Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com May 1-15, 2019
25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
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The Franklin Pond Chamber Music Competition and Awards Concert Chamber Music Competition and Performance Date: Sunday, May 26, 2019 Time: 4:00 pm Admission: $10.00 Venue: Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, 2000 Clayton State Blvd., Morrow For more info: 678-466-4200. www. franklinpond.org Korean film screening “Assassination” Organized by Korean Consulate in Atlanta in collaboration with the Korean community Date: Friday, May 31, 2019 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Rialto Center, 80 Forsyth Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia Awards Date: Thursday, July 11, 2019 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Sonesta Gwinnett Place Hong Kong Dragon Boat Atlanta Festival Date: Saturday, Sept 7, 2019 Time: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Venue: Lake Lanier Olympic Kayak Center For more info: www.dragonboatatlanta.com JapanFest Date: Sat-Sun, Sept 21-22, 2019 Time: 10:00 am-6:00 pm Venue: Infinite Energy Center For more info: japanfest.org
Contact: Jennifer Rose and Rose Pak ATLANTA • 770.457.8118 iig-insurance.com
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
FEATURE 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia In the spirit of 2019 Asian American Heritage Month celebration, we are documenting the changing of power and the continual shifting of influence of Asian Americans in our communities.
Some names are familiar as they continue to strive to make our com-munity a better place to live. New faces are recognized for their effort and dedication to make a difference in the community.
This year’s offer a listing of individuals who made an impact in arts, business, government, politics, social work, education, healthcare, and areas that influence every aspect of Georgian’s daily life.
The list is made possible by the editorial staff and a selection commit-tee comprises of community, civic, and media representatives.
Minako Oki Ahearn International Charter Academy of Georgia Founder and Governing Board President/Chair Having spent her early life between Japan, America, and Europe, Minako knows firsthand the difficulties and the great benefits of living in more than one culture. Throughout her career, she has striven to provide similar experiences to others. She started up a Dual Language program and pioneered service-learning and peace-education initiatives in Atlanta in 2004. Minako believes in a future of peaceful international cooperation, where individuals from different cultures interact with open hearts and minds. Having worked both in the classroom and in administrative roles as principal, her ideals are matched by the hands-on experience of running an educationally-sound and financially-viable school. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Law from the International Christian University in Japan in 1982, a Bachelor of Music from Southern Methodist University in Texas in 1986 and a Master’s Degree in Education from Central Michigan University in 2005. She has two children: a son in San Francisco and a daughter in Washington DC. She now lives in LaGrange with her husband and plans to teach Japanese at LaGrange College in the Fall.
Thip Athakhanh Owner, Snackboxe Bistro Thip’s passion for Lao food and culture sparked during her honeymoon to Laos in 2016. In her own words, “That trip was a transformation. This was home, and I felt deeply connected to everything and everyone in Laos.” Thip’s family has been providing Lao/ Thai cuisine within the state of Georgia but none bears the “Lao” branding. Her aunts and cousin owns several “Thai” restaurants and have been donating their culinary expertise, time, money and donations to local communities and temples. After her former employer closed its door, she knew it was time to embark on her new journey. Her sheer determination, drive and persistence scored her “Chef of the Year” and “Atlanta Best New Restaurant” among other accolades. Thip also host an annual “Operation Christmas Child” at her restaurant. She has undisputedly put “Lao” food on the map in ATL!! A second location coming to you in the fall at Battery Park.
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
Dr. Hansen Chang, MD Internal Medicine & Acupuncture Community Volunteer Born in Taiwan, Dr. Hansen Chang immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 to attend high school in Miami. He adapted quickly to the new culture and language, which enabled him to earn a double degree in Computer Science and Chemistry at the University of Miami. He graduated from University Of Miami - School of Medicine and specializes in internal medicine and acupuncture. Outside of his practice, Dr. Chang devotes his spare time to providing medical care to the less fortunate and spending time with his family. In addition to organizing a monthly health fair at Sheltering Arms in Chamblee, GA, Dr. Chang also served as chair/physician board member in the DeKalb Board of Health and medical advisor to the Community Health Outreach Program in Atlanta. He is an active member of the American College of Physicians and the Chinese American Lion’s Club of Atlanta. Dr. Chang currently serves as the Vice President of Chinese-American Lions Club of Atlanta.
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Allen Chen Senior Vice President, Bank of America Chairman, National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) - Atlanta chapter Allen Chen is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America within the Co-Brand and Affinity Products Organization. Allen has over 15 years of experience in the Financial Services industry and currently manages the second largest Co-Brand/Affinity credit card portfolio at Bank of America. Outside of his day job at Bank of America, he manages a Enterprise Chapter of an Asian-Focused Employee Resource Group which serves over 8,000 Members. Allen is a graduate of Kennesaw State University, receiving his Bachelors in Business Administration. As the current President and Chairman of the Board for NAAAP Atlanta, Allen firmly believes that NAAAP is the premier leadership organization of Asian American professionals. His vision is to bring the community together as a central voice to build upon the pillars in which are the foundation of NAAAP.
Anne Chen TMP, Corporate, Association and International Sales Manager, Explore Gwinnett Anne’s role at Explore Gwinnett is to increase destination awareness, generate new meetings and conventions and create new, satisfied clients while servicing the existing client base. The ultimate goal is to generate hospitality business, create economic impact for Gwinnett County and ensure clients have a memorable, authentic Gwinnett experience. Being fluent in Mandarin has allowed her not only to drive substantial new business to Gwinnett, but it has also created unique partnerships for the organization with the Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism’s China Initiative, Partnership Gwinnett and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Explore Gwinnett has worked to educate and train hoteliers and attractions on the needs of international clients, and several of the hotels have gone through official training programs as a result, allowing them to cater to the Asian market. Besides being a very busy working mother of two, she serves on multiple boards and committees, including Leadership Gwinnett’s Alumni Committee, Positive Youth and Family Development, Atlanta Asian Film Festival, and the Rotary Club of Sugarloaf. Anne is very passionate about serving and giving back to the community, and a graduate of the 20162017 Leadership Gwinnett class. She was recognized as a member of Connect Association magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2018.
