Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

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President Obama and Anthony Bourdain dines on Bun Cha and beer in Hanoi

June 1-15, 2016

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June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho, Helen Nguyen Photographer: Ben Hioe

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“Think Asia, Think Hong Kong�

Guest Speaker: Ralph Chow, Regional Director, Americas of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Presented by Hong Kong Association, Atlanta Date: June 1, 2016 Time: 3:30 pm - 6:15 pm Venue: City Club of Buckhead, 3343 Peachtree Road, Suite 1850, Atlanta GA 30326 For more info: www.hongkongatlanta. com Ang Bayan Kong Pilipinas Celebrating 118 years of Phillipine Independence Date: Sunday, June 12, 2016 Time: 5:00 pm - 10:00pm Venue: Atlanta History Center For more info: 404-683-0606 GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia - Awards Gala Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 Time: 6:30 pm

Venue: Sonesta Gwinnett Place For sponsorship & registration, please email: gat@gasiantimes.com 21st Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Date: Saturday, Sept 10, 2016 Time: 7:00 am-6:00 pm Venue: Lake Laneir Olympic Kayak Facility, Gainesville For more info: dragonboatatlanta.com 12th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: Oct 7-22, 2016 Venues: KSU, GPC Dunwoody, UWG, Plaza Theatre For more info: atlaff.org

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June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS

Turkish Airlines launch new service from Atlanta Atlanta, May 17, 2016 — Mayor Kasim Reed announced that Atlanta will welcome a new international carrier, Turkish Airlines, to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The inaugural non-stop flight from Istanbul arrived in Atlanta on May 16.

Following the flight landing, Mayor Reed joined Turkish Airlines Chairman IIker Ayci, Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at The Coca-Cola Company Muhtar Kent for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new route from Atlanta will be the carrier’s second gateway in the southeastern U.S. following the launch of its nonstop service in October 2015 from Miami International Airport. turkish.atl“We are pleased to welcome Turkish Airlines as the newest carrier to Atlanta, solidifying Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport not only as the world’s busiest airport, but also the gateway to the world,” said Mayor Reed. “The new route will open business and tourism opportunities to a vast array of global destinations and further advance Atlanta’s tourism industry.”

With Atlanta being the ninth U.S. gateway for Turkish Airlines, momentum continues for the carrier as it expands its presence in the U.S. providing one-stop connections to 287

destinations and 113 countries through its Istanbul hub.

“Turkish Airlines has become one of the world’s premier airlines, constantly adding to its network and making significant strategic investments that continually enhance its range and product offer,” said Ilker Ayci. “This significant launch reinforces Turkish Airlines as a global leader in aviation with an internationally known brand helping passengers widen their world.”

The Reed Administration played a pivotal role, in conjunction with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in bringing the Istanbul direct flight to Atlanta. Mayor Reed’s Chief of Staff Candace Byrd traveled to Istanbul to meet with Turkish Airlines’ executive team in January 2014.

“We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to Atlanta,” said Miguel Southwell, General Manager for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “These daily flights will open up business and leisure opportunities for thousands of new customers from both sides of the Atlantic.”

Asian doctor arrested for medical prescription violations in Clayton County Jonesboro, May 18, 2016 — Former Jonesboro psychiatrist Dr. Narendra Kumar Nagareddy, 57, was arrested at his McDonough home and has been charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. Dr. Nagareddy was charged for prescribing controlled substances and not prescribing medications for a legitimate medical purpose, according to District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson during a press conference.

Eleven violations charge included negligence to sign or date his prescriptions given to patients. If convicted, Dr. Nagareddy could face life sentence in prison without parole.

District Attorney Lawson said three victims in this case are local victims, Audrey Austin, 29; David Robinson, 49; and Cheryl Pennington, 47.

Dr. Nagareddy may faces additional murder charges in other counties for over 30 other deaths caused by his prescriptions.

He is being held without bond and will appear in court for a hearing July 7. His trial date is scheduled for August 8.

June 1-15, 2016

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June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

BUSINESS

Apple chief Cook unveils app design center in India Mumbai, May 18, 2016 — Apple chief executive Tim Cook announced Wednesday a new app design centre in India as he kicked off his first visit to the Asian giant seeking to tap into its roll-out of 4G networks.

Cook landed in the Indian financial capital Mumbai shortly before midnight on Tuesday by private jet from China, where he made a $1 billion announcement.

After an early morning visit to a Hindu temple in Mumbai, Cook announced the US technology behemoth was planning to build the app design facility in the southern city of Bangalore.

“India is home to one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial iOS development communities in the world,” the Apple boss said in a statement, adding that it would open early next year.

“With the opening of this new facility in Bengaluru, we’re giving developers access to tools which will help them create innovative apps for customers around the world,” Cook said, referring to IT hub Bangalore.

Cook’s four-day visit comes as Apple eyes India’s fast-growing market as increasingly key to its fortunes, with sales in China and the United States slowing.

The 55-year-old made a trip to Mumbai’s Shree Siddhivinayak tem-

ple, according to the Indian Express newspaper, which posted a picture of Cook wearing a religious cloth around his neck.

While an Apple spokesperson refused to confirm Cook’s schedule, local media reported he had lined up meetings with a number of prominent businessmen, including Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry.

Cook will also reportedly meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the Business Standard newspaper said he planned to hold discussions with Airtel CEO Sunil Mittal.

Airtel, along with other Indian telecoms companies Reliance and Vodafone, are currently rolling out 4G networks across the country.

Cook has previously stated that the onset of fast phone networks in India would boost sales of the Apple iPhone there.

In April the tech firm reported its first drop in global iPhone sales since launching the smartphone in 2007. But revenues from sales in India grew by 56 percent in the first three months of 2016 compared to the previous year.

