Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

www.gasiantimes.com

July 15-31, 2014

2014 FIFA WORLD CUP WINNER: GERMANY

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July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

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

Tel: 678-971-9388 Advertising: gat@gasiantimes.com Editorial: info@gasiantimes.com URL: www.gasiantimes.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4502 Suwanee GA 30024 Copyright Georgia Asian Times 2004-2013

All Rights Reserved: including those to reproduce this printing or parts thereof in any form without permission in writing from Georgia Asian Times. Established in 2004, the Georgia Asian Times is published by Asiamax Inc. All facts, opinions, and statements appearing within this publication are those of writers and editors themseleves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, endorsements by Georgia Asian Times or its officers.

Georgia Asian Times assumes no responsibility for damages from the use of information contained in this publication or the reply to any advertisement. The Publisher will not be liable for any error in advertising to greater extent than the cost of space occupied by the error and will only be made for a single publication date.

The Publisher reserves the right to reject any ad or articles submitted for publication that may not be in good taste for a free publication.

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

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

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

Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) Conference “Next generation Leadership: Connections and Building Bridges�

Date: August 1-2, 2014 Venue: UPS World HQ, 55 Glenlake Parkway, NE, Atlanta GA 30328 For more info: Anasone Silivongxay, email: anasone.lana@gmail.com

JapanFest 2014 Date: Sept 20-21, 2014 Time: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Venue: Convention Center at Gwinnett Center 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097 Cost: $8 / Children under 6 free

Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta Date: Sunday, August 17, 2014 Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Venue: Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart building 2 West, 230 Spring Street, Atlanta GA 3030 For more info: www.beabride.net

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

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Atlanta Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014 Time: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Venue: Clarks Bridge - Kayaking Facility, Lake Lanier, Gainesville For more info: www.dragonboatatlanta.com

10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: October 10-24, 2014 Venues: Lefont Sandy Springs GSU-Cinefest, GPC Dunwoody, University of West Georgia-Caroollton For more info: www.atlaff.org

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July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS

25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia honorees celebrated at banquet Norcross, July 10, 2014 — This year’s honorees of Georgia Asian Times 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia were celebrated at a banquet in a restaurant in Norcross.

Community leaders, business, government representatives and state legislatures attended the multicultural event. Steven Tai, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Atlanta (TECO), John Padgett, Chairman of Georgia Republican Party, Steven Henson, State Senator and minority leader for Georgia Assembly also attended the banquet.

The list of the honorees were published in May in accordance with the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration.

The final 25 honorees is selected

by GAT editorial staff and a selection committee comprises of community, civic, and media organizations.

Over 300 nominations were received through online submission for this year’s list.

There are 11 men and 14 women being honored in this year’s list. Of the 25, 13 are first-time honorees and 12 are repeat honorees.

Ms. Wendy Ho was the master of ceremony for the evening’s program.

Over 20 honorees participated in the awards ceremony.

Georgia Asian Times will start accepting nomination for next year’s nominations beginning in January 2015. Nominations are made though GAT’s website.

Chinese retain ranking as world’s biggest-spending tourists Beijing, July 15, 2014 — Chinese travelers splurged the most on tax-free shopping last year, accounting for 27 per cent of spending as they increased transactions by almost a third, according to Global Blue.

Russians were the second-biggest spenders with 17 per cent, though they made the most transactions, while Indonesians placed third with 4 per cent, Global Blue, the world’s biggest operator of tax-refund points, said in a study released today.

“The Chinese are easily the most numerous and highest- spending globe shoppers,” said Global Blue. “If the last decade is anything to go by, the amount spent will continue to increase, albeit at a slower rate than recent years.”

Total spending by Chinese tourists increased 20 per cent last year after tripling between 2009 and 2012. France is their favorite destination to spend

in, ahead of Germany and Singapore, while fashion is the most important category, according to the study.

The number of Chinese outbound trips, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, will reach 60 million this year, from 53 million in 2013, and swell to 77 million by 2016, Global Blue estimates.

The figures are based on tax-free shopping transactions refunded by Global Blue and subsequently approved by customs, not the value of refund forms issued by retailers, which is greater, according to the study.

Global Blue estimates the total tax refund market is worth about €48 billion in the 37 countries where it operates.

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

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BUSINESS ASIA

According to Japanese research firm B3, the global market for automotive lithium-ion batteries will increase to US$21.3 billion in 2020 from US$4.4 billion in 2014.

Samsung SDI has provided car batteries to Munich-based BMW since the two companies signed a partnership in 2009, SDI said. Its competitors include South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd, which supplies to Renault SA, and Panasonic Corp, which supplies batteries to Tesla.

Expanding partnership

BMW to buy billions of euros worth Samsung SDI batteries Seoul, July 15, 2014 - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest maker of luxury cars, agreed to spend billions of euros increasing its orders of Samsung SDI Co batteries that will go in BMW’s line of electric vehicles.

Samsung SDI, a unit of South Korea’s Samsung Group, closed at the highest in more than seven months in Seoul trading after the announcement.

The deal is worth “multi billions of euros,” the battery maker said in an e-mailed statement, without giving details such as the exact value.