Ben Chestnut Co-founder and CEO MailChimp Ben Chestnut is co-founder and CEO of Mailchimp, the leading marketing platform for small businesses. Headquartered in Atlanta since 2001, Mailchimp is privately held and profitable, with nearly 1,000 employees and millions of global users. In 2017, Mailchimp was named Company of the Year by Inc. Magazine and recognized as one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. Ben learned about small business from his Thai mom, who ran a hair salon from the family’s kitchen in Georgia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Georgia Tech and was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2016.
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times Jacqui Chew CMO-in-Residence Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) As ATDC’s CMO-in-Residence , Chew serves as a marketing strategy advisor to companies in the ATDC Accelerate and ATDC Signature portfolios.
Chew is a veteran of Georgia’s innovation ecosystem. In the last 20 years, she launched dozens of products and companies and helped startups raise more than $70 million in capital. Additionally, Chew is the managing director of iFusion and licensee and organizer of the new TEDxAtlanta, a merger of TEDxPeachtree and TEDxAtlanta to form Georgia’s largest TEDx group. She is a sought after speaker on digital strategy, entrepreneurship and integrated marketing and has spoken at conferences in the United States as well as Singapore and China. Her work in entrepreneurship with women and people of color has been recognized by her peers. She was named a “Game Changer” by Spelman College in the 2015 Women of Color Conference.
EunSook Choi Chief Executive Officer, Korean Television Network (KTN) Eunsook Choi is a natural leader with a heart to serve the community. She has combined her drive to serve with enterprise. This has brought about her founding of Joynus Care which is an in-home elderly care service provider for a rapidly growing number of the aging Korean community. More recently and the primary basis for the nomination, EunSook purchased and continues to invest in the Korean Television Network (KTN). Her leadership is transforming the network with locally based content that is critical and relevant to the Korean community of Georgia. Under her stewardship, KTN is becoming more relevant and beneficial to informing and uniting the Korean community, especially to especially the elderly that depend on it for information and entertainment. Eunsook plays an important role in the Korean community as her vision and desire to serve, inform, and unify come at a critical time when the metro Atlanta’s Korean population is rapidly growing.
Yoonie Kim Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Lilia Hagler Director, Philippine Nurses of Georgia Advisor, Filipino American Association of Greater Atlanta A longtime member of the Filipino-American Association of Greater Atlanta, she has served in several leadership roles, rising to be president in 2017 and advisor in 2019. In relation to her profession, she is a founding member and first treasurer of the Philippine Nurses Association of GA, (PNAGA). With 4 other past presidents of PNAGA, she continues to serve the Filipino community in her field, forming the Philippine Nurses of Georgia Foundation, to encourage and provide scholarships to nursing students. She regularly volunteers her professional services at Health Fairs and conduct health Classes in Asian Communities and church groups. Lilia, shares much of her time, talent and resources in activities not only to promote health, but also to promote passionately, share and perpetuate the Philippine Culture, the customs and traditions within the Filipino community and the rest of Atlanta and Georgia. Recognized as a dedicated nurse in its truest meaning, she received the Florence Nightingale Award.
Yoonie Kim serves as a senior project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, focusing on attracting international investment into Georgia. Having joined the department in 2006, Yoonie has located 79 foreign direct investment projects into Georgia, creating 8,686 international jobs and over $3 Billion in capital investment. Yoonie also serves many other capacities within the department, including leading the Governor’s & Commissioners’ delegations to Korea; organizing international events; hosting international delegations in Georgia; leading numerous international investment promotion seminars and conferences; attending trade shows and missions; assisting with Georgia’s efforts to help Kia Motors establish their US presence and recruiting their multiple supplier companies; guiding the department with cultural protocols in the Asia region; and developing marketing and communications materials to promote Georgia and its products internationally. Yoonie earned her Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering and a Master of Arts in International Relations from HanYang University in South Korea. She is fluent in English, Korean and Japanese. Yoonie is on the Board of Directors at the Korea South-East U.S. Chamber of Com-
merce and a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
Ben Ku Gwinnett County Board of Commissioner (District 2) Ben Ku was first elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2018. District 2 includes Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake, Norcross, Tucker, and Lilburn. Ben is the first Asian American ever elected to the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners. A Georgia native, Ben is the grandson of Chinese immigrants who moved to Atlanta to help engineer the original MARTA heavy rail system. Ben has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial and software development experience. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with highest honors and is active in the Mentor Jackets program offering guidance to Georgia Tech students. Ben has served as president of his homeowners’ association where he helped to re-engage the neighborhood, improve its website and communications, and build cash reserves. In 2016, Ben participated in the Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy, which sparked his interest in County government. He helped create and then served on the Gwinnett 101 Alumni Advisory Board. He received the Gwinnett 101 Alumni Distinguished Service Award for Most Volunteered Hours in 2017.
Anne Marie Logarta President, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia An active community leader and currently serving as President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia for 2019. Her role is to promotes trade and investments between the State of Georgia and in the Philippines. She has also been elected to lead the Filipino-American community to organize the “Kalayaan Celebration” or the Philippine Independence Day Celebration in 2019 in Georgia and the Southeast. An annual statewide celebration, it is a six-month project requiring strategic vision, planning, creativity, fundraising skills and the ability to bring together and manage Filipino-American groups and organizations for the biggest annual gathering of Filipino-Americans in the Southeast.
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Shandry Law Owner & Co-Founder, Farmer’s Basket Shandry grew up in Hong Kong. She graduated from Hong Kong Baptist University majoring in interior design and had a successful career as a hand bag designer. After she married her husband, she gave up that career to restart her life in United States in hopes of better lives for her children. Shandry is an accomplished and successful entrepreneur in the Metro Atlanta restaurant industry. She and her husband are now proud owners of Farmer’s Basket, a popular restaurant that she founded over 20 years ago. It has restaurants located all over Georgia, such as Lenox Square Mall and Perimeter Mall, to restaurants located out of state such as Riverchase Galleria Mall in Alabama. Shandry is also an active philanthropist in the Chinese community in Georgia and especially in Metro Atlanta. She supports and fundraises many organizations, from disaster relief to scholarship foundations. She regularly sponsors communities such as senior associations, various City Council and Congressman elections, the Dekalb County Police Department, and many other government departments. She is currently the president of Chinese-American Lions Club of Atlanta and the Chairwoman of CACPG. She is also the Vice President of the Kwong Tong Association (KTA), Chinese Community Center of Atlanta (CCC), and OCA. Shandry is a board member of CBAA, NACA, and several organizations.