During his trip to China, Cook announced Apple had invested $1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing, the bitter rival of US-based Uber.

Most euro zone firms expect Brexit would hurt economy – survey London, May 18, 2016 -- Most companies based in the euro zone believe a British decision to leave the European Union would hurt the region as it struggles with a sluggish economy and a migration crisis, a survey showed on Wednesday.

Seventy-nine percent of firms based in the euro zone said a Brexit would be bad for the area, with less than 4 percent saying it would have a positive impact, according to the report from accountants Grant Thornton.

“What’s abundantly clear from our research is that European business leaders overwhelmingly view a Brexit as a negative development for the EU,” Francesca Lagerberg, a senior tax partner at Grant Thornton, said.

She said business confidence was strong considering the various potential threats the region faced from low growth, high unemployment, migration and a potential Brexit.

“Any one of these flaring up over the next few months could see that optimism wobble if the economic shocks undermine business leaders’ ability to plan and invest,” she added.

The survey was based on interviews with more than 2,500 senior executives conducted in January and February.

The result is in keeping with the view of senior business leaders in

Britain who are largely in favour of Britain staying in the EU. Most economists expect an exit would deal a blow to Britain’s economy in both the short- and longer-term.

Microsoft on Tuesday said it was more likely to invest in Britain if it stayed in the EU, and the Confederation of British Industry urged firms to speak to their staff above the vote.

The Grant Thornton report showed 68 percent of British-based firms believe Brexit would have a negative impact on Europe.

Parts of the euro zone have struggled with a debt crisis in recent years which, on the heels of the global financial crisis, has stifled growth and left many unemployed.

The region is also at odds over how to contain a big flow of migrants to the region. – Reuters

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

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BUSINESS

Japanese turn to cup noodles as economy struggles Tokyo, May 18, 2016 — Japanese consumers can’t get enough of cup noodles, with spending on them surging by more than a quarter over the past year. That sounds like good news, but for a country still struggling to escape deflation it’s a worrying signal.

Weak consumer spending is fueling speculation that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will again delay a planned sales tax hike, and Japan is expected to have dodged a recession at the start of this year by the smallest of margins – helped by an extra ‘leap year’ day in the January-March quarter.

Consumption, one of the few economic engines that fired when Abe launched his “Abenomics” stimulus plan more than three years ago, is faltering. And rising sales of cheap cup noodles is a worrying sign that consumers have little confidence that deflation is being banished.

“Consumers remain on guard against rising costs of food and living, refraining from spending on other items, and they’re rebuilding savings spent during the last-minute buying spree,” said Hiromichi Shirakawa, chief economist at Credit Suisse.

Cup noodles, costing as little as 180 yen, are a favorite for penny pinchers.

Average monthly spending on cup noodles surged 26.1 percent in January-March from a year earlier, government data show – the fourth straight quarter of double-digit growth.

Spending on noodles is growing at the fastest pace since Abe took office

in late 2012. At the same time, data shows households are spending less on non-durable goods such as utilities, education, recreation, transport and communications.

With private consumption accounting for roughly 60 percent of the economy, this renewed frugality is a signal that Japanese policymakers could struggle with yet another year of disappointing growth and low inflation.

Policymakers are worried. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said this month that weakness is starting to show up in consumer spending, but he expects a tight labour market to support household spending in the future.

In March, the government lowered its assessment of private consumption due to falling spending and weakening consumer sentiment.

Near-recession Data on Wednesday is forecast to show the economy grew at an annualized rate of just 0.2 percent in January-March, after an annualized 1.1 percent contraction at the end of 2015 – avoiding recession with the help of an extra day from the leap year to boost the numbers.

Private consumption is forecast to grow by just 0.2 percent in the first quarter after falling 0.9 percent in the previous three months.

Those sort of numbers are feeding expectations that Abe will put on hold a plan to raise the sales tax hike to 10 percent from 8 percent next April,

although the government’s top spokesman denied a weekend report to that effect in the Nikkei paper.

The planned increase has already been delayed once after an increase to 8 percent from 5 percent in April 2014 hit consumption and knocked the economy into recession.

When Abe launched his administration with bold promises to shake Japan from its deflationary torpor, consumer sentiment surged and shoppers splashed out on big-ticket items.

But now, opinion polls show a majority of voters are losing faith in “Abenomics”, as well as in the BOJ’s radical monetary stimulus, and consumer sentiment is weakening.

The main reason for the weak rebound in consumer spending is sluggish wages, with nominal wages lagging broad price rises caused by the 2014 sales tax hike.

Price-adjusted real wages have fallen for the past four years. They look to have started to pick up gradually since last summer, due mainly to slowing inflation reflecting lower oil prices.

While household spending among high-income earners has held steady after the sales tax hike, lower-income households have reined in spending.

“People quickly realized that recent wage gains were not likely to continue, and higher food prices put a lot of pressure on the household budget,” said Norio Miyagawa, senior economist at Mizuho Securities. “Given the volatility in overseas economies, I expect consumers to cut spending further. This will limit gains in consumer prices.”

And big Japanese manufacturers have offered much smaller pay rises this year as their profits are squeezed by slowing demand at home and abroad, and a stronger yen.

– REUTERS

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June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

FASHION

Gucci apologizes over Hong Kong funeral fakes row Hong Kong, May 6, 2016 — Luxury fashion brand Gucci apologized Friday after warning Hong Kong’s funeral shops not to sell paper fakes of its products, traditionally burned as tributes to the dead.

Burning paper replicas of everything a loved one could ever want in the afterlife is an enduring tradition in Hong Kong — from mundane daily life items, including pairs of socks and false teeth to high-end status symbols like cars, smartphones and designer handbags.

Gucci sent letters to store owners last month asking them not to sell paper replicas bearing Gucci-like logos, saying it was an infringement of their trademark.