The deal paves the way for BMW to secure supply of batteries - the most expensive part of an electric vehicle as it rolls out its i8 plug-in hybrid and i3 electric car to challenge Tesla Motor Inc’s Model S. For Samsung SDI, which supplies batteries to Apple Inc., the order builds on the company’s plans to expand its automotive business months after agreeing to acquire Cheil Industries Inc for 3.5 trillion won.

“Expanding its supply track record will help Samsung SDI as it tries to

increase its customer base,” Lee Sang Hyun, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities Co, said by phone. “The deal will help SDI have greater presence as an electric car battery maker in the US and Europe, where it is relatively less well known compared with other battery suppliers.”

The Gyeonggi, South Korea-based company also said it will continue to supply batteries for BMW’s i3 and i8, and other hybrid models, for “several years.”

Samsung SDI rose 0.6 per cent to close at 173,000 won, the highest since December. The shares have gained 6.8 per cent this year, while the benchmark Kospi index is little changed.

Hybrid growth Sales of hybrids and electric vehicles are projected to grow steadily to reach 5.2 million units by 2020, or 7.3 per cent of all passenger vehicles, according to a November 2010 report by J.D. Power & Associates.

“Samsung SDI will focus on the battery business, and this will likely lead to expanding its customer base to other carmakers to increase supply,” Nam Dae Jong, an analyst at Hana Daetoo Securities Co, said by phone today.

A battery normally takes up 30 to 40 percent of the vehicle’s manufacturing cost, Samsung SDI’s spokesman David Kim said by phone.

“Samsung SDI and BMW Group will expand their partnership in longer-term battery cell supply to meet increasing demand for electric cars,” Samsung SDI said in an e-mailed statement today.

Samsung Electronics Co, the world’s biggest maker of memory chips and smartphones, owns about 20 per cent of SDI, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

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July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

BUSINESS

“Made in Germany” brand may be ultimate World Cup winner Frankfurt, July 14, 2014 — As German captain Philipp Lahm raised the World Cup trophy in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium for a historic fourth championship title, he and each of his team-mates were €300,000richer.

The reward from Germany’s DFB football association for bringing the prize to Berlin is a small price to pay compared with the fillip the German economy may get as the victory draws shoppers to the “Made in Germany” brand, says research institute Prognos AG. “Made in Germany definitely appreciates in value with success,” Christian Boellhoff, the managing director of Prognos in Berlin, said in an interview. “It has a strengthening influence on German exports.”

Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, is the world’s third- largest exporter, behind China and the US Consignments from Mercedes-Benz automobiles to Adidas AG sporting apparel and Siemens AG power-plant technology drove the sale of German goods and services abroad to €1.09 trillion last year, about €2 billion shy of the record in 2012, according to data supplied by the Federal Statistics Office.

Adidas, as the official sponsor of Germany and its contender Argentina, had a head start going into yesterday’s duel as “the most visible brand” in the final, Chief Executive Officer Herbert Hainer said in a statement last week.

The bout ended 1-0 in Germany’s favor, crowning Joachim Loew’s eight-year reign as the national coach.

Substitute Mario Goetze scored in the 113th minute, allowing the Germans to avoid a penalty shootout.

Positive effect “Psychologically, it has a positive effect on self-confidence,” said Boellhoff. “While you can’t calculate this in detail, it can have a positive influence on work motivation and confidence in producing quality.”

World Cup victories have coincided with periods of economic prosperity in Germany in the past. The 1954 defeat of Hungary in Bern marked the start of the country’s post-war political and economic recovery, boosting the morale of a defeated nation.

The 1974 winner’s medal came at the dawn of another economic resurgence, and the year before Germany became one of the founding nations of the Group of Six industrialized countries, which was subsequently extended to include Canada and Russia.

The 1990 final in Rome, also against Argentina, came eight months after the Berlin Wall came down.

“It’s true that in the three years after 1990, the German economy grew very strongly, but the reason was reunification,” said Boellhoff, referring to the merger of East and West Germany on

October 3, 1990. “We have to differentiate between causality and correlation.”

Fourth victory Last night’s victory marks the first for a united Germany. No country has made it to more World Cup finals — eight — although Brazil holds the record for titles, with five to Germany’s four.

Regardless of the sporting success, the German economy is heading toward a period of renewed economic prosperity with the beckoning of the “golden 2020s,” Boellhoff said, citing a new report on Germany published

by Prognos last week.

“Germany is the only country of the largest economies in Europe that is in a really strong situation right now,” he said. “This can improve even more when its neighbors gradually emerge from the crisis, and this will happen in the next few years.”

German economic growth accelerated more than forecast in the first quarter, propelled by domestic demand and a construction boom.

The Bundesbank, in June, raised its growth forecast for the economy, predicting gross domestic product will increase by 1.9 per cent this year, higher than the 1.7 per cent it predicted in May. It expects GDP to climb by two per cent in 2015.

“Over the years, we have generated our growth largely through industry and exports,” Boellhoff said. “This is now feeding into people’s incomes and that means private consumption is contributing more to growth than has been the case up to now. This will come to the fore in 2017 to 2018 and will continue until the end of the 2020s.”