Masako Lisa Leong Director, Sales and Marketing Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta Lisa is a fast rising leader in the hospitality industry and has led the Sonesta Gwinnett Place Hotel Atlanta’s sales team to great success. She maintain a high energy temperament and goes above and beyond for guests/clients. Lisa is always passionate and career driven. She works closely with her staff and brings the culture of hospitality to her team. Lisa has true vested interest in the success of her employees and the local community. She maintain a collaborative and supportive partnerships in the community.
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
Maggie Mers Founder & CEO, MBM International Logistics A successful entrepreneur who started her logistic company in 2004. Her business has evolved to a full-fledged logistic service services in transportation, warehousing, and customs brokerage targeting Asian community with emphasis on Sino-US trade. Maggie is active in the Chinese business community where she is currently a treasurer and a board of director for Chinese Business Association of Atlanta (CBAA). Maggie is also a board member of National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA). Despite her busy business commitments, Maggie finds time to give back to the community by helping with fundraising activities for the unfortunate and several other worthy philanthropic efforts.
Byung “BJay” Pak U.S. Attorney, Department of Justice Northern District of Georgia Byung J. “BJay” Pak was nominated by President Trump to be the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia on July 27, 2017, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 28, 2017. He is returning to the office, having served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division from 2002 to 2008. BJay has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career. He has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; as a “Super Lawyer” by Atlanta Magazine; as one of the Best Lawyers Under 40 by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; and as one of “13 Georgia Lawyers Under 40 to Watch” by the Fulton County Daily Report; 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia by Georgia Asian Times; Georgia’s Best 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine, and as “Role Model of the Year 2013” by News & Post. From January 2011 to January 2017, BJay served in the Georgia General Assembly as a State Representative. He served three terms and voluntarily retired in January 2017. As State Representative, BJay has served as a Deputy Majority Whip, as the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, as Chair of the Subcommittee on Crimes Against Person, Property, and Public Administration, as Secretary of the Code Revision Committee, and served as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. He was also a member of the Ways and Means Committee. For his policy work, BJay has won recognition from numerous organizations and has been recognized by James Magazine in its “Most Influential Legislators” list. Prior to starting his current post, BJay served as a member of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Judicial Nominating Commission, and the Criminal Justice Reform Council. He was appointed by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia as a member of the U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, and was appointed by the Justices of the Georgia Supreme Court as a Member of Georgia Commission on Interpreters.
Helen Nguyen Metro Atlanta Chapter-President, Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Helen Nguyen serves as the 2018, 2019 Atlanta Chapter’ Allen ChenPresident for the Asian Real Estate Association of America, a nonprofit organization committed to advocating for homeownership opportunities within the Asian-American community. She has been involved with AREAA on their leadership board since 2016. Amongst Helen’s greatest accomplishments were the noticeable growth of the Atlanta chapter since the beginning of her Presidency term and over 25 small events of networking, social functions, community outreach and continuing education.
Danny Pian Vice President-Elite Banking, East West Bank, Atlanta
Danny Pian has over 20 years of banking industry experience, specializing in commercial and residential mortgage lending, commercial banking services, and Treasure Management services. Danny has a deep compassion of serving the community, he has been actively involved with the community organizations for more than 15 years. In addition to the leadership roles at the Chinese Community Center and the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association, Danny has served as a Board Member of the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce. He was in the inaugural class of the Leadership Johns Creek. Danny was the president of Taiwanese Golf Association, and vice president of National Association of Chinese Americans.
Georgia Asian Times May1-15, 2019 Raymond Portolan Immigration Paralegal, Kuck Baxter Immigration LLC Raymond Partolan is an Immigration Paralegal at Kuck Immigration Partners LLC working primarily on family based immigration cases. Before joining Kuck Immigration Partners, LLC, Mr. Partolan spent several years as the Program Associate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, a nonprofit law and advocacy center for Asian Americans across the Southeast. There, he was a BIA Accredited Representative and prepared family immigration petitions for the most underserved populations. For over seven years, Raymond has been a fearless advocate for immigrant and refugee communities as a DACA recipient himself. In 2013, he was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the University System of Georgia challenging its decision to bar DACA recipients from receiving in-state tuition at Georgia schools. He has lobbied for immigration reform at the local, state, and federal levels of government, traveling the country to share his immigrant story. Raymond was also part of the young immigrants group that was featured in the Grammy nominated jazz album “American Dreamers” at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Ann Rithmyxay Director of Home Healthcare Services M&S Homecare Services Ann Rithmyxay is an inspiring leader with entrepreneurial instinct and deep compassion for community improvement. She co-founded and served as President of the Georgia chapter of the Laotian American Society, where she united the Laotian community into an impressive network, working together for the mutual purpose of cultural preservation and advancement. With her passion and care for the welfare of the community, she was inspired to introduce home care program to the most underserved communities such as Laotian-American, Cambodian-American and Vietnamese-American. Through M&S Homecare Services, Ann relieved some major burdens among families when facing aging or illness. In addition, Ann is generous with her philanthropy and time in sponsoring local Buddhist temples.
Page 9 Sheikh Rahman Georgia Senate District 5 Senator Sheikh Rahman, a Democrat, is the first immigrant to serve in the Georgia State Senate. Elected in 2018, he represents the 5th Senate District in the heart of Gwinnett — Georgia’s most diverse county. In the Senate, Sen. Rahman serves on the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Government Oversight, Special Judiciary, State Institutions and Property, and Urban Affairs committees. Sen. Rahman grew up in Bangladesh, where his country was devastated by the Bangladesh Liberation War of Independence in 1971. At age 13, Sen. Rahman was kidnapped at gunpoint as a prisoner of war. In 1981, after graduating from high school, Sen. Rahman came to America to attend Central Piedmont Community College. In order to pay for his college tuition, he worked as a dishwasher making $3.35 an hour. In 1995, after a 14-year process, Sen. Rahman became a U.S. citizen and finished his undergraduate degree in Economics and Global Studies at the University of Georgia,where he also served as a Student Senator and President of the Global Studies Association. After school, Sen. Rahman worked his way up through the ranks of the restaurant industry, becoming a corporate executive at Pizza Hut, Dominos, and The Kroger Company. He then embarked on a successful career in real estate, managing rental properties across Georgia. Sen. Rahman began his political career as a student in community college when a friend invited him to work on a North Carolina gubernatorial campaign. He is a member of the Democratic National Committee and was the first Muslim elected to the Democratic National Committee’s Executive Committee. He is also a member of the DNC’s Labor, Asian-American and LGBT caucuses.
