Georgia Asian Times Oct 1-15, 2015

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

www.gasiantimes.com October 1-15, 2015

Trans Pacific Partnership negotiators reach landmark deal

Page 2

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

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

Tel: 678-971-9388 Advertising: gat@gasiantimes.com Editorial: info@gasiantimes.com URL: www.gasiantimes.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4502 Suwanee GA 30024 Copyright Georgia Asian Times 2004-2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

NACA Business Forum Date: Friday, October 2, 2015 Time: 1:00 pm -5:00 pm Venue: Technology Square Research Building Georgia Institute of Technology 85 Fifth Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 For more info: contact lynn.guo333@ gmail.com NACA 35th Celebration Gala Dinner Date:Saturday, October 3, 2015 Time: 6:00 pm -10:00 pm Venue: Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom 225 Baker St NW Atlanta, GA 30313 For more info: contact lynn.guo333@ gmail.com CPACS 11th Annual TEA Walk Date: Saturday, October 10, 2015 Time: 9:00 am Venue: CPACS, 3510 Shallowford Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30341 For more info: www.teawalk.org

2015 Atlanta Asian Film Festival Premiere Night Date: October 10, 2015 Time: 6:00 pm Venue: Plaza Theatre For more info: www.atlaff.org Partnership Gwinnett Redevelopment Forum Date: October 15, 2015 Time: 7:15 am - 1:00 pm Venue: Studio Movie Grill, 3850 Venture Drive, Duluth, GA 30096 For more info: 770.232.1174 2015 New American Hero Award America Korea Friendship Society Annual Dinner Date: Friday, Oct 23, 2015 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Renaissance Waverly Hotel

By Invitation Only

Page 3

Page 4

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS TPP negotiators reach landmark deal Atlanta, October 5, 2015 — Pacific trade ministers have reached a deal on the most sweeping trade liberalization pact in a generation that will cut trade barriers and set common standards for 12 countries, an official familiar with the talks said on Monday.

Negotiators agreed on a compromise on minimum terms that was short of what U.S. negotiators had sought and that would effectively grant biologic drugs a period of about years free from the threat of competition from generic versions, people involved in the closed-door talks said.

Leaders from a dozen Pacific Rim nations are poised to announce the pact later on Monday. The deal could reshape industries and influence everything from the price of cheese to the cost of cancer treatments.

The Washington, D.C.-based Biotechnology Industry Association said it was “very disappointed” by reports that U.S. negotiators had not been able to convince Australia and other TPP members to adopt the 12year standard approved by Congress.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership would affect 40 percent of the world economy and would stand as a legacy-defining achievement for U.S. President Barack Obama, if it is ratified by Congress.

NACA celebrates 35th anniversary with colorful reception Atlanta, October 3, 2015 — The National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA) Atlanta chapter celebrates its 35th anniversary of its founding at colorful reception at Georgia Aquarium. Over 350 guests including community, business, and governmental leaders attended the ceremony.

Keynote speaker for the evening is Honorable Judge Meng Lim, Superior Court Judge of Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit. Judge Lim delivers an inspirational message to the audience especially young Asian Americans who aspire to run for office.

Former President Jimmy Carter, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed all sent congratulation letters to NACA for reaching its 35th anniversary mark.

“We are proud of our accomplishments in bridging the relationships between China and the United States since 1980s. We have helped many Chinese students in the early years. In addition, we are also proud to assist Americans better understand the Chinese culture and way of doing things,” said Lani Wong, Chair of NACA Atlanta chapter.

The 35th Gala reception culminates two days of US-China Business Forum which NACA co-hosted with Georgia Tech. Featured speakers included Ming He, CEO, Huawei Technologies USA, Samuel Sun, Executive Vice President-Sales, ZTE USA, Keith Giddens, President & CEO, DHG China Resources, and Raymond Cheng, CEO, Sozo.

Key theme of the business forum focuses on technology, innovation and capital development in China.

“NACA accomplishments are result of tireless efforts by its Board of Directors and volunteers. We hope to position NACA to make a greater impact for the next 35 years,” said Ricardo Hubler, President of NACA Atlanta chapter.

NACA has successfully led a leadership mentorship program, trade missions, and hosting visiting Chinese business and governmental officials over the past decade.

Lawmakers in other TPP countries must also approve the deal.

“We will carefully review the entire TPP agreement once the text is released by the ministers,” the industry lobby said in a statement.

FINAL HOURS

The final round of negotiations in Atlanta, which began on Wednesday, had snared on the question of how long a monopoly period should be allowed on next-generation biotech drugs, until the United States and Australia negotiated a compromise.

A politically charged set of issues surrounding protections for dairy farmers was also addressed in the final hours of talks, officials said. New Zealand, home to the world’s biggest dairy exporter, Fonterra, wanted increased access toU.S., Canadian and Japanese markets.

The TPP deal has been controversial because of the secret negotiations that have shaped it over the past five years and the perceived threat to an array of interest groups from Mexican auto workers to Canadian dairy farmers.

Separately, the United States, Mexico, Canada and Japan also agreed rules governing the auto trade that dictate how much of a vehicle must be made within the TPP region in order to qualify for duty-free status.

Although the complex deal sets tariff reduction schedules on hundreds of imported items from pork and beef in Japan to pickup trucks in the United States, one issue had threatened to derail talks until the end – the length of the monopolies awarded to the developers of new biological drugs.

The North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico mandates that vehicles have a local content of 62.5 percent. The way that rule is implemented means that just over half of a vehicle needs to be manufactured locally. It has been credited with driving a boom in auto-related in investment in Mexico.

