store Showroomprive yesterday announced it would relaunch French fashion label Sonia Rykiel, nearly five months after its demise following a court ruling.
Superman’s cape sells for nearly US$200,000 in Hollywood auction LOS ANGELES: Superman’s very first movie cape was sold for nearly US$200,000 Monday alongside a collection of rare Hollywood memorabilia, the auction house said. The prop from Christopher Reeve’s “Superman”, which went for US$193,750, headlined Monday’s sale of about 400 cinephile items at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles. Only six capes in total were used while shooting the film, which came out in 1978. Multiple costumes from “Star Trek” also found buyers. These included the uniform worn by Patrick Stewart for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, which sold for US$28,800.
Leonard Nimoy’s Romulan costume from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” sold for US$20,000. Dan Akroyd’s jumpsuit from “Ghostbusters II” also went up for auction and was sold for US$32,000, according to Julien’s Auctions, which specializes in Hollywood collections and memorabilia. Although it was originally announced as an auction headline item, the pipe of Bilbo Baggins, played by Ian Holm in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, was not sold at the auction.
A court in the French capital in July ordered the winding up of the loss-making brand founded by the “Queen of Knits”. The designer, who died nearly three years ago at the age of 86, popularised wearing all black and made her name with the “Poor Boy Sweater” that film star Audrey Hepburn made a key part of her look. But despite the boom in luxury French fashion, a buyer could not be found to take on the label after it went into receivership in April. A court yesterday evening, however, “authorised the sale of the brand’s assets for the benefit of Eric and Michael Dayan”, two brothers who co-founded Showroomprive, according to a statement issued by the pair. They said their objective would be to promote the Sonia Rykiel label “in France and abroad”, describing it as a “flagship of French heritage”. “The Sonia Rykiel fashion house is back in 2020,” the statement
said, adding that it would be a “new adventure” for the brand and the two entrepreneurs. No further details were given. The Sonia Rykiel brand was once an icon of youthful revolt against the stuffy fashion establishment. Her first boutique opened on the Left Bank of the French capital in May 1968 just as students took to the streets outside demanding an end to the old order. She was credited with making wearing black from head to toe the epitome of Parisian cool, once saying she didn’t like wasting time choosing colours. But last year the brand — half of whose sales were in France — lost €30 million (RM138.2 million). Several investors had expressed interest in taking the house on, including the former chief of the Paris brand Balmain, Emmanuel Diemoz, and a Chinese conglomerate, but all came to nothing, leading to July’s winding up order. Founded in 2006, French e-commerce company Showroomprive is one of the biggest online retailers in Europe.
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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SPORTS
‘Such a pure soul’: Momota pays tribute to Malaysian coach KUALA LUMPUR: World No 1 men’s singles shuttler Kento Momota regards the late Izuan Ibrahim as the best coach he has worked with during his junior badminton career. The 25-year-old Japanese revealed he would not have achieved success without guidance from Izuan, who played an instrumental role in nurturing his talent. The 35-year-old became known to the public as Momota’s coach after Japan emerged 2014 Thomas Cup champions. “I won’t be where I am now without the help of coach Izuan Ibrahim. I am honoured and also blessed to ever encountered such a pure soul. May the love and mercy be bestowed upon him and his family during this unfortunate time. My most sincere condolences. #RestInPower, coach,” Momota tweeted today.
Izuan died in a Kota Bharu hospital yesterday. Prior to this, Izuan was reported to have undergone surgery to remove a blood clot in the brain, which caused intracranial bleeding and left him unconscious. He leaves behind wife Siti Marsyhtah Muhammad and three children.
Hamilton rates 2019 his ‘best year’ ever PARIS: Six-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton rates the 2019 season as “the best” of his decorated career, on and off the circuit. The 34-year-old Mercedes driver reflected on his stunning season in Paris before Friday’s FIA awards ceremony. “It has been the best year I would say of my career I am really proud of what we have achieved as a team,” said Hamilton, who is now just one title shy of the record seven world championships held by Michael Schumacher. The season concluded in Abu Dhabi last Sunday with Hamilton winning his 11th race of the campaign and the 84th of his career. Despite his repeated brilliance behind the wheel, he said it was his life off the track that had made 2019 all that more special.