Aisha Yaqoob Policy Director, Asian American Advancing Justice Atlanta Aisha Yaqoob is the Policy Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta. Aisha became familiar with Advancing Justice in 2016 during her work as the founder of the Georgia Muslim Voter Project, an initiative to increase voter registration and turnout in the Muslim community in Georgia. Aisha has worked and volunteered with various Atlanta area nonprofit organizations. She is involved in her local community through various initiatives and has served advisory roles in civic organizations. As Policy Director, she works hard to defend the rights of Asian Americans at the local, state, and national level. She is passionate about voting rights, access to healthcare and education, and immigration. Aisha believes in upholding the civil rights and civil liberties for all people, especially those whom have been historically underrepresented.
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
Daniel H. Yim President, Kobayashi Consumer Products Daniel Yim has been a native of Dalton, Georgia almost his entire life. Over 50 years ago, his parents, Chang Bin and Alice Yim, arrived in the United States from South Korea and Hong Kong respectively. They married and eventually settled in Dalton, Georgia, where they continue to live today. In 1989, the Yims started a company called Heatmax, Inc. and began distributing HotHands warmers in the U.S. In 1991, Daniel joined the company and help develop the manufacturing operations in Dalton, Georgia and expand the markets of the company. Daniel and the management team were able to take Heatmax from a company that imported and distributed recreational heat packs and transform the company to a manufacturing company providing not only recreational warmers but also medical therapeutic heat devices. Sales tripled over an 8-year period of time. In the mid-2000’s, a Japanese-based pharmaceutical company called Kobayashi, acquired Heatmax. Kobayashi introduced new technologies that improved efficiency and speed of production. Today, nearly half a million warmers are produced every day in the Dalton, Georgia facility. That totals 150 million warmers a year. Daniel serves on the Board of Directors for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank (CAFB), whose mission is to eliminate hunger and promote better nutrition in the North Georgia and Chattanooga area. He also serves as director for Education is Essential Foundation, whose mission is to help marshal human and financial resources to the educational needs of the community.
Tyler Yu Dean, School of Business Georgia Gwinnett College Dr. Yu is currently a professor of economics and the dean of the School of Business at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). He has taught at the university level for 20 years, primarily at Mercer University. Undergraduate courses taught include principles of microeconomics, principles of macroeconomics, intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, international economics, quantitative analysis and methods, business statistics, multivariate applied business statistics, financial accounting, managerial accounting and cost accounting. At the graduate level he has taught managerial economics, operations management, decision theory and international economics. Yu has published more than 30 articles in refereed journals.
Henry Yu President, Hong Kong Association of Atlanta Henry Yu is the President of the Hong Kong Association of Atlanta, a non-profit group promoting business between HK/China and The Southeast USA. Henry is a global business executive having covered Emerging Markets and in particular Asia Pacific for over 30 years. A 36-year banking veteran, Henry is well-versed in all facets of banking and has had clients in Asia. He is also the presiding Chief Operating Officer of Asian Investors Consortium, a fund that invests in Asia in clean/green tech and medical industries. Henry believes in sharing and volunteered services having helped NACA for over 15 years in various capacities and notably founded NACA Mentorship in 2004.
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
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LIFESTYLE
Emperor Naruhito ascends throne in Japan with ‘sense of solemnity’ Tokyo, May 2, 2019 - Japanese Emperor Naruhito formally took up his post on Wednesday a day after the abdication of his father, saying he felt a “sense of solemnity” but pledging to work as a symbol of the nation and the unity of its people.
They are said to originate in ancient mythology.
Former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko stepped down after three decades in their roles on Tuesday in a brief and simple ceremony, with Akihito thanking the people of Japan and saying he prayed for peace.
His wife, Empress Masako, was not in the room in accordance with custom barring female royals, but for the first time a woman did watch - Satsuki Katayama, who was taking part as a member of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet.
Naruhito, 59, technically succeeded his father just as Tuesday became Wednesday but his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne was formalized in a mid-morning ceremony, the first part of which his wife and other royal women could not attend. Naruhito, the first emperor born after World War Two and the first to be raised solely by his parents, expressed gratitude for their work and said he felt solemn at the thought of the burden he is taking on. “I pledge that I will always think of the people, and while drawing close to them, fulfill my duties as a symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people in accordance with the constitution,” Naruhito, wearing a tailcoat and several large medals, said with a small smile. “I sincerely hope for the happiness of the people and further progress of the country, and for world peace,” he said in the Imperial Palace’s “Matsu no Ma,” or Hall of Pine. In the first stage of the ceremony, imperial chamberlains carried state and privy seals into the hall along with two of Japan’s “Three Sacred Treasures” - a sword and a jewel - which together with a mirror are symbols of the throne.
Naruhito was flanked by his brother and heir, Crown Prince Akishino, during the ceremony, which lasted about five minutes.
Masako, wearing a floor-length white dress and a tiara, entered the room for the second part of the ceremony with the other adult royal women. NEW ERA Abe said Japan looked up to the emperor. “We are determined to create, amidst the fast-changing international environment, a bright future for a proud Japan that is peaceful and full of hope,” he said. U.S. President Donald Trump, who will be the new imperial couple’s first diplomatic test when he visits Japan this month, extended his congratulations. “As the Japanese people embark upon a new era, we will renew the strong bonds of friendship between our two countries,” he said in a statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his best wishes, according to state news agency Xinhua, as did South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who said he hoped that Naruhito would, as his father did, “remember the pain of war and continue to take solid steps toward peace.”