That led to criticism from some

shops and customers who said the brand was interfering in an age-old custom they felt was harmless.

It did not say whether Gucci would continue to ask shops to take the replicas off the shelves.

“We regret any misunderstandings that may have been caused and sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended through our action,” Gucci said Friday.

But a source close to the matter said most of the six stores that received the letters had agreed to stop selling the products.

The company said its letters were sent out as part of efforts to protect its global intellectual property and said it held the funeral traditions “in utmost respect”.

“We trust that the funeral store owners did not have the intention to infringe Gucci’s trademark. Accordingly, we did not suggest any legal action or compensation,” the statement added.

“We hope to continue a positive dialogue with the sellers,” the source added.

Though some store owners may have adhered to the warning, others seemed unfazed.

“These items are not used by living people, it’s just to commemorate ancestors and for them to use,” said To Chin-sung, a 65-year-old manager of a shop crammed with paper offerings,

after the letters had been sent out.

He had not received one himself, although he does sell paper handbags resembling Gucci products.

“If they send us a letter, we’ll respond jokingly by saying perhaps we can help send it to the underworld, and see how it’s received there.”

Since its arrival in Hong Kong in 1974, Gucci has opened 11 stores including its flagship in the Central shopping and financial district.

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

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ENTERTAINMENT

A ‘Big Mad Indian Wedding’ film Cannes, May 13, 2016 — India and China are all set to see more of each other on the big screen in the years ahead, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Trinity Pictures, a division of Eros International launched in February 2015 to focus on franchise feature films, is mounting a “big mad Indian wedding” film about a girl who elopes with a Chinese man.

This was revealed here by Ajit Thakur, Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Pictures, in a panel discussion on “Indian cinema going global”, held in the India Pavilion at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.

Trinity Pictures has sealed a co-production deal with a Chinese entity in order to make big-budget films aimed at both markets, which together add up to an audience size of 2.6 billion people.

The yet-to-be titled film will feature a Bollywood actress cherry-picked to romance a well-known male star from China.

“The screenplay is in place and the cast will be formally announced soon,” Thakur said.

“We initially suggested five-six names to our co-production partner.

They have zeroed in on an Indian actress after a face-mapping process to ascertain what kind of look would work best in China,” Thakur said.

and the upcoming wedding film. The latter will be first off the blocks,” said Thakur.

“Ek Tha Tiger” and “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” director Kabir Khan is set to helm another Trinity-backed Sino-Indian collaboration which will be headlined by an A-list Bollywood star and a Chinese actress.

The identity of the actress is still under wraps, but Thakur let on that she might not be one of the biggest of the Bollywood divas.

“At least 80% of this film will be shot in China and some script and logistical details are still being worked out,” says Thakur.

Prasad Shetty of the Chinese firm Strategic Alliance, which is partnering Trinity Pictures in the project, revealed: “Moviegoers in China are predominantly young. Their average age is 21 or 22. They have an affinity for baby-faced actresses.”

Trinity Pictures, which will kick off its domestic production program with a film about a child secret agent directed by Amole Gupte, is likely to deliver the first commercial release by the end of the year.

An in-house team of writers at Trinity Pictures, which is seeking to develop new franchises on the lines of Marvel, developed six scripts and shared them with their Chinese partner.

“They opted for one family drama

“Our target is to mount a Rs 1,000-crore (about USD149 million) film but it will not be viable in Bollywood’s current distribution model. The only way it can be done is in the form of a co-production with a country like China,” said Thakur.

Currently, screens available in China are five times more than the number in India.

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June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

FOCUS President Obama and Anthony Bourdain dines on Bun Cha and beer in Hanoi Hanoi, May 24, 2016 — She has ladled out countless bowls of her pork noodle soup, but the owner of a Hanoi street side restaurant says she was stunned when Mr Barack Obama strolled in, pulled up a plastic stool and slurped down Vietnam’s famed “bun cha” delicacy.

“The United States is fully lifting the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some 50 years,” he said at a joint press conference alongside his Vietnamese counterpart President Tran Dai Quang.

Both countries are warily eyeing China’s military build-up in the disputed South China Sea. But Obama was keen to separate the decision to allow arms sales to the communist nation from shared concerns over Beijing’s claims to contested waters.

“The decision to lift the ban was not based on China... but on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process moving towards normalization with Vietnam,” he said.

“At this stage, both sides have developed a level of trust and cooperation including our militaries,” the US leader added.

Vietnam’s leader Quang welcomed the rollback of the Cold War-era ban on lethal weapons exports.

Obama’s three-day visit to Vietnam comes some 41 years after the North Vietnamese army and its Viet Cong allies marched into Saigon, humiliating the world’s preeminent superpower.

The rollback of the arms embargo is highly symbolic of a shift in relations that has seen a surge in trade and cultural changes between the two countries that were locked in a bitter, bloody conflict just a generation ago.

The United States is cozying up to Asia-Pacific countries in a strategic shift to tap the trade potential of the region and as a bulwark to the influence of regional superpower China.

Vietnam’s military spending has surged in the last decade, by 130 per cent since 2005, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

But much of Vietnam’s arsenal is made up of aging Russia-built equipment.

Bourdain posted a picture of the dinner on his Instagram feed with the caption “The President’s chopstick skills are on point”.

It showed the two sitting on tiny plastic stools that are a common feature of Vietnamese street restaurants, Obama clasping a bottle of Hanoi Beer in his right hand.

Obama announces full lifting of Vietnam arms embargo Hanoi, May 23, 2016 — The United States has fully lifted its ban on weapons sales to Vietnam, President Barack Obama announced today during a visit to Hanoi, unpicking a decades-old embargo on the one-time enemy.

and popular with everyone,” said the shop’s owner, adding that she regretted not posing for a picture with the president.