Negotiating teams had been deadlocked over the question of the minimum period of protection to the rights for data used to make biologic drugs, made by companies including Pfizer Inc, Roche Group’s Genentech and Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. The United States had sought 12 years of protection to encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest in expensive biological treatments like Genentech’s cancer treatment Avastin. Australia, New Zealand and public health groups had sought a period of five years to bring down drug costs and the burden on state-subsidized medical programs.

The TPP would give Japan’s automakers, led by Toyota MotorCorp, a freer hand to buy parts from Asia for vehicles sold in the United States but sets long phase-out periods for U.S. tariffs on Japanese cars and light trucks.

The TPP deal being readied for expected announcement on Monday also sets minimum standards on issues ranging from workers’ rights to environmental protection. It also sets up dispute settlement guidelines between governments and foreign investors separate from national courts. – Reuters

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

Page 5

ARMY RESERVE

GIVE YOUR CAREER A SHOT OF ADRENALINE.

Actual hands-on experience can boost your expertise and give you a big edge in life. And the Army Reserve provides you with the opportunities to develop your skills and gain qualities that can enhance your career. In fact, the Army Reserve pays you to learn. You’ll earn a salary and bonuses that can pay for your education and training. What’s more, you can stay home to further your schooling or career. So if you’re seeking success for the future, the Army Reserve can inject your resume with some very impressive credentials.

There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. Learn more at goarmy.com/reserve.

Earn a salary and money for your education while you gain the kind of strength that helps you stand out. To learn more, visit your local Army Career Counselor today or visit us online at goarmy.com/h692

©2009. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.

Page 6

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

10 Questions 10 Questions for Mr. Steven Tai, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Atlanta GAT: In conjunction with the celebration of Republic of China on the National Day of the Republic of China, Taiwan, how do you regard the current relationship climate between the southern states in the US and Taiwan?

Relations between the six Southeastern states our office serves are excellent in terms of trade and investment, friendship, and cultural exchanges. Southeastern state legislatures have honored TECO through the years with resolutions of support for our participation in international organizations and to honor Taiwan’s democracy.

Several state governors and other officials have visited Taiwan, and we welcome future visits. Taiwan has longstanding sister-city and sister-state relations throughout the region, and many colleges and universities share academic and student exchanges and cooperate on research projects. The Taiwanese community in the Southeast is very active in community service, and Taiwanese organizations such as the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and the Monte Jade Society of the Southeast pride themselves on outreach to mainstream members of the community as well as other ethnic business and community groups.

GAT: You have been advocating for more cultural and economic exchange between Georgia and and Taiwan - please share with our readers some of the recent accomplishments of your effort?

TECO sponsors and participates in many events include the annual Taste of Taiwan, which drew an audience of 1100 in August and included cooking demonstrations by renowned Taiwanese chefs, who also conducted demonstrations at the Arts Institute of Atlanta. Our office has a presence each year at the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival, the Dogwood Festival, and numerous other cultural and community events. TECO holds banquets and celebrations at the Chinese Community Center, most recently the Moon Festival celebration. TECO’s Lunar New Year celebration drew 5,000 people over a two-day period in February. Southeastern galleries and cultural centers often exhibit Taiwanese art provided by our office.

GAT: Georgia is an important trading partner for Taiwan especially

in the electronics and IT industry.

What other industry that you believe have potential to be further developed?

Chemicals, agriculture, transportation equipment and machinery are important exports for both Georgia and Taiwan. I believe that through collaborative development, these products can add tremendous value to both sides.

GAT: The port of Savannah is an important entry way for goods from around the world into the U.S. Do you foresee an increase in Taiwanese companies using the port for access to the North American market?

Companies around the world that ship goods to the US pay close attention to the expansion of the Port of Savannah.

Taiwanese companies are no exception.

The new and improved port increases transit effectiveness (especially with UPS being here) and profit margin. Taiwanese companies will certainly utilize the port to reach their customers in North America.

Taiwanese shipping companies Yang Ming and Evergreen account for 1/10 of the volume at the port. Curtis Foltz, Executive Director of Georgia Port Authority, visited Taiwan in August of this year. We were honored that he visited our country, and believe such interactions will further strengthen ties between Taiwan and the Port of Savannah.

GAT: Taiwan has recently developed the Taoyuan Aerotropolis to meet the growth of the northern Asian regional hub. What benefits will the Taoyuan Aerotropolis bring to Georgia companies that are seeking to do business in the region?

Taiwan is a prime location for the international marketplace and logistic network in the region. There, the public and private sectors planned to invest over $16 billion USD. The Aerotropolis will be a smart city where high-tech innovations and international collaboration create business opportunity and maximize services and products’ reach. Taiwan has been encouraging foreign companies to invest and biding on projects evolving the Aerotropolis. Georgia companies that do business in the region will certainly benefit from such a globally significant urban mega-development.

GAT: U.S. has granted visa waiver program for Taiwanese residents to visit the U.S. in 2012. Can you share us the visitors statistics from Taiwan to Georgia since the visa waiver implementation?

From 2012, when the visa waiver was granted, to 2013, there was a 32.5% increase in tourism from Taiwan to the United States; 400,000 Taiwanese now visit the US annually. One-hundred-fifthy three countries now offer visa waivers, landing visas and other visa conveniences to ROC nationals.

GAT: In May 2014, Feng Chia University and Georgia State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a beneficial relationship including staff and student exchange, joint research programs, and other scientific technological and educational collaborations. Do you foresee more Taiwanese universities linking up with other Georgia higher institution of learning in the near future?

In addition to its agreement with Feng Chia University, GSU also has an agreement with China Medical University. The University of Georgia has an academic agreement with National Taiwanese Ocean University, and Mercer University has such an agreement with Shih Chien University. I am confident that the success of these exchanges will prompt more such cooperation in the future. The presidents of Georgia State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have visited Taiwan, which bodes well for future educational joint ventures.