Japan’s ties with its Asian neighbors have long been plagued by bitter wartime memories, and while relations with Beijing have improved lately, those with Seoul are frosty. Given the backgrounds of Naruhito and his wife, Masako, a 55-year-old former diplomat - which include extended experience studying and living overseas - hopes are high they may be more international in their outlook and closer to the lives of many Japanese. “The curtain has gone up on a new era that will be filled with hope,” said Hiroshi Takahashi, 78, outside his ‘wagashi’ traditional Japanese sweets shop. “The new emperor has an admirable personality and I hope he creates a fine royal household that expresses his own personality,” he said. The last imperial succession in 1989 took place during mourning for Akihito’s father, Hirohito. COUNTDOWNS AND FIREWORKS This time the mood is more festive. Japan has been draped in banners welcoming Reiwa - the name of the new era for Naruhito’s reign - during an unprecedented 10-day holiday. Countdown events were held on Tuesday night in clubs across the nation, with people cheering as the clock
ticked down to midnight and fireworks shooting into the sky in some areas. On Wednesday morning, electric signs in Tokyo’s subway system bore messages “congratulating the emperor on his accession” and workers in a downtown Tokyo electronics store wore red shirts saying “Happy New Era Reiwa.” His formal enthronement will take place at a more elaborate ceremony in October attended by dignitaries from Japan and around the world. Though the royal family is broadly popular, opponents of the imperial system clashed with right-wingers at a demonstration on Tuesday, and the two groups had to be separated
by police.
Japanese media said two people were arrested. Naruhito’s passion for water conservation dates from his study of medieval transportation and includes an interest in other environmental issues. Masako has expressed an interest in topics related to children in trouble or living in poverty. Though Masako struggled with a stress-related illness described by palace officials as an “adjustment disorder” that kept her largely out of the public eye for years, her public appearances have recently increased. Reuters
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
Asian American Spirit Award In the spirit of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we honor groups who inspire others through their own acts of service, sacrifice, initiative and generosity—particularly in the areas of leadership, service to country or community and education. This prestigious honor is bestowed upon organizations who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to the principles that strengthen America’s communities. Through their work and philanthropy, Asian American Spirit Award recipients exemplify the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and initiative while making unselfish contributions to their community, state, or the nation. The 2019 Asian American Spirit Award is presented to CPACS.
The Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.’s (CPACS) mission is to promote self-sufficiency and equity for immigrants, refugees, and the underprivileged through comprehensive health and social services, capacity building, and advocacy.
ious languages, a youth program in-house that serves over 500 youths with job readiness programs, homework help, etc every day. The youth also have a library on-site, computers, a community garden and a large green space to play.
Since 1980, CPACS has provided a home base and essential programs that support Asian Americans in their new chosen country. CPACS began as a volunteer-run organization providing health and human services to the area’s Korean Americans.
The staff, led by CEO/ President Chaiwon Kim, provides a broad array of programs that serve men, women, seniors, children and youth in metro Atlanta and beyond. The number of individuals served each month has grown from 791 in 1999 to an average of 2,600 in 2018.
Today, CPACS has approximately 80 full-time employees and 20 part-time and contractors speaking over 16 languages in-house. CPACS has 46 ACA certified application counselors speaking var-
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
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MISC ASIA
Newly crowned Thai king carried through Bangkok in royal procession
Bangkok, May 5, 2019 - Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn visited Buddhist temples and greeted his subjects for the first time since his crowning in a royal procession around the old quarter of Bangkok on Sunday, as part of intricate coronation ceremonies held over three days.
route well into the evening as fairy lights lit the streets of Bangkok’s old quarter.
control of the crown’s vast wealth with the help of Thailand’s military government.
“I want to see the coronation for once in a lifetime because the last one when it happened I was still very young,” Samran Moryaidee, a 77-year-old man, told Reuters.
His official coronation comes amid the uncertainty of an unresolved election battle between the government’s chief and a “democratic front” trying to push the army out of politics.
The Thai government, which is spending 1 billion baht on the weekend’s coronation ceremonies, has said crowds of at least 200,000 people were expected.
On Saturday, the king sat on a golden throne under a nine-tiered umbrella and placed the 7.3 kg golden Great Crown of Victory on his head following an elaborate purification ritual.
King Vajiralongkorn, carried through the streets by 16 men bearing his gilded palanquin, visited three royal temples, starting with Bovoranives, where he spent 15 days ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1978.
“I feel like I have to be here to show the world just how much we worship the king,” said Donnapha Kadbupha, a 34-year-old woman, who had come eight hours early to secure a spot along the procession route.
On Sunday morning, the king granted new ranks and titles to members of the royal family.
He paid homage to the temple’s main Buddha image as well as the relic and cremated remains of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The government provided free buses for people living outside Bangkok to come to witness the spectacle, and bus and train travel to the site was free in the capital.
“Long live the king!” shouted well-wishers who lined roads for hours under the blazing sun and well into the night, hoping for a glimpse of the constitutional monarch who is revered in Thai culture as a living deity.
Conch shell horns heralded the parade, which was accompanied by two horseback cavalry soldiers, a military marching band and royal guards in a mixture of ancient Thai and modern Western-style uniforms. Spectators all wearing yellow, the color associated with the king, gathered from early morning along the 7 km (4 mile) route from the Grand Palace to three royal temples. Thousands lined the royal procession
ROYAL TITLES The coronation of King Vajiralongkorn, 66, takes place from Saturday to Monday after a period of official mourning for his revered father, who died in October 2016 having reigned for 70 years. During the 18 months of his reign so far, King Vajiralongkorn has moved to consolidate the authority of the monarchy, including taking more direct
The monarch was joined by new Queen Suthida after a surprise announcement three days before the coronation that the thrice-divorced monarch had married for a fourth time. One of the many official titles King Vajiralongkorn is taking is Rama X, or the 10th king of the Chakri dynasty founded in 1782. CARRIED THROUGH STREETS For the royal procession, the king was carried through the streets on a gilded palanquin borne by 16 men walking at about 75 steps per minute and stopping to swap out personnel every 500 meters, according to the palace.