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

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BUSINESS

Widodo was far ahead in the polls several months ago, but his lead shrank dramatically before election day in the face of a well-run campaign by Prabowo and a flood of negative attacks.

However, despite the initial market euphoria, concerns are also growing about a long period of uncertainty, which could unnerve investors.

History has been made

Indonesian markets welcome projected Widodo win Jakarta, July 10, 2014 — Indonesian stocks rallied today after most unofficial tallies showed Jakarta governor Joko Widodo ahead of ex-general Prabowo Subianto in a closely fought race to lead Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. jakartaBoth candidates declared victory yesterday in the tightest and most divisive presidential election since the downfall of dictator Suharto in 1998.

However the polling agencies considered most reliable indicated a Widodo win, and the Jakarta benchmark index surged more than 2.5 per cent at the open.

him as a potential reformer and clean leader in a graft-ridden country.

Prabowo, who was a top general in the Suharto era and has been dogged by allegations of human rights abuses, is seen as less friendly to overseas investors.

His speeches on the campaign trail have been marked by fiercely nationalistic rhetoric and pledges to further squeeze foreign companies operating in Indonesia.

Official results are not expected until July 22.

While Widodo also adopted a more nationalistic tone during campaigning, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said he was seen as more market-friendly and open to foreign investment than Prabowo.

Investors have been hoping for victory for the Jakarta governor, the first serious presidential contender without deep roots in the Suharto era, seeing

“Investors were unnerved over the past two months by Prabowo’s rising popularity,” said the bank, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Official results are around two weeks away. Even if Widodo is then declared the winner, Prabowo can still challenge the result in the Constitutional Court, potentially dragging out the process for weeks.

Amid worries that the closely fought race could cause unrest, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last night met both candidates at his official residence outside Jakarta and urged them to wait until the official results before holding major celebrations.

“We call on all party members and volunteers not to organize a parade, it’s better just to give thankful prayers,” Widodo said late yesterday after meeting the president.

Nevertheless the euphoria among his camp was clear.

Yesterday evening, he gave a victory speech at a central Jakarta park, telling thousands of flag-waving supporters: “History has been made — this is a new chapter for Indonesia.”

Several polling agencies, which have accurately predicted the result of previous elections in Indonesia, gave Widodo a lead of four to five percentage points.

Prabowo, 62, however insisted that survey agencies followed by his camp gave him a narrow lead. He relied on three, less well-known agencies.

He gave a fiery speech yesterday evening, urging people to respect the official results and warning: “Do not ever think that we are weak, do not ever think that we can be trampled.”

Should he be declared the official winner, 53-year-old Widodo is seen as likely to usher in a new style of leadership and consolidate democracy.

He shot to prominence in 2012 when he was elected Jakarta governor, and won legions of fans with his common touch. He would make regular tours of the metropolis’s sprawling slums in casual clothes.

Prabowo, in contrast, was head of the feared special forces under Suharto, admitted ordering the abduction of democracy activists before the dictator’s downfall in 1998 and was formerly married to one of his daughters.

He has won support by playing up his military background, in a country where many have a yearning for a strong leader, but critics fear he may roll back democratic gains made since the fall of Suharto.

Some 190 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in Indonesia’s third direct presidential election since the end of authoritarian rule.

Polling went smoothly across the country, from eastern Papua to the main island of Java and jungle-clad Sumatra in the west, and no major disruptions were reported.

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July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

LIFESTYLE

was involved in anticipating rewards and drug craving, they said. The amygdala helps process the significance of events and emotions.

The researchers also asked the participants to rate their levels of sexual desire while watching the videos and say how much they liked them. Drug addicts are thought to be driven to seek their drug because they want it, rather than enjoy it.

In the brain, sex addiction looks the same as drug addiction London, July 12, 2014 — Pornography triggers brain activity in sex addicts similar to the effect drugs have on the brains of drug addicts, researchers said yesterday — but that does not necessarily mean porn is addictive.

Although there are no precise figures, experts in the field believe as many as one in 25 adults is affected by compulsive sexual behavior, more commonly known as sex addiction — an obsession with sexual thoughts, feelings or behavior they are unable to control.

Excessive use of pornography is one of the main features of the condition.

That can affect personal lives and work, causing distress and feelings of shame, the researchers from Britain’s Cambridge University said in a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. The study looked at brain activity in 19 male patients affected by sex addiction and compared them with the same number of volunteers. The patients had started watching pornography at earlier ages and in higher proportions than the volunteers.

“The patients in our trial were all people who had substantial difficulties controlling their sexual behavior and this was having significant conse-

quences for them, affecting their lives and relationships,” said Dr Valerie Voon, who led the study at Cambridge’s department of psychiatry.

“In many ways, they show similarities in their behavior to patients with drug addictions. We wanted to see if these similarities were reflected in brain activity, too.”

The study participants were shown a series of short videos featuring either sexually explicit content or sports.

Their brain activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which uses a blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal to measure brain activity.

The researchers found that three regions in particular were more active in the brains of the sex addiction patients compared with the healthy volunteers.