GAT: Georgia youths are especially intrigue and interested in learning of Asian cultures. What are your best advise for Georgia young people who wanted to learn more Taiwan’s culture, language, and heritage?

The Chinese Cultural Center of TECO and other Chinese language institutes are excellent places for Georgia youth to learn more about Taiwan and to take language lessons. The Taiwanese Student Association and the Taiwanese-American Student Associations are also good resources for young people to become acquainted with Taiwanese traditions and heritage.

These groups conduct sports tournaments and festivals for holidays such as Lunar New Year, and all interested parties are welcome. Annually, Taiwan’s International Youth Ambassadors visit the US to spread goodwill and provide insights into Taiwanese life and culture. Recently, the group visited Emory University and talked with students there.

GAT: Taiwan has been in the forefront of film making for many years.

Many well known directors such as Ang Lee and Hou Hsiao-hsien, recent Cannes award winner, are from a Taiwanese background. Do you plan to introduce more young film makers to Georgia’s cinema fans?

I recently issued an invitation for friends of TECO to join me for the Premiere Night of the 11th Annual Asian Film Festival, whose “Spotlight on Taiwan” features three films from young talents of the Taiwanese film industry. Our office regularly submits Taiwanese films to various festivals throughout the Southeast.

The film “Kano” was screened in February of this year at Georgia State University’s Cinefest Theater. The film’s director, Wei Te-Sheng, traveled from Taiwan to attend the screening and talk with the audience.

Wei also directed “Cape No. 7,’’ a box-office smash hit, and “Seediq Bale.” More than 300 people attended the screening, filling the small theater to capacity and leaving many with standing room only.

GAT: In the spirit of the Double Tenth celebration, what are your aspiration for Georgia - Taiwan relationship and the Taiwanese diaspora in the state?

I hope to continue to cooperate with our friends in Georgia to strengthen cultural and trade relations, and to promote greater interpersonal exchanges and understanding between Georgians and the Taiwanese.

Taiwan and Georgia have a longstanding mutually beneficial friendship that will only improve over time. They have been sister states since 1984. One issue I am particularly interested in is Georgia’s opening a trade office in Taiwan. Twelve out of the fifty states have already done so, and I hope Georgia will soon join them.

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

Page 7

Page 8

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

BUSINESS

TPP: 12 Pacific countries seal free trade deal Atlanta, October 5, 2015 — Twelve Pacific rim countries sealed the deal Monday on creating the world’s largest free trade area, delivering President Barack Obama a major policy triumph.

The deal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, led by the United States and Japan, aims to set the rules for 21st century trade and investment and press China, not one of the 12, to shape its behavior in commerce to the TPP standards.

“After five years of intensive negotiations, we have come to an agreement that will create jobs, drive sustainable growth, foster inclusive development, and promote innovation across the Asia Pacific Region,” said US Trade Representative Michael Froman.

The hard-won deal to create the world’s largest free-trade area, encompassing 40 percent of the global economy, came after five days of round-theclock talks in an Atlanta hotel.

President Barack Obama, who made the TPP a priority of his second term, said the accord reached in Georgia “reflects America’s values and gives our workers the fair shot at success they deserve.”

“When more than 95 percent of our potential customers live outside our borders, we can’t let countries like China write the rules of the global economy,” Obama said in a statement. “We should write those rules, opening new markets to American products while setting high standards for protecting workers and preserving our environment.”

More than 18,000 taxes imposed by various countries on US products will be eliminated thanks to the partnership, he added.

the future for many trade agreements in this 21st century.”

The talks went four days past deadline to resolve conflicts over Canada and Japan opening up their dairy markets to New Zealand exports, and objections from Australia, Peru and Chile to the US push for longer biologic patent protections.

Trade ministers said the landmark deal addresses new issues like data trade, foreign investment protections and intellectual property that have not been covered in multilateral trade pacts of the past.

Shape the future The accord involves significant market openings from Canada, the United States and Japan but also sets controversial new patent standards for cutting-edge biologic drugs and demands countries like Vietnam, Mexico and Malaysia improve labor standards.

“This agreement in my view is truly transformational,” said Canada Trade Minister Ed Fast.

“The magnitude and importance of rules for 21st century issues can’t be underscored enough…. It will shape

New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said his side of the talks went to 5 am Monday morning before an agreement was set.

The deal is “profoundly important and beneficial to the generations of people in our respective countries,” he said.

The accord still must be signed and ratified by the respective countries, which also include Singapore and Brunei.

In Canada, facing a national election

in two weeks, and in the United States, with elections coming in one year, that could prove particularly difficult.

US members of Congress have already warned that they will not ratify any deal that gives up too much in US interests.

Powerful Senator Orrin Hatch warned Monday that he will scour the deal “to determine whether our trade negotiators have diligently followed the law so that this trade agreement meets Congress’s criteria and increases opportunity for American businesses and workers.”

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

Page 9

BUSINESS

Angela Merkel leads German business counting on ‘Modiplomacy’ in India New Delhi, Oct 5, 2015 — Angela Merkel began a mission today to clear the path for German companies keen to do business in India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to the European powerhouse to help revive its economy.

corruption and other hurdles to doing business. But many have welcomed Modi’s efforts on economic reforms aimed at making India a more reliable and transparent place to invest.

Briefly leaving behind a refugee crisis in Europe, the German chancellor landed in New Delhi late yesterday for a three-day visit focused on boosting defence, renewable energy, and other bilateral trade.

The two nations exchanged nearly €16 billion in trade in 2014 — mostly chemicals, machine tools, electrical goods and textiles.

