Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com October 1-15, 2016
Street art’s stars and the cities that nurture them
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October 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho Photographer: Ben Hioe
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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.
Double Tenth Celebration Organized by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta Date: Wed, Oct 5, 2016 Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Venue: Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Capitol Ballroom, 165 Courtland St, NE, Atlanta GA 30303 By invitation only.
12th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: Oct 7-22, 2016 Venues: GSU-GPC Dunwoody, UWG, LeFont Sandy Springs Ticket: $8 adult /All Access $25 For more info: www.atlaff.org Laotian American Society (LAS) Annual Gala Date: Dec 10, 2016 Time: 5:00 pm - 12:00 midnight Venue: Signature Ballroom, 80 Horizon Drive, Suwanee GA 30024 Admission: $65 adult / $650 table For more info: www.lasga.org
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October 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS
Atlanta Asian Film Festival to premiere controversial HK film ‘TEN YEARS’ Suwanee, Sept 29, 2016 – The 12th Atlanta Asian Film Festival lineup was officially announced and will feature several award winning films from Asia. This year’s festival will showcase films from India, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, and Cambodia. The festival is scheduled from Oct 7-22, 2016.
“Taste of Taiwan” celebrates island’s culinary cuisines Atlanta, September 20, 2016 — “Taste of Taiwan” gala brings out local leaders of Georgia and Taiwanese community to celebrate the island’s popular culinary cuisines. Governor Nathan Deal and Mrs. Deal, Congressman Tom Price, along with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle were among the dignitaries attended the gala event hosted at the Atlanta History Center last night. The event hosted by Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce featured cuisines by two leading Chefs visiting from Taiwan.
Governor Nathan Deal presented the chamber’s “Cultural Ambassador” Awards to Dr. James A. Walter and Dr. Sueling Wang for their philanthropic work and service to the community. Guests were treated to a special 10-course meal prepared by the visiting Taiwanese Chefs. The meal were paired with California wines and Single-Malt Scotch from Taiwan.
“Majority of the films have never been screen in Atlanta and the Southeast. This is an opportunity for fans to catch the screening in high quality digital format,” said Li Wong, founder and Executive Director of the annual festival. A Premiere Night Gala has been scheduled for Friday Oct 14, 2016 at Mercer University Atlanta. Several Asian film producers and film makers are expected to make an appearance at the festival. This year’s festival will include a controversial film “Ten Years” which won the Hong Kong’s Best Film Award earlier this year. “Ten Years” was widely popular in Hong Kong despite its anti-establishment message. The film was banned in mainland China and many cinemas in Hong Kong self-censored to avoid any repercussion from Beijing.
“It is our goal to feature films that stimulate conversations and to inspire next generations of filmmakers out there. In line with Georgia’s growing film industry, our festival is playing a small part in promoting the film industry here,” adds Wong. Among the films is a major blockbuster Bollywood film “Bajrangi Bhaijan” which will make its special screening at the festival. The National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA) is sponsoring several films from China. “ChongQing Hotpot,” “The Monkey King 2,” and “The Final Masters” will make its Atlanta debut at the festival. The festival is also partnering with Japan Consulate General-Atlanta, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office-Atlanta to offer films from Japan and Taiwan. AAFF is also ensuring fans are able to watch films from other Asian countries including Cambodia, Laos, Philippines and Indonesia. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and available for sale online at www. ATLaff.org. All Access Pass for screenings to all films are available for sale at $25.00.
Georgia Asian Times
October 1-15, 2016
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Republic of China
TAIWAN
TAIWAN A Flourishing Democracy in Asia On Oct. 10, 2016, the Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrates its 105th anniversary, an important event for Asia’s first republic and one heralding the dawn of a new era characterized by innovation, reform and the building of a more progressive, caring society. The election of President Tsai Ing-wen as the ROC’s first female head of state in January, as well as the third transition of power in May, signals the maturing of the nation’s hard-earned democracy—one in which the efforts of the citizenry to safeguard freedom, protect human rights and uphold the rule of law are recognized worldwide. Central to this process is Tsai’s “Steadfast Diplomacy.” Based on the principle of mutual assistance for mutual benefits, the initiative paves the way for Taiwan to work with all like-minded countries and territories in playing a more significant role in the international community and making greater contributions.