Significantly, these regions — the ventral striatum, dorsal anterior cingulate and amygdala — were also activated in drug addicts when they are shown drug stimuli, the researchers said.

The ventral striatum was involved in processing reward and motivation, while the dorsal anterior cingulate

This process was known as incentive motivation, Voon said, and was a compelling theory in addiction disorders.

Patients with sex addiction showed higher levels of desire towards the sexually explicit videos, but did not necessarily like them more.

“Whilst these findings are interesting, it’s important to note … that they could not be used to diagnose the condition,” Voon said. “Nor does our research necessarily provide evidence that these individuals are addicted to porn — or that porn is inherently addictive.

“Much more research is required to understand this relationship between compulsive sexual behavior and drug addiction.”

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

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LIFESTYLE

Systemic problem Many rooftop homes were built in the 1950s, when there was an influx of immigrants from mainland China and few building restrictions. Now, it is an even mix of migrants and Hong Kongers who live there, says Lui. Some have done so for more than 30 years.

While there is no exact record of the number of rooftop residents, there are more than 170,000 substandard homes throughout the city, according to the authorities.

End of the high life for Hong Kong’s unwanted rooftop dwellers Hong Kong, July 15, 2014 — Their precarious rooftop houses have offered refuge from an unaffordable Hong Kong property market, but some of the territory’s poorest residents face losing their makeshift homes as the government seeks to dismantle them.

building in the working-class Sham Shui Po neighborhood.

Perched on top of older buildings, the ramshackle dwellings may offer penthouse views in a city where space is at a premium, but the flimsy structures are frequently battered by typhoons and magnify oppressive summer heat.

She says she has been applying for public housing for several years.

The government says they are too unsafe — and many of those who live in them agree.

But with luxury apartments selling for more than US$50 million and a waiting list for public housing stretching for years, they say there is nowhere else for them to go.

“The rent is so high out there, how can we leave here? It costs at least several thousand (Hong Kong) dollars, we cannot afford it,” said Su Xingyun, whose family of four lives in a tiny two-room rooftop hut which is under a government removal order.

Their chipboard and corrugated iron home is one among a dark warren of around 10 shacks on top of a 10-story

Su, 46, moved from mainland China to join her husband, who had lived on the rooftop for 20 years, but would like a better home for her young daughters.

The government says its campaign against “unauthorized building works” (UBWs), which include rooftop homes, is in the interests of public safety.

Between 2001 and 2011 the buildings department removed 400,000 UBWs. But the pace of rooftop removals is now outstripping the ability to rehouse, says Lui, with a lack of coordination between the buildings and housing departments.

“The planning of evictions should be linked to the planning of resettlement,” said Lui.

Landlords and tenants of UBWs are not entitled to compensation from the government.

“We don’t have any privacy,” added Su. A dank shared kitchen with a toilet and shower hose in one corner is where the family cook and wash.

“No one told me this was illegal,” said Su’s neighbor Quang Xuan, 55, a refugee from Vietnam who works as a handyman and has lived in his rooftop home for 10 years.

“The deposit, commission and first month’s rent for even a tiny sub-divided flat can be more than HK$10,000,” said community worker Angela Lui of local campaign group the Society for Community Organization (SoCO).

“It’s a big number and families can’t afford it.

Eligibility criteria include means testing and living in the rooftop home for more than two years, prior to the removal order.

The buildings department said it would not, by law, make any resident homeless.

At the end of March this year there were almost 250,000 applications for public rental housing. The average waiting time for general applications is three years, the housing department said.

Those not eligible can go into temporary accommodation — but Lui says that moving to the “transit centers” on the outskirts of Hong Kong means residents have to uproot their lives, their children, their jobs, which many do not want to do.

Residents of the Sham Shui Po rooftop have come to an agreement with the building’s landlords — who can also evict them — that they can stay for up to three years, says Lui.

“It’s a systemic problem.”

“During a typhoon I’m really afraid.

I’m worried that the roof will collapse because I can feel the walls shaking.

It’s not safe for a family.”

Rooftop residents either own their homes or pay minimal rent to shady landlords. Upgrading to private accommodation can prove impossible, campaigners say.

closely together and that public rental housing would be offered to those who were eligible.

“When people told me we had to move out I said to myself OK, I will go if I can find another place. But if I can’t find somewhere I can afford, I risk becoming homeless, living under a flyover or in a park.”

SoCO estimates that there are about 1,200 homeless people in Hong Kong.

Rich city failing its poor Both the buildings and housing departments declined interview requests but said in statements that they worked

The buildings department removal notice, issued in 2012, does not give a timescale for eviction.

What is certain, though, is that the illegal homes will eventually be torn down.

In the short-term, rent subsidies would help residents move on to something better, says Lui. But to solve the worsening housing crisis the government needs to build more affordable homes.

“Hong Kong now is a rich city with a high GDP,” Lui said.

“We have the responsibility to ensure that everybody living here enjoys adequate housing.”