Merkel, flanked by a large business delegation, will meet Modi and trade officials on her first trip to India since the right-wing premier stormed to power last May promising to reform and revive Asia’s third-largest economy.

“We are cooperating in areas such as economy, agriculture, internal security matters, development issues, defence matters and also in financial relations,” Merkel said after a ceremonial welcome at Delhi’s presidential palace.

The chancellor said their talks would also focus on climate change, ahead of a critical UN-led meet in Paris on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Germany is already India’s most important trading partner in Europe and both Modi and Merkel have said they are keen to boost two-way trade.

But German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said German companies were concerned about “too much red tape, infrastructure hurdles, corruption, lack of skilled labour (and) tax disputes” in India.

“A reliable legal and administrative framework is indispensable for German companies in India,” he said in an interview with the Hindustan Times, while applauding Modi’s government for moving in the right direction.

Foreign companies have long despaired at India’s levels of taxation,

‘Growth potential’

“That obviously has growth potential,” a German official with knowledge of the trip said.

The leaders met in April on Modi’s first official visit to Germany, where the Indian premier sought more investment as he ramps up his drive to make India a manufacturing hub.

Germany agreed to lend India some of the vocational education expertise that has turned it into an engineering giant, with skilled workers crucial for Modi’s “Make in India” campaign.

Merkel’s delegation this week includes Steinmeier, several other cabinet ministers and German business leaders, who will also travel to the southern technology hub of Bengaluru.

The visit comes as Modi’s relentless overseas charm offensive aimed at wooing economic powers — dubbed Modiplomacy — appears to possibly be paying dividends on the investment front.

India overtook China to top the league table for greenfield foreign direct investment (new ventures) in the first half, pulling in US$30 billion in estimated capital expenditure, according to a Financial Times analysis.

German investments in India stand at €9.7 billion, with about 1,600 companies in the country, where the chemistry, energy and pharmaceuticals sectors are of greatest interest.

Indian media reports say Merkel and

Apple is world’s most valuable brand as tech brands lead the charge New York, Oct 5 — For the third year running, Apple is the world’s most valuable global brand. The 2015 Interbrand Best Global Brands Report also ranks Google in second place in a top 10 that is decidedly technology heavy.

Microsoft is in fourth place, IBM comes in fifth, Samsung is in seventh place, GE is eighth and Amazon rounds off the top 10.

And, when looking at the entire top 100 brands based on financial performance, customer influence and the power to command a premium for its products or services, the technology trend continues — the combined financial value of the 24 tech companies in the list is 33.6 per cent of the entire list’s value.

However, if one considers that companies at the forefront of consumer technology are the ones best servicing the modern consumer’s needs, and therefore meeting their priorities, the table makes sense. In terms of value Amazon (up 29 per cent) is one of this year’s biggest risers, and it is a company that prides itself on delivering — whether it’s a parcel, a service or an expectation.

“The Best Global Brands report examines what it takes for brands to succeed in today’s hyper-fragmented world. As people demand immediate, personalised and tailored experiences, business and brands need to move at the speed of life,” says Jez Frampton, Interbrand’s Global Chief Executive Officer. “Many of the brands in this year’s Top 100 are so intuitively aligned with people’s priorities, that they are able to seamlessly integrate into their everyday lives.”

Modi may discuss resuming stalled India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations — a market-opening pact to boost commerce.

While any trade deals are still hushhush, one agreement has been made concrete — Germany’s decision to hand back a 9th-century statue of the Hindu

Brands may be intangible but how they are perceived has never been more important for consumers as a means of understanding a product, a philosophy or the integrity of a product or service.

For example, over half (53 per cent) of Instagram’s 400 million users actively follow brands, and 44 per cent of internet users globally say that they use Instagram as a means of conducting brand research.

Social media platforms in general are increasingly being viewed by younger users (i.e., consumers under the age of 35) as a virtual space for understanding, following and interacting with marques.

Half of Twitter users questioned as part of the latest Global Web Index (GWI) study said that they followed brands in their feed and for Pinterest and Tumblr, it’s 48 per cent.

In fact of the most popular social networks, the daddy in terms of global membership, Facebook, is one of the least popular for following brands (44 per cent) or for conducting brand research (36 per cent) — a larger percentage of users turn to Reddit for both brand research (38 per cent) and to keep track of what brands are up to (46 per cent).

However Facebook can console itself with the fact that it’s the biggest riser in this year’s Interbrand list. It is the 23rd most valuable brand in the world and its value has risen by 54 per cent over the past 12 months. It is also the only social media network to make the cut for inclusion. goddess Durga last month.

Merkel is expected to visit the statue, which the Stuttgart Linden museum had bought at auction but decided to voluntarily return after it was found to have been looted from Kashmir in the 1990s.

Page 10

EVENTS

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

NACA 35th Anniversary Celebration Oct 3, 3015 Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

EVENTS

Page 11

Trans Pacific Partnership Minsiterial Reception Sept 30, 2015 Metro Atlanta Chamber

Page 12

October 1-15, 2015

Georgia Asian Times

TECH

Huawei has been selling some unlocked high-end devices direct to US and European consumers, and has a share of the prepaid, low-end smartphone market along with Chinese rival ZTE. But Huawei and other Chinese makers have generally lacked the appeal of Apple and Samsung for high-end smartphone customers.

Huawei gains prominence with Google partnership on Nexus phones Washington DC, Oct 3 — With a partnership to make one of Google’s flagship Nexus smartphones, Chinese tech giant Huawei is gaining new prominence which could help its efforts to win broader global consumer appeal.

Huawei was tapped this week to produce the Nexus 6P, one of two handsets unveiled this week by Google to showcase its Android mobile operating system.