This approach is important as momentum builds for Tsai’s New Southbound Policy, which aims to deepen Taiwan’s trade and cultural links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand, and ensure all segments of society can share in long-term prosperity. The policy also helps the nation quickly adjust to changing global conditions and the trend toward regional economic integration. As the ROC further strengthens its robust economy and vibrant democracy—proud achievements in Asia—it will continue making the nation’s culture, lifestyle and social diversity a global benchmark. Toiling for a better tomorrow is a worthy goal on Double Tenth National Day.
（放置駐外館處名稱）
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October 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
ARTS Street art’s stars and the cities that nurture them Paris, Oct 4, 2016 — With the opening this month in Paris of the first permanent exhibition dedicated to street art, here is a selection of the increasingly lucrative genre’s top exponents and the cities that have nurtured them.
Earlier this year he wrapped the glass Louvre Pyramid in photographic prints, creating a trompe l’oeil effect appearing to make the structure blend into the actual palace facade. Invader
Banksy the King The king of them all has to be Britain’s Banksy, whose subversive and satirical humor has achieved huge international renown since he surfaced in the 1990s. Hailing from the underground activist culture of the southwestern city of Bristol, his unmistakeable stenciled output generally features an anti-establishment bent. In artistic terms, be it on the street or in the gallery, he is emphatically Big League, rubbing shoulders with Damien Hirst for the “Keep it Spotless” collaboration which fetched US$1.8 million at Sotheby’s in New York in 2008. Who exactly Banksy is, however, remains a mystery, amid rumors he may be Robert “3D” Del Naja of trip hop band Massive Attack. Banksy’s French counterpart JR started out on the streets of Paris before making waves in a clutch of venues, from Rio’s favela slums to Shanghai and New York. One of JR’s most emblematic projects involved collecting some 4,000 portraits via his mobile photo booth truck and putting the resulting “participatory” mass collage on display at the newly restored Pantheon temple in the French capital.
Compatriot Invader produces pixellated works reminiscent of “Space Invader” early video game figures. With some 3,000 “invasions” on his CV to date, Invader has on occasion been taken in for questioning by inquisitive US police. Last year his mosaic of 1970s American cartoon character Hong Kong Phooey sold at auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, fetching HK$2 million. The popular piece of street art had been destroyed by the city’s authorities, infuriating residents, and was later re-made for sale.
New York New York is the cradle of the movement, graffiti artists having used subway tunnels and handy walls as canvases since the late 1960s. The 1990s saw a move towards the mainstream with the Queens district hosting the 5 Pointz mural space on Long Island. For two decades, some 1,500 artists had the run of 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) of space, creating an open-air museum and tourist magnet — until the site owner in 2013 had the area demolished for construction of a condominium complex.
Berlin Berlin’s East Side Gallery — a 1.3 kilometer surviving section of the Berlin Wall — merits mention with its gallery of 1990 paintings by more than 100 artists from across the globe. With the site receiving an annual three million visitors, renovation was required in 2009. One of the best-known frescoes depicts the “fraternal kiss” between former Soviet president Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker, painted by Russian artist Dmitri Vrubel. London London’s edgy-but-trendy eastern district of Shoreditch is a true hive of street art in the British capital, “hosting” a raft of Banksy creations that see visitors beat a steady path to the area. Somewhat less known is Leake Street Tunnel, an “authorized graffiti area” behind Waterloo railway station which lures an alternative crowd. Most output gets covered over on a regular basis. Banksy, himself involved in turning “a dark forgotten filth pit” into “an oasis of beautiful art”, has also fallen victim to this artistic license at what was for a while dubbed “Banksy Tunnel”.