“Total cost of bun cha dinner with the President: $6.00. I picked up the check,” Bourdain, who is renowned for his love of cheap street side food, later tweeted.

The US president slipped away from his hectic Vietnam visit on Monday night to sample the dish with Anthony Bourdain, a chef and food critic who fronts a travel show about hidden culinary gems around the world, following his announcement that the US would be lifting a decades-old ban on weapon sales to their one-time enemy.

While 54-year-old restaurant owner Nguyen Thi Lien knew a foreign television crew was on the way, she had no idea they would be bringing a very special guest.

“His presence in our restaurant was a great surprise for my whole family, who could never have imagined it, even in our dreams,” she said.

US Secret Service and local police closed down the streets surrounding Bun Cha Huong Lien eatery on Monday evening. A large crowd gathered outside the restaurant, letting out a cheer as Mr Obama exited. Surrounded by a coterie of bodyguards, he stopped to greet excited locals, many capturing the moment on their phones, before being whisked away in his limousine.

“Obama was nice, smiling, cheerful

Local diners could be seen sitting at stainless steel tables behind the pair tucking in to their own steaming bowls of broth, one wearing an American-style black baseball cap.

Vietnam is known for its fresh ingredients and healthy cuisine but Mr Obama’s choice of bun cha, which with its fatty pork and sweet broth is at the more gluttonous end of the country’s culinary spectrum, might have raised the eyebrows of his wife Michelle who has long campaigned for healthy eating.

According to CNN, the meal and conversation at the restaurant will be featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown. The episode will air in September.

Having arrived in Vietnamese capital on Sunday, next on the agenda for Mr Obama will be to lay out more of his plan for a stronger alliance between the two countries.

He will travel to Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday before heading to Japan, where he will conclude his Asia trip with a historic visit by a sitting US president to Hiroshima.

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

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LIFESTYLE

Too much smartphone time could be sign of anxiety, shows research Chicago, March 18, 2016 — According to an American study, published in Computers in Human Behavior, spending too much time using a smartphone — particularly the heavy use of applications and entertainment features — could be linked to a desire to shut out reality and escape certain unpleasant experiences and feelings.

After following 300 cellphone-using university students, researchers from the University of Illinois, USA, realized that anxiety and depression mainly affected young adults who used their smartphone as a means of social protection, providing an escape from a sometimes unpleasant reality.

“Handheld devices, with their countless applications and entertainment options and their constant presence at our fingertips, make it easier than ever before to disconnect with the problems (and) stresses of reality, and avoid actively engaging with them,” observed the study co-author Tayana Panova.

The team studied students’ responses to a questionnaire about cellphone use and their feelings. They then asked 72 students to spend five minutes writing about a personal flaw or weakness that made them feel uncomfortable, placing them in an anxiety-inducing situation. The participants then had to wait for 10 minutes while the writings were supposedly reviewed.

During the test, a third of participants had no access to their smartphone or any other device, another

third had access to their smartphone, and a final group had access to a basic video game.

The study found that the group allowed access to their smartphone had the lowest anxiety levels. The participants were 64 per cent more likely not to experience anxiety than those with access to no device.

Of the participants allowed cellphone access who felt very anxious during the test, 82 per cent used their mobile throughout the experiment, compared to 50 per cent of anxious participants in the video game group.

Conversely, 50 per cent of nonstressed participants reached for their cellphone compared with 25 per cent of the video game group.

The researchers conclude that smartphones can serve as “security blankets” which reassure and comfort anxious users. However, they stress that it’s a person’s underlying feelings and emotions that determine whether they develop this kind of behavior, rather than the simple fact of owning a cellphone.

The scientists also suggest that this kind of escapism strategy could make individuals more vulnerable to anxiety, since their feelings are not being expressed and alternative coping skills are not being developed. This could, in turn, have an adverse effect on mental health.

Philippine star Jaclyn Jose wins best actress at Cannes Manila, May 23, 2016 Philippine soap star Jaclyn Jose won best actress at the Cannes film festival Sunday for her mesmerizing performance as a slum matriarch who falls prey to corrupt police.

A huge star in her homeland, she said she had to forget everything she learned in her 30 years in the business for the role as a sweetshop owner and small-time drug dealer in “Ma’ Rosa”.

“The biggest challenge for me was not to act. Especially since I am coming from television shows where I play loud and campy characters,” she told reporters.

of a family struggling to survive amid squalor.

The daughter of a Filipina mother and a largely absent American serviceman father, Jose first became famous in Philippine showbiz circles for her ethereal beauty.

But she has proved to be a versatile and hard-working actress, starring in dramas, comedies, horror stories, romances as well as television soap operas.

She has won numerous acting awards in her native country and worked with its most prestigious filmmakers.

The 52-year-old said she had to “tone everything down to zero” — for the stark, realistic portrait of a woman fighting to do the best for her family in director Brillante Mendoza’s gritty film.

But it is her relationship with “Ma ‘Rosa” director Mendoza — a friend for over three decades — which has brought her into the international limelight.

It is a dramatic change from her regular job, playing a spoilt, rich woman in the popular Philippine TV soap opera, “The Millionaire’s Wife”.

She appeared in Mendoza’s first movie “The Masseur” 11 years ago and also his drama “Serbis”, which competed in Cannes in 2008.

Variety magazine praised Jose for the “naturalistic grace” of her film performance, playing the matriarch

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June 1-15, 2016

Georgia Asian Times

LIFESTYLE

‘Second skin’ may eliminate wrinkles, eye bags New York, May 18, 2016 -- While the product is a long way from being on store shelves, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said it could one day offer more than just cosmetic lifts, but also protect sensitive skin from the ravages of eczema and dermatitis.