The large-screen “phablet” was unveiled as a rival to the iPhone 6S Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note. A second Google phone, the Nexus 5X, will be made by South Korea’s LG. At a time when Chinese firms are struggling to break the dominance of Apple and Samsung on the high end of the smartphone market, the partnership is a milestone for Huawei.

“Clearly, working with Google is vote of confidence in the technology of the product,” said Ian Fogg, senior director at the consultancy IHS Technology.

Fogg said the Nexus devices “are intended to be showcases of the best of Android technology, and are designed to be seen as innovation leaders. That’s an incredibly valuable association to have.”

A ‘bridgehead’ The deal with Google “opens up a route into the US market to raise visibility for Huawei smartphones,” Fogg noted.

“Huawei will be particularly pleased if this can be a bridgehead into the US market.”

Fogg said that this also helps Google, which is largely absent from China, should the US company decide to dive back into the large market.

“In its home market of China, Huawei has both mobile operator relationships as well as its own expertise in selling smartphones direct to consumers,” Fogg said.

The association with Google “provides a brand boost for Huawei,” noted Avi Greengart, who follows mobile technology at the research firm Current Analysis.

“If you are buying a Nexus phone and it has a Chinese brand prominently displayed, that’s definitely a positive.”

Greengart noted that consumers will be looking at more options now that many US carriers and “unbundling” the service from the device.

Breaking the connection The Nexus 6P, which starts at US$499 for US customers, is being sold for less than the rival Apple 6S Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 5, which cost at least US$700.

“Once you break the direct connection between the service and the hardware it becomes easier for consumers to buy their device separately, and it makes a Nexus more attractive,” Greengart said.

The partnership could boost the prominence of Huawei, which has received media attention from US government allegations that the company is a security threat because of perceived close links to the Chinese government. The company denies the allegations.

Last year, news reports said the US National Security Agency had been secretly tapping the company’s networks for years.

Huawei is one of the largest providers of network infrastructure globally, but its consumer products are less well-known outside China.

Some analysts say it remains questionable whether Huawei can parlay the Google deal into a stronger position in the smartphone market.

“I think people gravitate toward Nexus because it is a Google device,” said Ramon Llamas, who follows mobile technology for research firm IDC. Llamas said other manufacturers partnering with Google on Nexus — HTC, LG and Motorola, for example — have failed to get a major boost for their brands from the deals.

“Huawei could see some boost in sales but not enough to catapult them to a challenge of Samsung or Apple,” he said.

While Chinese makers have gained ground recently — lifted in part by Lenovo’s acquisition of the Motorola brand — “none of them are breaking away from the pack,” Llamas said.

“Apple and Samsung really control the high end.”

But IHS’s Fogg said the mobile market can shift quickly, pointing out that previous market leaders like Nokia and BlackBerry have seen their leadership fade quickly.

“Nothing is forever in the smartphone market,” Fogg said.

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

Page 13

SPORTS

Liverpool sack Rodgers after early season disappointments LONDON, Oct 5 — Liverpool sacked manager Brendan Rodgers yesterday following a year of disappointing results that culminated in a poor start to the current season.

The announcement came just hours after the five-time European champions had held Everton to a 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park with another unconvincing performance.

Rodgers, 42, took Liverpool to the brink of the Premier League title in 2014, but they finished sixth last season and are currently 10th in the table with 12 points from eight games.

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Brendan Rodgers for the significant contribution he has made to the club and express our gratitude for his hard work and commitment,” Liverpool’s American owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) said in a statement.

Rodgers arrived from Swansea City in 2012 with a reputation for expansive football and built a team around Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and captain Steven Gerrard that captivated neutrals by making a thrilling tilt at the league title in 2014.

But after a costly slip by Gerrard in a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea, Liverpool lost out to Manchester City and Rodgers’s subsequent attempts to re-shape his squad proved unsuccessful.

He spent around £194 million on new players over the last 16 months, but high-profile signings such as Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and Mario Balotelli failed to pay off, while Suarez and Gerrard have both left, along with Raheem Sterling.

“Ambition and winning are at the heart of what we want to bring to Liverpool and we believe this change gives us the best opportunity to deliver it,” Liverpool’s management added.

“All of us have experienced some wonderful moments with Brendan as manager and we are confident he will enjoy a long career in the game.

“The search for a new manager is under way and we hope to make an appointment in a decisive and timely manner.”

“Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch.”

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp and former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, both currently out of work, have been linked with the Liverpool job in recent weeks.

Wenger ‘sad’ Speaking before news of his dismissal had broken, Rodgers said: “I don’t feel any pressure. I can honestly say that.

“People will want to put pressure on for different reasons. I don’t feel it, I don’t want it, but anything externally, there is no drama.”

Rodgers’s position came under scrutiny at the end of last season, after Liverpool were humiliated 6-1 at Stoke City on the final day in Gerrard’s last game before joining the Los Angeles Galaxy.

FSG came out in support of the Northern Irishman, who formerly worked alongside Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, but obliged him to make changes to his back-room staff.

Assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh both left the club, with Sean O’Driscoll and former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister joining the back-room staff.

Rodgers spent around £80 million during the close season, much of it recouped from the sale of Sterling to City for £49 million, but Liverpool have struggled.

They have won only one of their last nine games inside 90 minutes and needed penalties to beat fourth-tier Carlisle United in the League Cup. “He was maybe fortunate to stay on at the end of last season,” said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who played under Rodgers.

“He’ll have known himself that he had to make a good start and he hasn’t.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger backed Rodgers to bounce back from the setback.

“I am always sad when that happens because I think he is a quality manager,” said the Frenchman after his side’s 3-0 defeat of Manchester United.

“But that’s the way it goes now and I wish him good luck. I am sure he will find a job again.”