More than 1,300 personnel were in the procession. Sunday’s crowds were expected to be the largest yet for the coronation events. Thai people have been encouraged for the past month by the military government to wear yellow to signify devotion to the monarchy but only in the last few days have people in Bangkok joined in on a large scale. When King Bhumibol died, Bangkok’s streets and public transport were a sea of black for months. Although most coronation ceremonies for Thai kings follow Hindu Brahmin traditions, some Buddhist elements were added by the monarch’s great-great grandfather King Mongkut, or Rama IV, because he spent 27 years in monkhood before inheriting the throne, scholars said. “Because King Mongkut was a monk, he ordered that the procession should visit important Buddhist temples so the new monarch can provide alms to monks,” said Tongthong Chandransu, an expert on Thai royal rituals. Thailand ended absolute rule by its kings in 1932, but the monarchy remains highly revered as the divine symbol and protector of the country and Buddhist religion.
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS
Korean American Chamber and Chinese Local Filipino charity raise funds to support underprivileged projects in the Business Association of Atlanta signed business cooperation MOU Philippines Norcross, May 11, 2019 — Makabayan Georgia, Inc. launched its new civic project “Sharing is Caring” in celebration of its 11th anniversary. Makabayan Georgia (MGI) is a local non-profit organization raising funds to help the underprivileged and to eradicate poverty in the Philippines. MGI partners with the various Fil-Am organizations in Georgia, and empowers them to make a difference in their communities by giving away financial grants to fund their respective civic projects. Galing Foundation, Inc. and the Philippine American Women’s Association of Georgia both received the highest grants of $1,000 each. Other recipients were: The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, the Filipino-American Association of Greater Atlanta, the Sa-
ranai Club, the Filipino Student Association of UGA, the Philippine Nurses of Georgia, Fil-Am CSRA, Rotary Emory-Clinic and the Filipino Choir. MGI CEO Emeritus Willee Bonus was awarded a recognition plaque, in absentia, for his leadership and dedication to community service in the first 10 years of MGI operations. (Photo credit: Vic Eclar Romero)
Duluth, April 30, 2019 – The newly founded Atlanta-chapter of Korean American Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Business Association of Atlanta (CBAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue business cooperation and mutual exchanges of partnership. The MOU was signed at a press conference at the Board Room of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. “KOAM looks forward to a good partnership with the Chinese business community through CBAA. We have several interesting programs that could benefit each other,” said Jae Kim, President of the new Atlanta chapter of Korean American Chamber (KOAM). “CBAA has been established for over 27 years and is excited on working with our Korean friends to established business relations. This MOU will allow us to explore many areas of cooperation,”
said Jian Ni, President of Chinese Business Association of Atlanta. The signing of MOU was witnessed by Nick Masino, incoming CEO & President of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, along with senior Board members of respective chambers. “We are pleased to host the MOU signing here as Gwinnett County is the most diverse county in metro Atlanta with over 600 international companies operating here,” said Nick Masino, incoming leader of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. KOAM is hosting an open house event where several international chamber organizations would meet and greet on May 8, 2019, 4:00 pm at Korean American Association of Atlanta (KAAGA).
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
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BUSINESS
Trump rattles saber at China ahead of make-or-break trade talks Washington DC, May 9, 2019 - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was taking steps to authorize new tariffs on $325 billion in Chinese imports as officials prepared for last-ditch talks to avert an escalation of a trade war that threatens to derail the global economy. With acrimony between Washington and Beijing increasing, there seemed to be little time to salvage what had appeared to be the framework of a tentative deal between the two sides before another round of punitive tariffs are triggered. The United States is set to increase its existing tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on Friday. Trump said on Thursday he was “starting ... paperwork today” to impose a 25 percent tariff on the $325 billion in Chinese goods untouched by the trade war so far. China is expected to retaliate against such a move, as it has with previous U.S. tariffs, effectively subjecting all trade between the world’s two largest economies to punitive levies. Consumer products, including cell phones, computers, clothing and toys, would be especially hard hit. Trump, who has adopted protectionist policies as part of an “America First” agenda aimed at rebalancing global trade and boosting U.S. manufacturing, accused Beijing of reneging on commitments made during months of negotiations. “We were getting very close to a deal, then they started to renegotiate the deal. We can’t have that. We can’t have that,” Trump said at an event at the White House.
TENSE TALKS Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is due to start two days of talks in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin at 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday in Beijing, China appealed to the United States to meet it halfway to salvage their deal. Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said the decision to send Liu to Washington despite the tariff hike threat demonstrated China’s “utmost sincerity.” “We hope the U.S. can meet China halfway, take care of each others’ concerns, and resolve existing problems through cooperation and consultations,” he told a news briefing. “The U.S. side has given many labels recently, ‘backtracking’, ‘betraying’ etc. ... China sets great store on trustworthiness and keeps its promises, and this has never changed.” Gao said. A U.S. source close to the talks said there were three potential scenarios for the discussions on Thursday and Friday, the worst of which would be an “orderly breakup,” where the two sides agree to suspend negotiations. The best case would be if the Chinese side walked back its demands for major changes to proposed texts so the two sides could focus on remaining sticking points with the aim of a deal in time for the G20 summit in Japan in late June. A middle scenario would be some concessions from the Chinese side, with much more time needed to reach
a deal and talks continuing under the higher U.S. tariffs and likely retaliation from China, the source said. U.S. stock indexes opened sharply lower again on Thursday before paring some losses after Trump said he had received a “beautiful” letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Oil prices also slid and U.S. Treasury yields fell as investors sought safe-haven assets. DEEP RIFT Reuters on Wednesday revealed the extent of the deep rift between China and the United States, reporting that a draft trade agreement text sent by Beijing on Friday night was riddled with reversals that undermined core U.S. demands. U.S. government and private sector sources close to the talks told Reuters that in each of the seven chapters of the draft, China had deleted its commitments to change laws to resolve complaints that caused the United States to launch a trade war: Theft of U.S. intellectual property and trade secrets; forced technology transfers; competition policy; access to financial services; and currency manipulation. The stripping of binding legal language from the draft struck directly at the highest priority of Lighthizer, who views changes to China’s laws as essential to verifying compliance after years of what U.S. officials have called empty reform promises. Trump told supporters at a rally in Florida on Wednesday night that China “broke the deal”, and vowed not to back down on imposing new tariffs on Chinese imports unless Beijing “stops cheating our workers”.