“It’s an invisible layer that can provide a barrier, provide cosmetic improvement, and potentially deliver a drug locally to the area that’s being treated,” said researcher Daniel Anderson, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

“Those three things together could really make it ideal for use in humans.”

Scientists have been working on a polymer like this — one that could mimic the properties of natural skin — for about five years, according to the report in Monday’s edition of the journal Nature Materials.

Until now, the results have been messy and not very effective.

But researchers say the new product, called a cross-linked polymer layer or XPL, works better than the currently available options for wound dressing — silicone gel sheets and polyurethane films.

“Creating a material that behaves like skin is very difficult,” said study co-author Barbara Gilchrest, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Many people have tried to do this, and the materials that have been available up until this have not had the properties of being flexible, comfortable, nonirritating, and able to conform to the movement of the skin and return to its original shape.”

The research team included MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital and researchers from two companies, known as Living Proof and Olivo Labs.

The latter aims to develop the technology and market it.

The silicone-based polymer can be applied in a thin layer on the skin during a two-step process.

“First, polysiloxane components are applied to the skin, followed by a platinum catalyst that induces the polymer to form a strong cross-linked film that remains on the skin for up to 24 hours,” said the study.

“Both layers are applied as creams or ointments, and once spread onto the skin, XPL becomes essentially invisible.”

Tests on human subjects showed it could reshape saggy skin under the eyes for about 24 hours, and made skin more hydrated.

Future uses could include using the “second skin” for protection against the sun and ultraviolet rays, researchers said.

Learning a language can boost mental agility in just one week Researchers from the University of Edinburgh compared a group of 33 students aged 18 and 78, who were taking part in a one-week Scottish Gaelic course, with 16 other students who were taking part in a comparable course, but not learning a language.

Their attention levels were measured using listening tests, which assessed each participant’s ability to concentrate on certain sounds and switch their attention to focus on relevant information.

The team found that both groups who completed the one-week courses showed improvements in their attention levels, but it was only those in the language group who showed significant improvements when compared to a control group who had completed no course at all.

And it didn’t matter what age the participants were when they started learning the language. Improvements were found in all participants aged 18 to 78, showing that even if you think you are too old to start, language learning can boost mental agility even later in life.

The team also found that not only did these improvements occur after just one week, but they could also be maintained with regular practice, with those who practiced for five hours or

more per week still showing improved attention levels nine months after the initial language learning course.

However, those who practiced for four or less hours each week showed more inconsistent results. While some participants showed improvements in their attention spans, others stayed the same or even deteriorated.

Professor Boyd Robertson, Principal of the College attended by the participants in the study, commented that previous feedback on the course had already shown the social benefits of the language course, with the study’s lead researcher, Dr Thomas Bak, adding that these new results now also confirm the cognitive benefits of language learning.

Dr Bak also concluded that, “I think there are three important messages from our study: firstly, it is never too late to start a novel mental activity such as learning a new language.

Secondly, even a short intensive course can show beneficial effects on some cognitive functions. Thirdly, this effect can be maintained through practice.”

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

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SPORTS Barcelona edge out Sevilla in bad tempered Cup final Madrid, May 23, 2016 — Jordi Alba and Neymar struck in extra-time as Barcelona completed a league and Cup double by lifting the Copa del Rey for a 28th time after a 2-0 win over Sevilla in a fiery game that saw three red cards yesterday.

Asia bids goodbye to Thomas Cup Kunshan, May 22, 2016 — The most prestigious cup in badminton team events, the Thomas Cup, will leave the Asian continent and move to Europe following Denmark creating history by becoming champions today.

Denmark demolished Indonesia’s hopes of bringing home the Thomas Cup after a 14-year wait after that edged the Asian badminton powerhouse 3-2 in the final at the Kunshan Sports Centre here.

This is the first time Denmark have won the prestigious trophy after nine times entering the final.

The Thomas Cup has never been won by a European country since it was introduced in 1949.

Hans Kristian-Vittinghus became a hero when he sealed Denmark’s victory by defeating Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-15, 21-7 in the decider.

The 30-year-old right-handed player said he had prepared very well to face the crucial situation if the final battle stretched into the decider game.

“I was quite nervous in the beginning but I am very happy that I handled it very well. I’ve been preparing and dreaming for this moment.

“To bring back home the Thomas Cup for the first time to Denmark, it is very hard to describe what I feel right now. But I am extremely happy with what I did for the team today,” he said.

World ranked number four, Viktor Axelsen set the path for the win when he thrashed his opponent Tommy Sugiarto 21-17, 21-18 in the opening match to put Denmark ahead.

The 22-year-old shuttler also noted that the thunderous support from China’s badminton fans at the Kunshan Sports Centre spurred the players on.

The Danes’ first doubles Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding lost to Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan 18-21, 13-21 bringing the tie to 1-1.

Their second singles Jan O Jorgensen, who had been rested during the semi-final match against Malaysia, brushed aside Anthony Ginting 21-17, 21-12 to put Denmark back on a 2-1 lead.

“I am very happy to succeed and give my country a point in the final. I didn’t play in the semifinals against Malaysia as I kept losing, to Hsu Jen Hao (Taiwan) and Takume Ueda (Japan).

“I think I have more experience than Ginting. I did not think much on winning so that I could control the game very well,” said the world ranked fifth shuttler.

Denmark failed in their attempt to conclude the winning point when their second doubles Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen were swept aside

by Angga Pratama/Ricky Karanda Suwardi 16-21, 14-21, causing the tie to be decided by the last singles.

Javier Mascherano’s dismissal just before half-time for pulling down Kevin Gameiro put Barca on the back foot and they were further depleted when 59-goal top scorer Luis Suarez limped off early in the second period.