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July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

EVENT

Juntao Bao, Sino USA Partnership

Le Dam Doan, APAC

Dao Malaythong, Lao Center

25 Most Influential Asian American in Georgia - Awards Banquet, July 10, 2014

Noy Lounnarath Bozarth, UPS

Estrella Cramer, UPS

Helen Kim Ho, Asian American Legal Advocacy Center

Meng Lim, County Attorney, Haralston County

Viren Mayani, Georgia Indo American Chamber of Commerce

Carla Wong McMillian, Georgia Court of Appeals

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

EVENT

Page 11

25 Most Influential Asian American in Georgia - Awards Banquet, July 10, 2014

Randy Muth, Angklor Resource Center

Trish Nguyen, Vietnamese American Community of Georgia

Tony Patel, Newport Design

Brenda K. Tran

Louis Tseng, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport

Elsie Vidanes

Lani Wong, National Assoc Chinese Americans

GAT 25 honorees (2014) for a group photo.

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EVENT

July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

25 Most Influential Asian American in Georgia - Awards Banquet, July 10, 2014

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

Page 13

SPORTS

And it was Argentina who were presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring.

Toni Kroos misdirected a header back to Manuel Neuer to send Gonzalo Higuain racing through on goal.

But with only Neuer to beat the Napoli striker dragged his shot wide to disbelief from fans and team-mates.

Germany continued to probe for openings, and a Philipp Lahm pass almost put Thomas Mueller clear.

World Cup Final: Goetze strikes as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 Rio de Janeiro, July 14, 2014 — Mario Goetze scored a superb extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 to become the first European team to win a World Cup held in South America today. germanymenangBayern Munich star Goetze struck in the 113th minute to finally break Argentina’s resistance as Lionel Messi’s dream of emulating Diego Maradona ended in defeat.

The decisive moment of a World Cup brimming with wonderful goals came with penalties looming in front of 74,738 fans at Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracana Stadium.

Andre Schuerrle burst clear down the left flank and crossed for Goetze.

Messi in the second half.

Messi was largely anonymous for most of the evening and his miserable evening was summed up when a late free-kick to equalise sailed over the bar.

The victory was celebrated raucously by Brazilians in the crowd, who had dreaded the prospect of sworn South American rivals Argentina lifting the title in their backyard.

An absorbing first half saw Germany forced into a reshuffle moments before kick-off with inexperienced Christoph Kramer replacing Sami Khedira after the Real Madrid star injured a calf in the warm up.

The 22-year-old took the ball on his chest and then volleyed past Sergio Romero to spark delirium amongst the largely pro-German crowd.

With Bastian Schweinsteiger running midfield the Germans laid siege to Argentinian territory, passing smoothly and denying Messi a route into the game.

Argentina and Messi were left squandering a handful of gilt-edged chances, including one that fell to

Yet for all Germany’s early dominance they created little in the way of clear chances.

The pace of Argentina on the counter-attack continued to unsettle Germany however.

Schweinsteiger picked up a yellow card for bringing down Ezequiel Lavezzi just after the half hour mark.

Moments later, Argentina had the ball in the net only to see the goal disallowed for offside.

Messi released Lavezzi down the right who swept in a low cross for Higuain who drilled his finish past Neuer before wheeling away in delight.

Higuain’s roar of celebration was cut short however after Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli whistled, correctly, for offside.

Germany’s personnel problems deepened when Khedira’s replacement Kramer himself limped off, prompting the introduction of Andre Schuerrle.

The Germans remained unfazed by the setback however, and quickly set about reimposing their control of the game.

Schuerrle drew a fine near-post save from Romero on 37 minutes with a rasping shot after Mueller’s cutback.

But the latent threat of Messi meant Germany could never entirely relax.

Messi burst away down the right and raced into the box, toe-poked past Neuer only for Jerome Boateng to clear.

On the stroke of half-time Benedikt Hoewedes came within inches of scoring, crashing a header from a Kroos corner against the post.

The second half followed a similar pattern, Germany controlling possession but Argentina often threatening on the break.

Messi squandered another golden Argentinian chance two minutes after the restart, latching onto a pass from Lucas Biglia but scuffing his shot wide of Neuer.

The hard-fought nature of the contest led to a flurry of cards from referee Rizzoli, who cautioned Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero in quick succession for fouls on Miroslav Klose and Schweinsteiger.

The remainder of the half saw neither stride able to get on top.

Germany controlled possession without really testing Romero, while Argentina were unable to pass a German defense superbly marshaled by Mats Hummels and Boateng.

Schuerrle came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first period of extra-time, forcing Romero into a desperate block.

Penalties looked to be the likeliest outcome, but Goetze had other ideas.

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July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

SPORTS

second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.”

4-1 favourite to win next season’s NBA title, with San Antonio rated 5-1 while Miami blew out to odds of 50-1.

Heat owner Micky Arison was crushed.

James, a 10-time NBA All-Star who was drafted first overall by Cleveland in 2003, has averaged 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in 11 NBA seasons.

“I am shocked & disappointed in today’s news. However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years.

Thanks for memories @KingJames,” Arison said on Twitter.

LeBron James returning home New York, July 12, 2014 — LeBron James is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers four years after he left his home state to join the Miami Heat, he said yesterday.