Rodgers is the second Premier League manager to part company with a club this season after Dick Advocaat, who stood down at Sunderland earlier yesterday.

Page 14

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

SPORTS

Schweinsteiger: United spirit can lift Champions League Manchester, September 30, 2015 — Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger believes his teammates have the kind of qualities required to win the Champions League.

Jordan Spieth caps great golf season with $11.48 million double win Atlanta, Sept 28, 2015 — Jordan Spieth capped a brilliant season in sensational style as he scored a fourstroke victory at the Tour Championship yesterday that also won him the FedExCup playoffs title for a US$11.48 million pay day.

Spieth shot a closing one-underpar 69 at East Lake Golf Club for a nine-under total of 271 and his fifth win of the season, including the Masters and US Open.

The prize money haul included the US$10 million jackpot bonus for winning the season’s FedExCup points competition, virtually clinched him Player of the Year honors and returned the 22-year-old American to the number one world ranking.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson rolled in a 57-foot birdie putt at the last for a 72 to tie for second on five-under 275 with Englishman Justin Rose (66) and Danny Lee of New Zealand (65).

“This is incredible. This is an event that we approach like a major champi-

onship because we know this is possible at the end of it,” said Spieth after hoisting the silver FedExCup trophy.

Spieth experienced a slight lull to his sensational season in the last month as Australian Jason Day went red-hot to win four of six events, including the PGA Championship and two of the FedExCup playoff tournaments.

However, the ultra-competitive Spieth geared up for a run at the Tour Championship/FedExCup double and hit his target.

“I got frustrated. I missed two cuts in a row, had never done that, lost the number one ranking. I was watching Jason Day just dominate golf,” said Spieth.

“I got to work, put my head down a little more than I did right after the PGA, knowing that we could still peak this week and that’s what we did.” — Reuters

The Germany international won the competition with Bayern Munich in 2013 and believes there are similar characteristics in United’s players as there were in the squad of his former club.

easy in the first 10 minutes so it was not easy but we changed the score at the end and got in the next round.

“It’s a big stadium and a big honor to play here for United in that stadium especially in the Champions League.”

The 31-year-old World Cup winner also revealed he has quickly adjusted to life at United and English football despite the differences with German football.

“Yes. I think so,” Schweinsteiger said. “The best strength here is the team spirit. But of course first of all we have to do our work.

He added: “The club and the people are friendly and of course of my teammates made it easy for me.

“We lost the first match against PSV Eindhoven which was a pity. As the manager said we have to win our games at home.”

“Of course I know the manager and the staff. Ok, no one really speaks German but that was not a problem for me.

United will look to register their first win in Champions League Group B against Wolfsburg on Wednesday having lost their opening match away to PSV Eindhoven.

“I am at an age where you can learn easily a new league and handle it. It was very easy. I feel very comfortable here and especially when I play at Old Trafford.

Schweinsteiger, who joined United from Bayern in July, believes the Bundesliga side will find Old Trafford a difficult place to get a positive result.

“I mean of course there is a difference to the Bundesliga but you also have a ball in the game. So if you can handle the ball you can handle the physicality of the Premier League.

“It’s not easy to play here for the first time, especially in the Champions League,” Schweinsteiger said.

“The supporters you can feel the power of them and it’s good for us but we have to play well and that’s the most important thing.

“When I came here the first time with Bayern Munich. We had it not so

“It’s different because you have no winter break and a lot of matches. But to be honest I feel good because my body us working ok.

“I am looking forward to playing in all these matches. When you play here it’s always a good atmosphere.

It’s a lot of fun to play football in the Premier League.”

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

Page 15

HEALTH Heart effects of saturated fats may depend on overall diets While experts continue to debate the health effects of saturated fat, a new US study suggests its link to heart disease depends on what else a person eats.

But recent analyses of data from past studies found no link between saturated fats and heart disease, Hruby’s team writes in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Over time, cutting back on saturated fat was tied to a drop of up to 25 percent in heart disease risk – unless people used refined carbohydrates like white bread or pasta as replacements.

In that case, there was no benefit.

“The saturated fats look benign when you compare them to the refined carbohydrates, but when you compare them to something else they’re not benign,” said Adela Hruby from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, a coauthor of the study.

And other studies have found no differences when saturated fats were replaced by carbohydrates – but that lack of an association might be explained by researchers not distinguishing between types of carbohydrates, the study team believes.

For decades, people have been told to stay away from foods high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, butter and cheese. Saturated fat increases the amount of LDL or “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which is linked to heart disease.

Currently, the American Heart Association recommends that saturated fats comprise no more than 6 percent of a person’s daily diet. The 2010 US Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that a maximum of 10 percent of daily calories come from saturated fats.

Their new results are based on data from nearly 130,000 people who were asked about their diets every four years, in studies conducted from the 1980s to 2010. At the start, participants were free of diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Over 24 to 30 years of follow-up, there were about 7,500 cases of heart disease.

People who replaced 5 percent of saturated fat calories in their diet with an equivalent amount of polyunsaturated fats – like those in fatty fish and flax seeds – had a 25 percent decreased risk of heart disease compared to those who didn’t.

Those who replaced 5 percent of saturated fat with monounsaturated fats like olive or peanut oil, or whole nuts, had a 15 percent reduced risk of heart

disease.

Replacing 5 percent of saturated fat calories with an equal amount of whole grains was tied to a 9 percent reduced risk of heart disease.

But there was no difference in heart disease risk when people substituted refined carbohydrates for saturated fats.

The study’s main point is that it’s about the swaps people make in their diet for saturated fats, Hruby said.

“Use some olive oils instead of butter or eat a few handfuls of nuts instead of a few handfuls of potato chips,” she said. “These are not complex swaps.”