However, they resisted Sevilla’s pressure after the break and Barca’s numerical disadvantage was cancelled out in stoppage time when Ever Banega saw red for chopping down Neymar.

Barca dominated the extra 30 minutes, but needed just six to finally make the breakthrough when Lionel Messi’s sumptuous pass picked out Alba to volley into the far corner.

Neymar then slotted home a second in the dying seconds from another brilliant Messi assist after Daniel Carrico had also been dismissed for two bookable offences.

Sevilla were looking for a double of their own after winning a third consecutive Europa League by beating Liverpool 3-1 on Wednesday.

However, just as in a thrilling 5-4 defeat to Barca to open the season in the European Super Cup in August, they fell just short as Luis Enrique’s men claimed their fourth trophy of the season having also won the Club World Cup in December.

The political fallout over an initial ban on Catalan separatist flags by the Madrid authorities that was eventually overturned on appeal in the courts continued before kick-off as Barca fans jeered the Spanish national anthem.

Once the action got under way, Barcelona started brightly in their fifth Copa del Rey final in six seasons as

Suarez volleyed wastefully wide with the chance to register his 60th goal of the season.

Sevilla captain Coke was his side’s hero in midweek with two goals against Liverpool. However, he finished more like a man who had only scored one goal all season before Wednesday when he sliced horribly off target when presented with a clear chance after great work by Vitolo on the right.

The game swung Sevilla’s way nine minutes before half-time when Mascherano hauled down Gameiro just outside the box as he bore down on goal.

Banega nearly doubled Barca’s punishment as his sweet strike from the resulting free-kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Sevilla roared back from a goal down at the break to outclass Liverpool in midweek and started the second-half with intent once more as Banega’s low drive came back off the post.

Barca were then dealt another huge blow just before the hour mark when Suarez pulled up with a muscle injury before leaving the field in tears with his chances of representing Uruguay at the Copa America next month now in jeopardy.

Sevilla were camped in the Barca half for much of the second-half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Grzegorz Krychowiak saw a deflected effort flash just wide, while Vicente Iborra’s appeals for a penalty after he clashed with Dani Alves were waived away.

Parity was restored in numbers on each side in stoppage time when Banega saw red for tripping Neymar on the edge of the area, but Sergio Rico tipped over Messi’s resulting free-kick to take the game into extra-time.

Page 14

June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

SPORTS

31 athletes could miss Rio after Beijing re-tests London, May 17, 2016 — Thirty one athletes from six sports could be banned from this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics after 454 doping samples were re-tested from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the International Olympic Committee said today.

Extra-strong condoms for Aussie team Sydney, May 16, 2016 — Australia’s Olympians will be issued with free super-strength condoms in Rio to minimize any infection from the Zika virus, officials said Monday.

Brazil has been the epicenter of the outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease, which is blamed for birth defects in babies born to women infected with the virus.

While condoms will be available in dispensing machines in the Olympic village, Australia is taking no chances, providing extra protection by supplying their own extra-strong variety “for peace of mind”.

They have teamed up with manufacturer Starpharma, which says its condoms contain a lubricant that protects against sexually-transmitted diseases and has “near-complete anti-viral protection against Zika virus in laboratory studies”.

“The health and well-being of the team comes first,” said the Olympic team’s chef de mission Kitty Chiller.

The IOC also said it would start re-testing Sochi 2014 winter Games samples after allegations of tarnished samples surfaced last week.

“Our association with Starpharma will provide extra protection for everyone on the team, and is a commonsense approach to a very serious problem we are facing in Rio.”

In an effort to crack down on cheats during the Olympics, the IOC said those found to have tested positive for banned substances would not be competing in Rio.

There has been widespread anxiety globally surrounding the threat of Zika, which is rampant in Brazil.

“The aim is to stop any drugs cheats coming to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” it said.

As well as causing the birth defect microcephaly in babies born to women infected with the virus, it has also been linked to the rare but serious neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

An IOC official told Reuters no names would be made public at this stage until athletes had been informed and a second sample, or B-sample, tested as well.

Last week, the World Health Organization advised pregnant women not to travel to Rio and urged athletes and visitors to take precautions to avoid infection by Zika.

The re-tests, a regular procedure by the IOC as it looks to re-test using newer methods or looking for new substances, were carried out in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international federations.

They focused on athletes who could potentially take part in the Rio Games, the first to be held on the South American continent.

Twelve national Olympic associations will be informed in the coming days, the IOC said. Another 250 samples will be re-tested from the London 2012 Olympics.

The IOC said it had called on the WADA to launch a “fully fledged investigation” into allegations that testing during the Sochi 2014 winter Olympics by the on-site accredited laboratory had been subverted.

The former head of Russia’s anti-doping agency Grigory Rodchenkov claimed last week that the Sochi lab had tampered with samples.

“All these measures are a powerful strike against the cheats we do not allow to win. They show once again that dopers have no place to hide,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“The re-tests from Beijing and London and the measures we are taking following the worrying allegations against the laboratory in Sochi are another major step to protect the clean athletes, irrespective of any sport or any nation.”

“By stopping so many doped athletes from participating in Rio we are showing once more our determination to protect the integrity of the Olympic competitions, including the Rio anti-doping laboratory, so that the Olympic magic can unfold in Rio de Janeiro.” — Reuters

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

Page 15

HEALTH Physical activity can lower the risk of 13 different cancers, new research finds Washington DC, May 17, 2016 - A new US study has found a link between higher levels of physical activity and lower risks for 13 different types of cancers, including three of the top four leading cancers among men and women worldwide.

The study, by a team of researchers from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA, looked at data from 1.4 million participants from 12 US and European study groups who had self-reported their levels of physical activity between 1987 and 2004.