“The season as a whole was as strong as the last I can remember. “More so from the outside, just being happier. “Happier in collaboration with the team, in terms of teamwork, the doors that I have opened in terms of doing fashion that I have been well received and accepted.” Hamilton has one year left on his contract with Mercedes before he has to decide whether to end his career with the German team or take up a new challenge at Ferrari.
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS
Firmino’s late winner takes Reds into Club World Cup final DOHA: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to a “really tough game” in the Club World Cup final against Flamengo after Roberto Firmino’s injury time goal gave the Anfield side a hard-fought 2-1 win over Monterrey of Mexico on Wednesday. Firmino came off the bench to turn in a cross from fellow substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 91st minute at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha after Naby Keita’s early opener for a weakened Liverpool side had swiftly been cancelled out by Argentine striker Rogelio Funes Mori. Having taken time out from their seemingly relentless march towards the Premier League title to travel to Qatar, Liverpool will be relieved at coming through this test, and they remain on course to win this competition for the first time. However, they must now beat a Flamengo side who have won the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian title in the last month under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, and who will have had an extra day to prepare for the final after defeating Saudi club Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday. “Tough game, really tough game,” said Klopp when asked about the prospect of facing Flamengo in what will be a repeat of the 1981 Intercontinental Cup final, when a Brazilian team captained by Zico beat Bob Paisley’s European Cup holders 3-0 in Tokyo.
“Flamengo’s season is over, they are here with a full squad, but we just have to recover as quickly as possible and then make ourselves ready.” He will hope to have Virgil van Dijk back fit for the final after the inspirational Dutch centreback sat out the Monterrey game due to illness, leaving skipper Jordan Henderson to partner Joe Gomez in defence. “It was an easy decision because he couldn’t train yesterday – he was on the pitch for a couple of minutes until the media left, and then unfortunately he had to leave as well,” Klopp said about Van Dijk, who has played in every Premier League and Champions League game this season. “We will see how quick he can recover.”
‘Only possible the hard way’ In addition, Klopp chose to leave Sadio Mane on the bench at kick-off along with Firmino and Alexander-Arnold, instead handing starts to the likes of Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi. “It was only possible the hard way,” said Klopp of the way in which his side won, with Firmino’s late goal coming after goalkeeper Alisson made a string of key saves to stop Monterrey from going in front. “We had problems before the game, we knew we would have some prob-
lems in the game, but I really think the boys did exceptionally well.” At such a busy stage in the season, Klopp also admitted his relief when the winning goal went in, saying: “I was actually afraid of extra time to be honest so I was more than happy when Bobby scored that goal.” Liverpool got off to a flying start and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 12th minute. Salah, spurred on by the backing of adoring fans in an official attendance of over 45,000, produced a stunning pass to release Keita, the midfielder running into the box and lashing a first-time shot past goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero. However, Monterrey’s response was swift, as the Concacaf Champions League winners drew level within two minutes when Funes Mori – the brother of former Everton defender Ramiro – converted the rebound after Alisson saved from Jesus Gallardo.
The Mexicans grew in confidence after that, with captain Dorlan Pabon, the Colombian international, testing Alisson before the interval and again from a freekick after the break. Alisson also saved well from Funes Mori before Mane, Alexander-Arnold and Firmino all entered the fray in the closing stages. Clearly determined to avoid a draining extra half-hour, Klopp’s game plan paid off as Firmino pounced in the 91st minute. “The team played really well and gave everything,” said Monterrey coach Antonio Mohamed. “Overall I thought we had the clearest chances and their goalkeeper made four or five big saves. It would have been fairer had the game gone to extra time.”
Georgia Asian Times December 15-30, 2019
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HEALTH
Sugar and white bread tied to older women’s insomnia Older women who eat lots of sweets and processed grains may be more likely to suffer from insomnia than their counterparts whose don’t consume much of these foods, a U.S. study suggests.
tance of diet for those who suffer from insomnia,” said lead study author James Gangwisch of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.