The NBA’s biggest star made the announcement in a first-person essay published in Sports Illustrated. It came in stark contrast to his televised decision four years ago for which he was heavily criticized.

Under a banner headline “I’m Coming Home”, James explained his decision to go back to Cleveland after leading a star-studded Miami Heat team to two NBA championships and four Eastern Conference titles.

“Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked.

It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up,” James wrote.

“I sometimes feel like I’m their son.

Their passion can be overwhelming.

But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago.

I do now.”

Along with nestling back among his fellow Ohioans, James will be warmed by a contract worth a reported US$88 million for four years, according to ESPN. The Heat, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers were among teams that had expressed interest in signing James, widely regarded as the best basketball player on the planet.

The frenzy over the 29-year-old forward’s eventual landing spot was the biggest the NBA had seen since James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all signed contracts to team up in Miami in 2010.

James, who was on the losing end of a humbling five-game defeat by the San Antonio Spurs in last month’s NBA Finals, opted out of the final two years of his contract with Miami to become a free agent who could negotiate with any team.

“These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man,” James, who grew up in Akron, Ohio, said about his time with the Heat.

“I will always think of Miami as my

Meanwhile, euphoria reigned in Cleveland.

Taxis honked their horns and fans cheered across Cleveland as news of the return of the Ohio native spread.

“Welcome Home @kingjames,” tweeted Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

“I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them…..”

Title drought No Cleveland team has won a major professional league title in 50 years since the 1964 Browns won the National Football League crown.

That could all be changing soon with the return of James, who took an overmatched Cavaliers team to the NBA Finals in 2007 when they were swept

by San Antonio.

The addition of James to a young roster featuring premier point guard Kyrie Irving, 22, and last month’s overall number one draft pick Andrew Wiggins, 19, is expected to shift the balance of power in the NBA and bookmakers reacted swiftly.

Cleveland, which has never won an NBA title in 44 years of existence and was 33-49 last season, was listed as

“When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two,” James said.

“Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.”

The Cavaliers cleared salary cap room this week to accommodate James by trading Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev to the Brooklyn Nets and Tyler Zeller and a future first-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics earlier this week.

Before heading back to the home he keeps in Akron, about a 45-minute drive from Cleveland, James, a football fan, was taking off for Brazil to watch Sunday’s World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina.

James stopped short of guaranteeing a Cavaliers title, but heartily accepted the mission.

“In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given.

Everything is earned. You work for what you have,” said James.

“I’m ready to accept the challenge.

I’m coming home.”

Georgia Asian Times Junly 15-31, 2014

Page 15

HEALTH Adopt healthy lifestyle to prevent dementia, claim scientist Researchers have revealed that people could be saved from developing Alzheimer’s disease with the help of just few simple alterations in their lifestyle.

The research established seven key risk factors which were likely to trigger the condition; diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise, depression, smoking and poor education; which were mostly linked to unhealthy living and they could easily be modified in order to prevent dementia in people, the Daily Express reported.

It is possible to grin and beat the pain, according to new

Dr Deborah Barnes, said that although there was no single way to prevent dementia but they might be able to take steps to reduce the risk of developing it by simply tackling physical inactivity, for example, reducing levels of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Luxembourg, July 14, 2014 — Shedding light on athletes’ ability to work through pain, researchers at the University of Luxembourg conducted an experiment in which they conditioned subjects to numb-out their pain sensations.

She further added that it would be a win-win situation as this would also help people to enter in old age in a healthier state and therefore would have a lower risk of developing dementia.

painThe study was based on Pavlov’s legendary experiment in which he conditioned a dog to produce saliva at the ringing of a bell, which he had come to associate with his regular feedings.

The study established that at least 820,000 people in Britain suffered from dementia but by 2050 it was believed that there would be 1.94 million, of which 650,000 cases would be preventable.

“We have shown that just as the physiological reaction of saliva secretion was provoked in Pavlov’s dogs by the ringing of a bell, an analogous effect occurs regarding the ability to mask pain in humans,” says Professor of Biological Physiology at UL Fernand Anton.

The research is published in the journal Lancet Neurology.

In Luxembourg, researchers delivered painful electric pulses to a subject’s foot and measured the intensity. Participants were then asked to place their hand in a bucket of ice cold water, which is well known to inhibit pain receptors, during which researchers sounded a bell.

Repetitions indicated that pain was eventually inhibited upon hearing the ringing rather than the sensation of the cold water.

Researchers observed reduced facial reactions tell-tale to pain reception and reduced muscle reactivity in the 32 participants.

“Conversely, similar learning effects may be involved in the enhancement and maintenance of pain in some patients,” says lead author Raymonde Scheuren.

The findings support a 2013 study of triathletes, well-known for their high tolerance for pain and their ability to embrace it, honing a “no pain, no gain” culture.

Researchers compared a test group of 19 triathletes and a control group of 17 non-athletes in their reactions to pain. While both groups identified pain equally, the triathletes were more able to withstand it and less reactive to it, leading researchers to conclude that their training had given them a secondary benefit.