A protracted trade war between the world’s two largest economies would damage the world economy, disrupt supply chains and rattle investors already nervous over a global slowdown. Since July last year, China has cumulatively imposed counter-tariffs of up to 25 percent on about $110 billion of U.S. products. It last levied tariffs, of 5 percent to 10 percent, on $60 billion of U.S. goods including liquefied natural gas and small aircraft in September. Based on 2018 U.S. Census Bureau trade data, China would only have about $10 billion in U.S. imports left to levy in retaliation for any future U.S. tariffs, including crude oil and large aircraft. Gao did not answer directly when asked if China would consider imposing tariffs on imported U.S. services. While the United States wants to reduce the scale of its trade deficit with China, it is also seeking stronger protection for American intellectual property and more market access in China for U.S. companies. - Reuters
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
FASHION Post-Karl Chanel takes train back to classy elegance PARIS, May 4 — Virginie Viard made a classy and elegant debut in her first complete collection for Chanel Friday after taking over from the late Karl Lagerfeld at the iconic French label. The designer, who was Lagerfeld’s right-hand woman for years, emerged from his shadow with a highly feminine and wearable cruise collection in a minimalist show at the Grand Palais in Paris, the scene of the Kaiser’s most decadent extravaganzas.
Prada Cruise 2020: Making space for minimalism New York, May 4 — After Dior’s show in Marrakech, it was Prada’s turn to highlight its Cruise 2020 collection. The Italian fashion house chose The Piano Factory in New York as the location to unveil a mainly minimalist, simple collection, with pieces inspired by sportswear, menswear, and past decades. Prada set the tone for its New York show with the first models out on the catwalk. Simplicity was the order of the day, with the appearance of the first model (Kyla Ramsey) wearing a black double-breasted coat accessorised with a whimsical scarf in red and white. On her feet, she wore — like most of the models — relatively thin high-tops with thick, multi-colored socks. She was followed by models wearing a series of loose tops with subtle embroidery worn with equally loose skirts or shorts.
The Prada Cruise 2020 collection is simple, rather than sober — a kind of back to basics, which was conveyed through dark or pastel hues, functional or sportswear-inspired pieces, and the cuts of the jackets, skirts, coats and long shirts. The collection is punctuated with checks and stripes, with the two often combined, as well as a calico print.
When it came to models, Prada, as always, put on a great show, calling on some of the most popular models of the moment. Kaia Gerber and Gigi Hadid were among the stars at this Cruise 2020 show, which also included Mica Argañaraz, Lineisy Montero, Lexi Boling, Kiki Willems, Freja Beha Erichsen, Adut Akech, and Binx Walton.
Where Lagerfeld was flashy and streetwise, his successor was restrained, with the bling factor turned right down in favour of a flattering slimline look. Instead she harked back to the golden age of train travel when the brand’s founder Coco Chanel would take her arty friends on the “Train bleu” down to her villa on the French Riviera near Monaco. But instead of recreating a lifesized locomotive or the Orient Express inside the vast Grand Palais as Lagerfeld might have, Viard went with an understated train platform with the front row either side of a recessed train track. There was, however, an affectionate nod to her predecessor, who died aged 85 in February, with a couple of starched white collars which were a key component of Lagerfeld’s own highly recognisable personal look. With the heavily pregnant Hollywood star Keira Knightley in the front row, and Taiwanese actress Hannah Quinlivan and singer Jay
Chou also looking on, Viard made a clever grab to steal the femininity mantle of arch-rivals Dior. With cruise collections all about looking chic as you go off on holiday, Viard said “travelling across the world is part of Chanel’s spirit” and she wanted to create a silhouette that was all about movement. Practical chic Nothing showed off her new practical elegance more than a cobalt blue jacket with layer after layer of pockets set off with a white band across the chest tied in a bow. It was worn with two-tone pointed boots — two-tone shoes were ever-present in the collection — and a classic Chanel black handbag expanded out into a travel bag. Jackets and generous garbardine trousers fastened with double buttons at the waist were inspired by work uniforms, and hooded trenchcoats were feminised with chain belts. The railway theme found its way into the clothes with the mechanism of station clocks popping up on dresses and a clutch bag in the form of a railway worker’s lamp. Beyond the classic Chanel blacks, creams and whites, Viard lifted the collection’s subdued colour palette with luminous pinks, greens and eggshell blues. Red poppies, blue cornflowers and delicately embroidered pink flowers popped up on dresses and check tops, and were also used as a contrast to the label’s traditional tweed twin-sets.
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
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LIFESTYLE Study: China, India boost global booze binge
New York, May 9 ― The world consumed ten percent more alcohol per adult in 2017 than in 1990, due in large part to heavier and more widespread drinking in China and India, researchers said yesterday.
Japanese city of Kamakura asks visitors not to eat while walking Tokyo, May 10, 2019 — The coastal city of Kamakura, in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, has passed an ordinance asking visitors not to eat while walking. This seaside resort, situated around 50km from Tokyo, is famous for its giant Buddha statue. After Kyoto’s etiquette guide for tourists in 2017 — teaching visitors the dos and don’ts of behaviour in the city — the Japanese city of Kamakura has published an official ordinance asking visitors not to eat while on the go. This coastal destination is popular with Tokyo residents looking to escape the crowds of the Japanese metropolis for a weekend and take a welcome breather by Sagami Bay. Many foreign visitors also take the train to visit Kamakura and its many temples, which date back to the 12th century and bear witness to the importance of the city in the Middle Ages. Travellers notably
come to see the bronze seated Buddha statue dating from 1252, which weighs 122 tonnes and stands 11 metres tall. In issuing the ordinance, Kamakura is above all seeking to combat trash and stop leftover food waste littering the city’s most popular thoroughfares. However, the authorities are not issuing fines or citations for those who fail to abide by the request, CNN reports. Kamakura’s ordinance is reminiscent of the Italian authorities’ decision to ban eating in the street in the historic centre of Florence last year. Unlike the Japanese city, those flouting the Florence ban risk fines of up to €500 . The Tuscan capital actually followed Rome’s example, while Venice and Verona passed laws preventing the opening of new takeaway food outlets.