This data was then compared with the occurrence of 26 kinds of cancer, with 186,932 cancers identified in the individuals during the follow-up.

The results showed that a higher level of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of 13 of 26 cancers

looked at in the study, regardless of participant’s body size or smoking status, including esophageal adenocarcinoma (42 per cent lower risk); liver (27 per cent lower risk); lung (26 per cent lower risk); kidney (23 per cent lower risk); gastric cardia (22 per cent lower risk); endometrial (21 per cent lower risk); myeloid leukemia (20 per cent lower risk); myeloma (17 per cent lower risk); colon (16 per cent lower risk); head and neck (15 per cent lower risk), rectal (13 per cent lower risk); bladder (13 per cent lower risk); and breast (10 per cent lower risk).

Overall, a higher level of physical activity was associated with a 7 per cent lower risk of total cancer.

However physical activity was also associated with a 5 per cent higher risk of prostate cancer and in areas of the US with high levels of solar UV radia-

However the team emphasized that despite these limitations the findings still showed that physical activity could be an important way to help prevent and control cancer worldwide. Despite the many known health benefits of taking part in exercise and physical activity however, 51 percent of people in the United States and 31 percent of people worldwide still don’t meet the recommended physical activity levels. tion a 27 per cent higher risk of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

The results were published online in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The authors acknowledged that a big limitation of the study is that they cannot completely rule out the chance that diet, smoking and other factors may have affected the results, and the study also used participants’ self-reports which can be unreliable and subjects to errors.

Now we know why carrots are orange Los Angeles, May 10, 2016 — Unpoetically dubbed DCAR_032551, the star gene emerged from the first complete decoding of the carrot genome, published in the scientific journal Nature Genetics.

“These results will facilitate biological discovery and crop improvement in carrots and other crops,” said Philipp Simon, senior author and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Vitamin A deficiency is a global health challenge,” the study pointed out. genomes have been sequenced.

“Its plentiful carotenoids make carrot an important source of provitamin A in the human diet.”

Carotenoids were first discovered in carrots (hence the name), but which among the vegetable’s newly tallied 32,115 genes was most responsible for their formation remained a mystery.

Daucus carota (the Latin name) now joins a select club of about a dozen veggies — including the potato, cucumber, tomato and pepper whose complete

Laying bare the humble carrot’s genetic secrets will make it easier to enhance disease resistence and nutritive value in other species, the researchers said.

Having identified the mechanism controlling the accumulation of carotenoid, it may be possible — through gene-editing, for example — to import it to other staple root vegetables such as the cassava, native to South American and widely grown in Africa.

Among vegetables spinach and peas are widely associated with growing up strong, but it’s hard to beat the carrot when it comes to health boosters.

Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, a natural chemical that the body can transform into Vitamin A. The deeper the orange color, the more beta-carotene.

Vitamin A is essential for normal growth and development, the proper functioning of the immune system, and vision.

Carotenoids are also antioxidants, which are thought to protect against heart disease and some forms of cancer by neutralizing so-called “free radicals”, single oxygen atoms that can damage cells.

“Some of these compounds can prevent disease,” said Simon.

Interestingly, carrots — along with many other plants — have about 20 percent more genes than humans.

Looking back at the plant’s family tree, scientists have been able to determine that it split with the grape about 113 million years ago and from the kiwi about 10 million years after that, when dinosaurs still lorded over the planet.

Originally white, the wild ancestors of the carrot likely came from central Asia.

Page 16

June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia

South Korean Go grandmaster seeks split with pro body Seoul, May 19, 2016 — South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se-Dol, famous for his high-profile battle against Google’s supercomputer AlphaGo, wants to split from the game’s professional body which takes a slice of his winnings, an official said today.

The 33-year-old is one of the greatest players of the ancient game in the modern era, with 18 international titles to his name.

His five-match showdown in March against AlphaGo — which Lee lost 4-1 — helped boost the global profile of a game whose popularity had mostly been restricted to east Asia.

In a letter submitted to the South Korean Go Players’ Association (GPA) on Tuesday, Lee said it was unfair that players are forced to hand the group 15 per cent of their earnings, and declared

his intention to withdraw his membership.

a decent living from tournaments and teaching.

The content of the letter was confirmed by a spokesman for the broader Korea Baduk Association, who said Lee would be the first professional to quit the players’ group in its 50-year history.

Members are required to pay between three and 15 per cent of their earnings into a GPA “reserve” — which provides retiring players with a nest egg of up to 40 million won.

Membership of the GPA is a requirement for any South Korean Go player who wishes to compete on the professional circuit.

Dozens of tournaments — both for individuals and “professional teams” sponsored by companies — are held in East Asia each year, with star players earning millions of dollars.

The GPA currently has around 300 certified members, and even those who don’t top the rankings can make

Top earners like Lee have complained that their contribution is disproportionately high.

The GPA held a board meeting today to discuss Lee’s move, and a statement was expected later in the day.

The outspoken Lee has locked horns with the association before, boycotting competitions for months in 2009 over similar issues with the GPA regulations.

Go originated in China 3,000 years

ago and has been played for centuries mostly in China, Japan and South Korea, with more than 40 million fans worldwide.

The rules are simple — two players take turns placing black or white stones on a square board with a 19x19 grid. Whoever captures the most territory wins.

Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2016

Page 17

Misc Asia

China’s leader admits problems in Hong Kong, pledges to respect autonomy Hong Kong, May 18, 2016 — China’s number three official Zhang Dejiang said in Hong Kong on Wednesday that Beijing was aware of problems in the city but would respect Hong Kong’s autonomy as protesters hit the streets to oppose Chinese attempts to squeeze local freedoms.

Zhang’s visit, which comes at a time of mounting political tensions in Hong Kong, is the first by a senior state leader since tens of thousands of people mounted a massive but ultimately unsuccessful push to pressure Beijing to grant full democracy during the ‘Occupy Central’ street protests in late 2014.