One limit of the study, the authors acknowledge, is that errors are possible when people are asked to estimate what foods they ate.

Dr. Steven Nissen, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, who wasn’t involved in the study, doesn’t think anyone should make clinical decisions based on its results.

“As a society we need to do prospective randomized trials to answer these questions,” he said.

Nissen cited the Prevention with Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) trial, which followed people who were randomly assigned to a Mediterranean diet with added olive oil or nuts, or a low-fat diet. Those on the Mediterranean diet had about a 30 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease over five years.

In a follow-up email to Reuters Health, Hruby and colleagues pointed to the PREDIMED trial as an example of a prospective randomized trial that supports their finding.

Dr. David Seres, director of medical nutrition at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, said the controversy over saturated fat “will continue to rage on until we’re able to do an actual and effective randomized trial, which will take hundreds of millions of dollars and decades to do.”

Seres, who was not involved with the new study, believes patients are still going to advised by their doctors to limit saturated fats.

“It’s my opinion that that’s going to turn out to be correct, but again I wish I had better data to be sure of my advice,” he said. - Reuters

Link between tallness, higher cancer risk, says study Paris: Being tall is linked to a higher risk of cancer, especially for women, said research Thursday drawn from physical and health data for five million people in Sweden.

For every 10 centimetres (four inches) over one metre in height, the odds of developing cancer increased by 10 percent in men and 18 percent in women, the research team reported at a medical conference in Barcelona.

A Swedish woman 1.72 metres (six feet) tall, for example, was about a third more likely to contract cancer than a woman of 1.52 metres.

The findings, which have not been

published in a scientific journal, support similar links found in other studies between height and elevated cancer risk — but the researchers said their work was based on the largest group of men and women yet.

It found that for every extra 10 cm, a woman had a 20-percent higher risk of breast cancer, while there was a jump of 30 percent for every 10 cm in melanoma risk for both genders.

It was not clear if their findings would translate to people who live in different climates, with different diets and genetic backgrounds.

A United States study in 2013, done among only women, had found a 13 percent higher risk of developing certain cancers for each 10 centimetres of height.

The findings, unveiled at a meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology, looked at birth, health and military records of 5.5 million people born between 1938 and 1991. The tallest was 2.25 m in adulthood.

The new research was met with some scepticism by outside experts who questioned the methodology, and stressed there was a much stronger cancer risk link with factors such as genetics or obesity.

Rather than tallness “causing” an elevated cancer risk, factors like growth hormones may be influencing both traits, they pointed out.

“It sounds an odd relationship at first glance, but it is actually very plausible that the risk of cancer in a person should be related to the number of cells in their body, since that determines the number of cells ‘at risk’,” Dorothy Bennett, a scientist at University of London said in comments issued by the Science Media Centre.

“A cancer arises by mutations from a single normal cell. Bigger people have more cells.”

Page 16

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia

Modi makes rock star appearance at Facebook Menlo Park, Sept 28, 2015 — Standing side-by-side with Mark Zuckerberg, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a rock star appearance at Facebook yesterday, advocating for the political power of social media.

An invitation-only audience jumped to its feet, cheering and snapping photos as Modi strode into a sun-splashed courtyard with Zuckerberg — sporting a jacket and tie for the occasion, in a sartorial about-face for the typically casual campus.

“To leaders all over the world; you are not going to gain by running away from social media,” said the tech-savvy premier during a town hall-style question and answer session.

“The strength of social media today is that it can tell governments where they are going wrong and give them an opportunity to do a course correction.”

“You will gain from joining it. You need real time information,” said the 65-year-old Modi, who has 30 million fans on Facebook and tweets multiple times a day.

Modi used the hour-long session to promote his Digital India drive and promote the country as a place worthy of tourists, investments, and entrepreneurs with visions of disruptive technology start-ups.

Choked up with emotion But he also shared some candid moments with Zuckerberg, who told of finding inspiration to persevere with Facebook during a journey to India while Modi himself choked up while speaking of his mother.

Zuckerberg pointed out his parents in the audience before asking Modi about his own mother. Modi’s mother is more than 90 years old, and his father is no longer living.

The prime minister recounted coming from a poor family, selling tea at a rail station as a boy.

“It is hard to imagine that a tea seller has actually become the leader of the world’s biggest democracy,” Modi said.

“When we were small, what we used to do to get by,” he continued, pausing at times to recompose himself.

“We used to go to neighbors houses, clean dishes, fill water, do hard chores.

You can imagine what a mother had to do to raise her children.”

In steps of Steve Jobs Zuckerberg, meanwhile, opened the chat by telling of a time, about a decade ago, when Facebook was going through a “rough patch” and there were thoughts of selling the startup.

He said he visited one of his mentors, late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who told him to travel to a certain temple in India.

“I went, and travelled for almost a month,” Zuckerberg recounted. “Seeing the people and how people connected, reinforced what we were doing and is something I’ve always remembered.”

Points touched on by Modi during the exchange included the hope of connecting all of India’s villages to the Internet with fiber optic cable, and the mighty challenge of attaining equality for women in India.

“If we want to achieve our economic goals, we cannot do that if we imprison 50 percent of our population inside their houses,” he said in answer to a question.

“We have to achieve one thing; to bring women into decision making,” said Modi, who playfully noted that while most religions portray deities as male, India has no shortage of goddesses.

Modi also visited Google’s main campus in nearby Mountain View, where he and Google announced a collaboration to provide wireless Internet at railway stations in India, with a goal of connecting 500 by the end of next year.

“Just like I did years ago, thousands of young Indians walk through Chennai Central every day, eager to learn, to explore and to seek opportunity,” India-born Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said in a blog post.