“It is very difficult to separate physiology and psychology,” says Prof Defrin. “But in general, experience is the sum of these factors.” The study was published in the journal PAIN. Another study, conducted in 2012, showed that pain sensitivity was decreased after running by means of fMRI scans.

Pavlov never imagined his study would lead to an explanation of how to push through the pain, although it’s likely that his dog pushed through some serious hunger pangs in the last round of tests until the bell’s reactivity wore off.

Mind over matter, Fido.

The UL study was published in PLOS ONE.

Page 16

July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia

Foxconn to increase robot use to curb suicide among workers Foxconn Technology Group plans to use more robots for its various manufacturing operations as part of its efforts to replace “dangerous, boring and repeated” work, which has often been blamed for the series of suicides at its various facilities in recent years.

resources for cooling technology that automates humidity controls, Gou said.

The company will shift from mass production to lean production in the future and consider manufacturing on an order-on-order basis by upgrading its production lines and using more robots, its Chairman Terry Gou said on Friday.

On Thursday in Guiyang, the company also signed cooperation contracts with Tsinghua University and Peking University to develop nanotechnology for use at Foxconn plants and develop the commercial application of vast quantities of data held by powerful computers.

Foxconn, a major supplier of Apple Inc, is building a research-and-manufacturing hub in Guiyang, the provincial capital of Guizhou.

Gou said plants in the new industrial park have been designed with high ceilings to leave sufficient room for robots’ operation.

The park is expected to generate a revenue of 50 billion yuan ($8.05 billion) in 2018, he said, adding that products from the park will be mainly sold to the mainland market.

Gou said the Guiyang park will focus on energy saving and environmental protection. With clients including Apple seeking suppliers with more environmentally friendly manufacturing, Foxconn’s new plant will be able to make use of abundant local water

The plant will also use an automated process for painting mobile phones that is more environmentally safe than traditional spray guns, he said.

“Guiyang is a more natural place to focus more on the application side of that basic research,” Gou said. “Besides, the major Chinese mobile operators have set up a big data and cloud computing research center in Guizhou.

Foxconn will be able to share resources with them.”

The Guiyang plant is also a move by the company to increase its production in southwest China for exports and for supplies to the domestic market.

The new hub is more than 1,100 km inland from coastal Shenzhen where Foxconn opened its first mainland plant more than two decades ago.

Baidu big winner in World Cup China’s national soccer team failed to make the cut for the 2014 World Cup, but that hasn’t shaken a Chinese tech company’s credibility in predicting game results.

Baidu’s World Cup prediction service has outscored its major competitors by accurately predicting winners 58.3 per cent of the time, compared with runnerup Microsoft Bing’s 56.2 per cent.

The Beijing-based company not only correctly chose the four semifinalists, it also predicted that Germany would win its match with Brazil, though it didn’t foresee the 7-1 score.

Baidu said that its World Cup prediction model is based on data from as many as 37,000 matches played by 987 teams over the past five years.

To improve the accuracy of the model, Zhang Tong, head of the Beijing Big Data Lab of Baidu, said that the company also took into consideration five factors: the teams’ strength, home advantage, recent game performance, overall World Cup performance and bookmaker odds.

Tech companies such as Baidu, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo, and investment banking firms such as Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, all took their chances predicting 2014 World Cup games.

Generally speaking, tech companies outperformed Wall Street investors.

Baidu and Microsoft both correctly chose the four teams in the semifinals.

Goldman Sachs erred in picking Spain to reach the final four, while Deutsche Bank even predicted that England would win the tournament.

Bryan Wang, principal analyst with Forrester Research, a multinational technology and market research firm, said that as a company that processes search requests every day, Baidu enjoys an edge in big data-based prediction.

He said accuracy is based on how much data companies use in building the models. “The more soccer-related data you put into the model, the more accuracy you get,” he said, adding that accuracy isn’t necessarily equal to a company’s capability in big data technology.

Recent media reports said that a soccer-loving girl in Northeast China won more than 3.3 million yuan (US$528,000) from betting on the 2014 World Cup and her secret weapon was Baidu’s World Cup predictions.

But Bi Yajing, a soccer fan in Beijing who has spent 1,000 yuan on soccer lotteries during the World Cup, said he never uses such big-data prediction.

“There is no fun if you can’t vote for your favorite teams,” he said.

Georgia Asian Times July 15-31, 2014

Page 17

Misc Asia

Half cup of rice option soon a must in Philippines city restaurants Soon, all food establishments in Quezon City, Philippines-- including those in hospitals, schools, even catering businesses-- will be required to offer their customers the option of ordering half a cup of rice.

Citing a report that Filipinos were wasting 8 billion pesos (US$182 million) worth of rice yearly, the Quezon City council approved on third and final reading on Monday the “Half-cup rice ordinance of 2014,” which would impose a fine of up to 2,000 pesos ($45.6) on violators in addition to the possible suspension of their business permits.

In approving the proposed ordinance, councilors took into consideration a report by the Los Banos, Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) which stated that the country was wasting 23 million pesos worth of rice every day.

The IRRI noted that the rice going to waste could be used to feed 4.3 million people.