Zhang also addressed the trend of more radical activists forming political groupings and staging disruptive protests to call for greater Hong Kong nationalism and even independence from China; an issue that might become more mainstream when city-wide legislative council elections are held in September.

The idea of Hong Kong independence is anathema to Beijing, which fears any separatist or sweeping democratic demands spilling into China to undermine its rule.

Thousands of police were deployed across Hong Kong, preventing protesters from coming near Zhang as he toured a science park and a harbourfront exhibition center where he addressed an economic summit.

Zhang conceded that a small minority of people in Hong Kong had been calling for independence, but said China would “unswervingly” maintain the current “one country two systems” model of governance for Hong Kong, that guarantees a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong since it switched from British to Chinese rule in 1997.

“The argument that the Central Government is trying to turn Hong Kong into mainland (China), or to turn ‘one country, two systems’ into ‘one country, one system’ is totally baseless,” Zhang said during an evening banquet, in unusually direct comments from a state leader on recent challenges and tensions in Hong Kong.

While the recent suspected kidnapping of a bookseller in Hong Kong by Chinese security agents had undermined public and diplomatic confidence in the city’s autonomy, Zhang stressed the rule of law was a “core value” and that if this bottom line was compromised, “how do we continue the prosperity and stability?”

A feature of Zhang’s trip has also been repeated pledges of a more engaged Beijing actively listening to public concerns about Hong Kong’s core relationship with China.

“For the problems that are being exposed now, some are new and some have been around for years and there won’t be an immediate solution. But we can’t question, feel hesitant, or even deny ‘one country, two systems’ because of that,” Zhang said.

Despite a massive police presence, small, scattered groups of protesters took to the streets at various locations to demand Beijing respect the city’s freedoms. A massive yellow banner was unfurled from a hilltop demanding full democracy, while others held up black banners calling for China to end its “dictatorial rule” and to “stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs”.

A few others burned a portrait of Zhang and called on him to “get the hell out of Hong Kong” Some pro-Beijing groups, however, denounced the democracy activists for jeopardizing Hong Kong’s economic interests by opposing Beijing, and held up blue banners with the words: “Oppose splitting up Hong Kong.”

Zhang, the head of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress and Beijing’s point person on Hong Kong affairs, leaves Hong Kong on Thursday.

Page 18

June 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

Thailand’s popular Koh Tachai now no-go zone for tourists Bangkok, May 18, 2016 — Koh Tachai, one of Thailand’s most beautiful island destinations, will be closed to tourists indefinitely in an attempt to protect it from irreparable harm, the government has announced.

Machu Picchu named world’s top landmark in new TripAdvisor ranking

The island, in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phang Nga province, is famous for its white-sand beaches and its reefs popular with divers and snorkelers.

New York, May 17, 2016 -- The ancient, mythical site of Machu Picchu, built in the clouds of the Andes Mountains, has snatched the title of travelers’ favorite landmark in a new TripAdvisor ranking.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is closing the beaches, the reef and a tourist area on the island “to solve the environmental and natural resources impact which is caused by tourism,” according to an announcement on the department’s website. The order was issued on May 10.

After slipping to second place behind Angkor Wat, Cambodia last year, Machu Picchu stole back the No. 1 spot in the 2016 edition of the Travelers’ Choice Landmarks awards, which it had also occupied in 2014.

The historic sanctuary, which stands 2,430 meters above sea-level was inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1983, inspiring pilgrimages from all corners of the world.

But the volume of tourists over the years has put the ancient site at risk of irreversible damage and degradation, forcing officials to impose a cap on the number of visitors and permits for the Inca Trails to 2,500 a day.

The TripAdvisor ranking was determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.

While Machu Picchu took the top spot for the international ranking, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC emerged the top landmark in the US list.

Here are the top 10 Landmarks in the World according to TripAdvisor members: 1. Machu Picchu, Peru 2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 3. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia 4. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City 5. Taj Mahal, Agra, India 6. Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain 7. Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia 8. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain 9. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington DC 10. Milan Cathedral (Duomo), Milan, Italy

The decision means that Koh Tachai, which stopped receiving visitors Sunday, will not reopen as is customary in October.

During the tourist season, hundreds of visitors congregate daily on a beach that by government standards should accommodate only 70. Recent video of the island on Thai television showed the beach swarming with tourists, with the tour boats that brought them lined up along the shore. The island is designated as a “primitive zone,” not a park, according to the parks department’s announcement.

Koh Tachai is part of Mu Koh Similan National Park, about 45 miles off Thailand’s southwest coast. The park is normally closed to tourists from mid-May to mid-October because of safety concerns during the monsoon season.

Thanya Netithammakun, the department’s general director, said the park had become increasingly popular with Thai and foreign visitors as word of its beauty spread.

“People are visiting this island, and it’s too overcrowded,” he told Prachachat Turakij, a Thai-language newspaper. “It’s too much for the island to take. It has deteriorated, and it is necessary to close it down to allow the conditions around the island, both land and marine, to recover without interference from tourists’ activity.

Otherwise, it may cause great damage.”

Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of fisheries at Kasetsart University in Bangkok and a leading advocate of marine conservation, said the closing of the island was “a turning point” in Thai conservation efforts.

Thamrongnawasawat said the tourism industry had criticised him for speaking out about the need to protect the environment, but that the department’s move was a sign the government was prepared to resist tourist activities that harmed the country’s natural resources.

“The problem is that we have damaged our marine resources for a long time,” he said. “If we want it to recover, we must use strong medicine. I am not proposing to close all islands. But we have to start thinking about the plan to tackle the increasing number of tourists.” — The New York Times