Researchers examined data from food diaries for more than 50,000 women in their mid-60s who had already gone through menopause, a transition that is also associated with an increased risk of sleep problems and insomnia. They focused on the “dietary glycemic index,” a measure of how many foods people consume that can contribute to spikes in blood sugar levels.
“Avoiding insomnia is therefore another good reason to avoid sweets besides weight control,” Gangwisch said by email.
Women with the highest dietary glycemic index scores - meaning they consumed more refined carbohydrates like white bread, sweets and sugary soda - were 11% more likely than women with the lowest scores to report insomnia at the start of the study period.
“When blood sugar is raised quickly, your body reacts by releasing insulin, and the resulting drop in blood sugar can lead to the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can interfere with sleep,” Gangwisch said.
They were also 16% more likely to develop new insomnia during the three-year follow-up period. “Our results point to the impor-
While the study wasn’t designed to prove whether or how eating too many sweets and refined carbs might cause insomnia, it’s possible that hormonal changes may play a role.
Insomnia disproportionately affects women, the study team notes in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
In the study, women whose diet included higher amounts of vegetables, fiber and whole fruit (not juice) were less likely to have or develop problems with insomnia. Even though whole fruits contain sugar, they also contain fiber that helps minimize spikes in blood sugar, making these foods lower on the dietary glycemic index. One limitation of the study is that researchers didn’t objectively measure food intake, the quantity or quality of sleep, or any shifts in blood sugar or hormones. It’s also possible that chronic insomnia contributed to cravings for carbs or sweets, rather than women developing insomnia as a result of eating too much sugar and refined grains, Jose Ordovas, director of Nutrition and Genomics at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, pointed out. “Using these findings as the basis for prevention and treatment of insomnia is extremely premature,” Ordovas, who wasn’t involved in
the study, said by email. Doctors often recommend a low-glycemic diet to people who need to lower or control their blood sugar, including individuals with diabetes, or who need to lose weight or develop healthier eating habits. Better sleep could be yet another reason to eat this way, Gangwisch said. “The take-home message here is to limit the consumption of highly processed carbohydrates such as added sugars since they could contribute toward or exacerbate insomnia,” Gangwisch said. - Reuters
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
Misc Asia Indonesia’s tiny glaciers could melt away within a decade, says study
Thousands rally in Bangkok behind anti-establishment frontman BANGKOK: Thousands rallied in Bangkok behind the popular leader of an upstart anti-establishment party on Saturday, in the first major protest since March elections returned a junta-aligned government to power. Protesters held signs calling for democracy and flashed a three-finger salute, a rallying symbol used by the Future Forward Party that got more than six million votes in the election, thanks to mostly young Thais weary of the military’s role in politics. The party’s popular billionaire leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit called for those who could “no longer tolerate the current social conditions” to come out in a flash mob demonstration. “We want to show the power of the people who will not surrender,” he shouted in a megaphone to gathered supporters. “Today we stand together and we want to tell them that we are not afraid,” he yelled to people chanting “long live democracy”. Police told AFP Saturday that roughly 150 “unarmed” officers would be deployed to Bangkok’s tourist-friendly downtown shopping district for the rally. “I don’t think we have a real democracy,” said 27-year-old Nithiwadee, who held a sign calling for the constitution to be amended. “This party has the bravery to say what others do not,” she added.
Under junta rule which followed a coup in 2014 there have been no massive rallies, and March’s elections – governed under a military-scripted constitution – reinstated former junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha as prime minister. Future Forward’s popularity has rattled the military and its allies, and its executives have been battered by legal woes since the election. The latest threatens the party with dissolution over alleged illegal loans from Thanathorn – a case submitted Friday to a court that stripped his MP status last month. The 41-year-old leader has repeatedly said the cases against him and FFP are politically motivated. Thailand’s political scene has been dominated by violence since 2006, with street protests devolving into blood-soaked disorder. In 2010, the military led by then-army chief Prayut – opened fire on protesters gathered in downtown Bangkok, killing more than 90. Thailand’s courts have played a central role in taking out political threats to the establishment and no civilian government has completed its term since 2006. The country has seen more than a dozen coups since 1932.