The city council also cited data from the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Institute

which showed that on the average, every Filipino wastes three tablespoons or nine grams of rice daily, equivalent to 3.3 kilos a year.

“The hundred tons of rice wasted each year, not just in the Philippines but in the whole world, need to be taken seriously; our social conscience will tell us that the rice we waste can just be the very rice we need to feed the hungry and the undernourished,” it said.

It added: “Empirical evidence shows that the availability of a half cup or half order of rice serving [will] minimize wastage especially within the food service industry.”

As defined in the ordinance, a half cup or half order of rice refers to half or roughly 80 grams of the default restaurant serving of 158 grams or a whole cup of rice.

Covered by the new regulation are “all businesses, institutions and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home,” including restaurants, fast food chains, school and hospital cafeterias, food courts and catering businesses in Quezon City.

Media tricked by fake North Korean World Cup final Lack of information could make some people believe just about anything, even the most absurd of rumors.

If further proof of that was needed, the latest example is a North Korean video assuring viewers that North Korea has secured a place in the World Cup final in Brazil after routing every one of its rivals.

The sad fact is that the team actually failed even to qualify for the tournament.

Nevertheless, foreign media somehow took it for granted that North Koreans could so easily be misled.

Lots of authoritative news agencies and newspapers “swallowed” the hoax news and rushed to report that the North Korean government was fooling its people.

To the attentive eye, the “hoax” carried a few obvious inconsistencies.

First, North Korean television has broadcast all the key World Cup matches, which means that North Koreans definitely know which teams played each other and will sooner be watching the Germany-Argentina title match live on Sunday night, rather than waiting for the mythical North Korea-Portugal final.

Second, the presenter’s lips weren’t complegely in synch with the apparent soun-track, suggesting that the original speech was different.

Third, the voiceover bears a southern, rather than northern, accent and actually sounds a lot like a southerner trying to imitate a North Korean TV presenter.

Later, it turned out that it was actually the journalists themselves who had been made fools of.

It could be that Pyongyang itself was behind the “World Cup hoax” in order to ridicule the incompetence of foreign mass media.

The entire hoax had apparently been set up to demonstrate how eagerly, and without a moment’s hesitation, the mass media would be quick to trust any negative story about North Korea, however absurd.

They had, after all, been fooled more than once before with fake news about “Kim John-Un having his ex-girlfriend executed” or “ordering soldiers to fire mortars at people” or “having his uncle torn apart by hungry dogs”.

Page 18

July 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

My Favorite Street in Barcelona Catalan painter and sculptor Samuel Salcedo reveals the secrets of the beautiful Eixample area of Barcelona With its list of prestigious art galleries, unique modernist architecture, and outdoor dining, it is a cultural feast.

Barcelona is known for the ingenious architectural designs of Gaudí, who inspired a generation of architects who went on to use the Eixample district as their canvas.

The one-upmanship amongst the craftsmen who worked on the buildings has created an impressive kaleidoscope of ornate and dramatic architecture.

Elegant and sophisticated, Eixample is a pleasing contrast to the crowds of Barcelonas more infamous street, Las Ramblas.

Hidden among the labyrinth of modernist buildings awaits a quiet, seemingly unassuming street, Carrer Enric Granados.

It takes its name from the classical composer and pianist Enrique Granados (18671916), whose music was in a distinctively Spanish style, fittingly named given the streets local charm and flavor.

But it doesn’t reveal its charm too easily, according to Salcedo; one must dig to find the gems.

The street is semi-pedestrianised, allowing you to stroll comfortably under the leafy overhang, passing terraces filled with Eixamples fashionably bohemian residents.

For local art and up-and-coming artists you will do no better than to stumble upon 3 Punts. It is here that you will also discover Salcedos captivating sculptures.

For a thoroughly unpretentious art gallery experience, visit Cosmo Gallery, a combined café and gallery. It is a wonderful place to take in new art in a relaxed atmosphere.

The galleries mission is to bring art to the people, and it does exactly that.

If looking at all that art has you yearning to take home something beautiful for your walls, drop in to L’appartement, an uber-cool design shop that is renowned for showcasing the best new designers just before they make it big.

If you want to test your Spanish, you can chat with Norman Vilalta, an artisanal shoemaker. He famously abandoned a law career in Buenos Aires to begin his apprenticeship in Spain.

He is now a master, and he is shoe-

maker for the Spanish royal family.

This would be a rare opportunity to own a pair of his exquisitely crafted bespoke shoes.

Alba Granados. This restaurant is the younger sibling of Alba Paris; the food is elegant with traditional Basque roots.

Some of the city’s best restaurants can be found here. Etapes’ contemporary Mediterranean cuisine comes with a recommendation from Michelin.

If youre in the mood for romance, reserve a table on the balcony overlooking the street.

Not out to impress, this restaurant has simple décor and a small terrace, but the quality of the food speaks for itself.

If you want to step it up, then choose

If you want to go straight to dessert, then treat yourself with some delicious ice-cream at Delacrem or line up at Cup and Cake for an old favourite, the cupcake made with an artistic flair that typifies Carrer d’Enric Granados.