Google Internet on rails Modi’s stop at Facebook was part of a tour of Silicon Valley, ahead of the UN General Assembly where he will meet US President Barack Obama today.

Late yesterday, he was later to star at an event attended by some 18,000 people in a convention center in the city of San Jose in Silicon Valley.

It is the first time since 1982 that a prime minister of India has visited the West Coast of the United States.

“It’s my hope that this Wi-Fi project will make all these things a little easier.”

Nearly one billion people in India don’t have access to the Internet, according to Pichai.

Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2015

Page 17

Misc Asia

cram schools run with near-military efficiency and discipline in the hope of improving their score.

Ubiquitous surveillance cameras monitor the students 24 hours a day, most of which are taken up with classes punctuated by meditation sessions where teachers intone “Your brain will improve…You can focus…”

New films highlight heavy price South Korean students pay for success Seoul, September 30, 2015 – The emotional and physical trauma inflicted by over-zealous parenting and South Korea’s cut-throat education system form the focus of two movies receiving their world premieres at this year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

Korean.studentsThe documentary “Reach for the SKY” and the feature film “4th Place” both tackle sensitive issues that are only too familiar to many South Koreans.

Co-directed by Choi Woo-Young and Belgium’s Steven Dhoedt, “Reach for the SKY” follows three teenagers and a teacher through the individual and collective roller-coaster that is the country’s annual college entrance test.

Success in the exam — to which young South Koreans devote most of their teenage years — means a place in one of the elite universities seen as key to future careers and marriage prospects.

The film’s title is an acronym referring to the three most-coveted schools

— Seoul National, Korea and Yonsei universities (SKY) — to which only one percent of high school graduates gain admission.

Choi said the movie tried to capture the “dark side” of an education system that is often held up by other countries as a model of rigorous meritocracy.

The pressure to score well has been blamed for teenage depression and suicide rates that are among the highest in the world.

Harsh reality “Some people outside South Korea praise the achievement of our education system and the excellent math and science scores of our youngsters,” said Choi.

“But I wanted to show this reality in which less than one percent of teenagers can be winners and the rest call themselves miserable losers,” he said.

Two of the students in the documentary are “repeaters” — studying for the exam a second time at special

South Korea’s private education market is worth a staggering $27 billion, with the likes of “rock star” English teacher Kim Ki-Hoon at the top of the food chain.

The film shows Kim taking the stage at a giant sports stadium packed with thousands of teenagers and their parents who listen with studied attention to his tips on how to score well in the college exam.

A teacher, or more precisely a swim coach, is also a pivotal character in “4th place” — the tale of a young swimmer, Jun-Ho, and his fanatically competitive and over-bearing mother.

The price of success Frustrated with Jun-Ho’s repeated failure to secure a podium finish, his mother hires a coach known for his uncompromising physical approach to forcing the best out of his charges.

Jun-Ho’s performance improves and his mother’s pride is such that she turns a blind eye to the bruises on his body that testify to the coach’s brutal methods.

When her husband confronts her with the reality, she tearfully protests: “I’m more scared of him ending up in fourth again than getting beaten.”

While corporal punishment has largely been banished from South Korean classrooms, it is still tolerated on the sports training ground where aggressive discipline has been cited as one reason for South Korea punching above its weight in international sporting events like the Olympic Games.

Director Jung Ji-Woo interviewed more than 100 young athletes, their mothers and coaches before making the film and said the reality was “a lot worse” than the movie.

“Many mothers knew their children were being beaten,” said Jung.

“For them, anything is permissible as long as their children reach the top of the game as fast as possible,” he said.

The film suggests the violence is cyclical, with the increasingly traumatized Jun-Ho passing on his coach’s beatings to his own younger brother.

For Jung, “4th place” — commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea — is a metaphor for the price South Korean society as a whole has had to pay for the country’s extraordinarily rapid development from a war-torn backwater to Asia’s fourth largest economy.

“In our society, the end has justified the means in everything, and that mentality is deeply ingrained in the public psyche,” Jung said.

“Such a relentless pursuit of achievement at all costs might have helped our society to develop so quickly … but now it’s time to move on to the next, more civilized stage,” he added.

Page 18

October 1-15, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

Terrfying glass bridge opens to public in Hunan, China Beijing, Oct 1, 2015 — Those who suffer from acrophobia will want to steer clear of this all-glass suspension bridge that recently opened in China’s Hunan Province.

24mm-thick glass panes are 25 times stronger than other forms of glass, allowing it to “stand firm even if tourists are jumping on it”, a worker who built the bridge told the China News Service.

But those with a head for heights may want to brave the aptly named Haohan Qiao, or “Brave Men’s Bridge”, a 300-metre walkway suspended 180 metres above ground between two cliffs.

“The steel frame used to support and encase the glass bridge is also very strong and densely built, so even if glass is broken, travellers won’t fall through,” the worker added.

However, if your legs suddenly turn to jelly, there are trained staff members available to help anyone in need of emotional support to make the walk across.

The dizzying transparent bridge sits above a valley in the Shiniuzhai National Geological Park.

If you manage to keep your eyes open, take a look around at the amazing scenery: Hunan’s geological formations are credited for inspiring the breathtaking scenery in director James Cameron’s blockbuster movie “Avatar.”

While it sounds frightening enough, the glass bridge was actually built to replace the original one made of wood.

Nonetheless, the authorities assure intrepid travelers that the walkway’s

“Brave Men’s Bridge” might be China’s first all-glass suspension passage, but it won’t be the country’s last.

According to Wired, another similar connection will open across the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon area, also in Hunan province, later this year.

Spanning 430-metres long and 300-metres high, it is set to be the world’s highest glass bridge once completed.