On current trends, global consumption per capita will rise another 17 percent over the next decade, they reported in The Lancet. By 2030 half of all adults worldwide will drink alcohol, and almost a quarter will binge drink at least once a month, according to projections covering 189 countries. “The world is not on track to achieve global targets to reduce harmful alcohol use,” the authors said, calling for more aggressive counter-measures such as higher taxes and a ban on advertising. The World Health Organisation (WHO) goal is to reduce “harmful alcohol use” 10 per cent by 2025. Alcohol is linked to over 200 diseases and accounts for more than three million deaths ― 75 per cent of them men ― each year, the WHO has said. Globally, some 237 million men and 46 million women suffer from alcohol-related disorders, with the highest rates in Europe (15 and 3.5 per cent, respectively, for men and women) and North America (11.5 and 5 per cent). “Before 1990, most alcohol was consumed in high-income countries, with the highest use levels recorded in Europe,” said lead author Jakob Manthey, a researcher at the Institute of
Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy in Dresden, Germany. “However, this pattern has changed substantially, with large reductions across Eastern Europe and vast increases in several middle-income countries such as China, India, and Vietnam.” US, China trade places While the broad trend lines are clear, they have yet to intersect. In 2017 a higher percentage of adults 15 and older in Europe and North America still consumed alcohol ― and more of it ― than in other parts of the world. In France, for example, men drank the equivalent of 19 litres of pure alcohol, and women just under six, for a combined average of just over 12 litres. Only 14 per cent of men never drank, and 29 per cent of women. The 2017 figures for the United States were somewhat lower ― 15 and 4.5 litres for men and women, respectively, averaging just under 10 ― with slightly higher percentages of teetotallers. In China, men drank more than 11 litres of alcohol, mostly in the form of spirits and beer, while women imbibed three, for an average of just over 7 litres. That was less than in the United States, but a nearly 70 per cent jump from China’s consumption in 1990.
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May 1-15, 2019 Georgia Asian Times
HEALTH
Physical activity can reduce risk of lung, colorectal cancers Baltimore, May 7, 2019 — According to new research, adults who stay in good physical shape have a lower risk of being diagnosed with colorectal or lung cancer, and a lower risk of allcause mortality if they do develop lung or colorectal cancer. The new study showed that higher levels of physical fitness were associated with a lower risk of incident lung and colorectal cancer, and a lower risk of all-cause mortality among those diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer. The results were published online in the journal Cancer. The team, led by Catherine Handy Marshall, MD and professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, observed 49,143 adults aged between 40 and 70 over the course of seven years. None of them
had been diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the study. Across a period of 18 years (1991-2009), participants underwent exercise stress testing to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness using sustained physical activity. The goal of the study was to establish a link between physical fitness and the risks associated with lung and colorectal cancer. The incidence of cancer was obtained by establishing a relationship between the cancer registry and all cause mortality from the National Death Index. The study is the largest of its kind to include a high percentage of women and people of color (46 percent of subjects were female, 29 per cent African-Americans and 1 per cent Latinx).
89 per cent fewer deaths among the physically fit Among physically fit people, the risk of developing lung or colorectal cancer dropped by 77 per cent and 61 per cent respectively. Among participants who did develop lung cancer, those in better shape showed a risk of death that was 44 per cent lower. Patients with colorectal cancer, meanwhile, saw an 89 per cent reduction in mortality if they were physically fit. “Fitness testing is commonly done today for many people in conjunction with their doctors. Many people might already have these results and can be informed about the association of fitness with cancer risk in addition to what fitness levels mean for other conditions, like heart disease,” said Marshall
said in a statement, underscoring that additional studies might be needed to further explore these results and determine if the improvement of fitness can influence the risk and mortality rates of cancer. heart disease,” said Marshall said in a statement, underscoring that additional studies might be needed to further explore these results and determine if the improvement of fitness can influence the risk and mortality rates of cancer.
Georgia Asian Times May 1-15, 2019
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SPORTS
Liverpool have no time to lick wounds after Barcelona defeat London, May 2, 2019 — Liverpool have no time to fret over their chastening Champions League defeat at the hands of Barcelona as they scramble to prevent their season from fizzling out without any silverware to show for it. After the hammer blow of two late Lionel Messi goals at the Camp Nou, which gave Barcelona a 3-0 win in the first leg of the semi-final, Jurgen Klopp’s men must raise themselves for the challenge of Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday. Despite already posting a club record points tally of 91 with two games remaining, a Liverpool defeat would give Manchester City the chance to retain the title at home to Leicester on Monday. “They don’t have to think about the next game against Barcelona, now we play Newcastle,” said Klopp after yesterday’s defeat in Spain. “That’s all our focus. We go to the hotel, have a proper sleep, get up in the morning, fly home and then prepare for Newcastle.
“Whatever happens, these boys, I couldn’t be more proud of them.” There was plenty for Klopp to be proud about in Catalonia despite a first defeat in 20 games. Liverpool had more possession and shots on goal as they pressed and penned the Spanish champions back, particularly after Luis Suarez had come back to haunt his former club with the opening goal in the 26th minute. “I can work really well with this game. I will use this game to show the boys what is possible,” added Klopp. “It was brave performance that was very passionate, very lively and in a lot of moments creative and direct. “There will be a moment when I can convince the boys again how important this game was for us for our development because I really think it was the best away game we played in the Champions League. That’s a very important message for us, not for the world outside.” However, while Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah missed huge chanc-
es, the magic of Messi swung the tie heavily in Barca’s favor.
Messi magic If Messi’s first goal 15 minutes from time was opportunistic, his second was out of this world. The Argentine’s 600th goal for Barcelona was fired into the top corner with unerring accuracy from a longrange free-kick. “In these moments he’s unstoppable,” admitted Klopp. A second leg at fortress Anfield is still to come, but ending a 29-year wait to win the Premier League was always Liverpool’s primary target for the season. Now into his fourth season in charge, Klopp has still to win a trophy with Liverpool. But if his maturing side were denied by individual brilliance in Barcelona, it is the collective class of City, led by former Barca boss Pep Guardiola, that looks likely to deny them a much-desired title.
For the seventh game in a row, Liverpool would go back on top with a victory over Newcastle, led by their former manager Rafael Benitez. However, with City on a 12-game Premier League winning run, Liverpool still need the champions to slip up either at home to Leicester or away at Brighton on the final day of the season to stand a chance of winning the title. “I think mentally, we shouldn’t be affected,” said Liverpool defender and Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year Virgil van Dijk. “I won’t be. It was a tough game but we have a big game at the weekend and we are still in the race. We want the same performance without conceding the goals.”