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s little-known glaciers are melting so fast they could disappear in a decade, a new study says, underscoring the imminent threat posed by climate change to ice sheets in tropical countries.
with colder-weather countries, the glaciers in Papua, an Indonesian region on the western half of New Guinea island, are a key marker of the impact of rising global temperatures, researchers said.
As the COP 25 summit wraps up in Madrid, nations are struggling to finalise rules for the 2015 landmark Paris climate accord, which aims to limit global temperature rises.
“Tropical glaciers are mostly smaller and so their response time to variations in climate change is faster compared to larger glaciers and ice sheets,” said Indonesia-based glaciologist Donaldi Permana, also an author on the study.
Thousands of kilometres away, glaciers on a mountain range in Indonesia’s Papua region – and a handful of others in Africa and the Peruvian Andes – are an early warning of what could be in store if they fail. “Because of the relatively low elevation of the (Papua) glaciers … these will be the first to go,” said Lonnie Thompson, one of the authors of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week. “They are the ‘canaries in the coal mine’”. This summer, Iceland mourned the passing of Okjokull, its first glacier lost to climate change, amid warnings that some 400 others on the subarctic island risk the same fate. Meanwhile, a team of researchers in Switzerland warned that unchecked greenhouse gas emissions could see more than 90% of glaciers in the Alps disappear by the end of the century. Accelerating melt-off from glaciers and especially ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are driving sea level rises, threatening coastal megacities and small island nations. Glaciers are also a key water source for tens of millions of people. Tropical glaciers? While they’re usually associated
Earlier estimates suggested that Papua’s glaciers have shrunk by some 85% in the past few decades. This week’s study said glaciers that once covered some 20 square kilometres have shrunk to less than half of one square kilometre. There has also been a more than five-fold increase in the rate of ice thinning over the past few years. “The situation has reached worrying levels because ice formation is no longer happening — only glacier recession,” Permana said. “The glaciers are in danger of disappearing within a decade or less,” he added. The melting has been exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon, which causes warmer temperatures and reduced rainfall. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and planting more trees can probably slow down the ice recession in Papua,” Permana said. “However, we believe it’ll be extremely difficult to keep them” from melting. Aside from any environmental impact, their disappearance would also be a cultural loss for some indigenous Papuans who consider them
sacred.
Georgia Asian Times December 15-31, 2019
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Misc Asia
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi urges World Court to drop genocide case The Hague, December 12, 2019 – Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on World Court judges on Thursday to dismiss an accusation of genocide against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority, saying its own justice system should be given the chance to work first. Gambia has accused Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention in a military campaign that expelled more than 730,000 Rohingya from Myanmar and it has asked the International Court of Justice to order “provisional measures” to prevent more harm. But Suu Kyi, who has denied genocide, said the U.N. court should not have jurisdiction. “Myanmar requests the court to remove the case from its list,” Suu Kyi said on the third and final day of hearings in The Hague. “In the alternative (the court should) reject the request for provisional measures submitted by the Gambia.” Presiding Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf said the 17-judge panel would render an order “as soon as possible”, but gave no specific date. Gambia insisted earlier that Myanmar could not be trusted to hold its soldiers accountable for alleged atrocities against its Rohingya minority, dismissing calls from Suu Kyi for the court to wait for the outcome of accountability efforts and local trials.
Gambia lawyer Paul Reichler said Myanmar had not even tried during the hearings to deny most of the accusations of extreme violence against its military, known as the Tatmadaw, nor of the mass deportation of Rohingya following a 2017 crackdown. Statements from Myanmar that it was taking action to prosecute soldiers accused of wrongdoing were not credible, he said. “How can anyone possibly expect the Tatmadaw to hold itself accountable for genocidal acts against the Rohingya, when six of its top generals including the commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, have all been accused of genocide by the U.N. fact-finding mission and recommended for criminal prosecution,” he said. He was referring to the findings of U.N. investigators who in an August 2018 report said the Myanmar military had carried out killings and mass rape with “genocidal intent” in the 2017 operation. Gambia’s legal team had outlined graphic testimony from their report at the first day of hearings on Tuesday. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar to Bangladesh after the military launched its crackdown. The U.N. investigators have said 10,000 people may have been killed.
LEADING THE DEFENCE Suu Kyi, once championed in the West for her decades-long fight for democracy for Myanmar, told the court on Wednesday the military-led “clearance operation” in western Rakhine State was a counterterrorism response to coordinated Rohingya militant attacks against dozens of police stations in August 2017. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate argued Myanmar did investigate and prosecute soldiers and officers accused of crimes. She said that under those circumstances, the court should not intervene. “Steps that generate suspicion, sow doubts, or create resentment between communities who have just begun to build a fragile foundation of trust could undermine reconciliation,” she said in closing remarks. She added that even if there had been violations of humanitarian law during the conflict, they did not rise to the level of genocide. Outside the ornate Peace Palace in The Hague that houses the court, protesters from both sides lined up on Thursday. When Suu Kyi returned to court for the final statements her supporters cheered loudly. They sang the national anthem and shouted “Mother Suu, Be healthy”.
Maung Maung Aye, a well-known presenter in Myanmar, traveled from Yangon to support Suu Kyi. “She always is for Myanmar so we are always ready to support her whatever she does,” he told Reuters. The International Court of Justice is the U.N.’s highest court. Its decisions are binding and not subject to appeal, though it has no means of enforcement and countries have occasionally ignored them or failed to fully adhere. After the decision on provisional measures, the process may continue to a full case that could last years. Rohingya Muslims in camps in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh were praying that the suit succeeds. Nurul Haq, 54, who said he fled to Bangladesh after his son was shot dead by the army, said he was fasting on Thursday. “The speech Aung San Suu Kyi has given in the court is absolutely lies, all lies, all lies,” he said. “They tortured us so much… Only justice can heal our wounds.” – Reuters
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December 15-31, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
TRAVEL 3 not-to-be-missed attractions in Myanmar Myanmar (Burma) is a large and interesting country blessed by nature with varied landscapes ranging from the lofty peaks of the Eastern Himalayas to the turquoise beaches of the Andaman Sea, from fertile plains to tropical rainforests. It is rich in natural resources such as timber, oil, minerals and gems and is peopled by diverse ethnic groups such as Burmese, Chins, Kachins, Mons, Kayahs, Arakanese (Rakhines), Karens and Shans. Largely closed off to foreign tourists during decades of military rule, the country has since democratised and is now open to foreign visitors and investment and is playing catch up in terms of infrastructure and economic development. Two of the most popular attractions here is the scenic Inle Lake and the famous stupas of Bagan. A cruise on the Irrawaddy River is another mainstream tourist activity. These two attractions aside, here are the other recommended Myanmar attractions you should visit. 1. Pyin Oo Lwin
National Kandawgyi Gardens The National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens is, at least in the opinion of the Malaysia Traveller, among the finest botanical gardens in the whole of Asia, and should be the highlight of any visit to Pyin Oo Lwin. Maymyo Hill Station Anyone interested in colonial era history will want to make a bee-line for Pyin Oo Lwin, formerly known as Maymyo. It has a wonderful climate, many well preserved colonial buildings and beautiful flowers and gardens. Pyin Oo Lwin English Cemetery. This is a slightly quirky and
offbeat choice but while in Maymyo, you might want to visit the Christian Cemetery containing the graves of European, mixed-race and Burmese military men and civilians. Train from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin. Taking the Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin Train is a popular way to get to Pyin Oo Lwin, provided you are not in a hurry. 2. Mandalay The exquisitely carved Shwenandaw Monastery. Despite its famous name, Mandalay is not a very old city, having been founded by King Mindon in 1857.
It was heavily damaged during World War II and modern development has given the streets a fairly nondescript feel. However there are sights worth seeing including the exquisitely carved Shwenandaw Monastery, the views from Mandalay Hill and copious Buddhist temples and pagodas. 3. Yangon The breathtaking Shwedagon Pagoda. Apart from the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, the giant Chauk Htet Gyi reclining Buddha, Bogyoke Market and British colonial era architecture are among the highlights of any visit to Yangon.