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
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BUSINESS ASIA
Japanese scientist wins Nobel medicine prize for work on ‘self-eating’ cell mechanism Stockholm/Tokyo, October 3, 2016 — Japan’s Yoshinori Ohsumi won the 2016 Nobel prize for medicine for ground-breaking experiments with yeast which exposed a key mechanism in the body’s defenses where cells degrade and recycle their components. Understanding the science behind the process, called “autophagy” or “self-eating”, has led to a better understanding of diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and type 2 diabetes, the prize committee said in its statement on Monday. “Ohsumi’s discoveries led to a new paradigm in our understanding of how the cell recycles its content,” it said. The Physiology or Medicine prize, the first of the Nobel prizes awarded each year, is worth 8 million Swedish crowns ($933,000).
Ohsumi, born in 1945 in Fukuoka, Japan, has been a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology since 2009. He told Kyodo News agency he was “extremely honored” to get the prize. In a separate interview with broadcaster NHK, he said he had “always wanted to do something that other people wouldn’t do”. “I thought the breakdown (of cells) would be interesting, and that was my start,” he said. Ohsumi’s work – carried out in the 1990s and described by commentators as “paradigm-shifting” and “pioneering” – included locating the genes that regulate autophagy. This is important for medicine because it helps show why errors in these genes can contribute to a range of diseases. David Rubinsztein, deputy director of Cambridge University’s Institute for Medical Research, said Ohsumi had
provided scientists around the world with “critical tools” to help them understand how disrupted autophagy can contribute to illnesses including infectious diseases, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s. Chister Hoog, a professor at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, told Reuters the work helped explain crucial processes in human development, from growing up, to aging to succumbing to disease. “In the very early stages (of a human’s development) your organs and your whole body is constantly being made over again – you are growing. So you need to get rid of the old stuff and generate new structures,” he said. “When you undergo aging, you have structures that have to be taken away and this – autophagy – is the principle that gets rid of them.
“If you affect this system – the genes and proteins involved in autophagy – you no longer can take care of the waste, and once it accumulates you will get some type of disease.” This year, the Karolinska Institute, which awards the Nobel medicine prize, has been immersed in a scandal over the hiring of a controversial surgeon. The Swedish government dismissed several members of the board in September. Prizes for achievements in science, literature and peace were first awarded in 1901 in accordance with the will of dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel. ($1 = 8.5776 Swedish crowns). – Reuters
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October 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS
U.S. new home sales fall in August but trend still positive Washington DC, Sept 26, 2016 — New U.S. single-family home sales posted their biggest decline in nearly a year in August after soaring to nineyear highs the month before, with analysts saying the trend in sales remains positive. The Commerce Department said on Monday new home sales fell 7.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 609,000 units last month. Sales were up 20.6 percent from a year ago. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast single-family home sales falling to an annualized rate of 600,000 units last month.
economic growth in the second half of the year. “New home sales moved lower in August, but sales were at an expansion high in July and the longer-term trend remains positive due to strong homebuyer demand,” said David Berson, chief economist at Nationwide and former chief economist at Fannie Mae. Following the new home sales release, analysts at Macroeconomic Advisers kept their estimate of third-quarter economic growth at 3 percent, a marked pickup from the first half of the year.
July’s sales pace was revised up 5,000 units to 659,000 units. That level of annualized sales was the highest since October 2007, and even with the decline, the sales pace in August was the second highest since 2008.
Though new home sales make up just 10 percent of all home sales, evidence that the economy continues to hold up will add to the likelihood that the Federal Reserve follows through on an interest rate hike expected in December.
Analysts said the level of sales generally supported their view of a strong underlying trend in new home sales and of a quickening pace of overall
Evidence in particular that households remain willing to spend – whether on new homes or meals at restaurants – will support the Fed’s view that
growth in jobs and wages is helping support overall recovery even though other contributors to gross domestic product remain weak. “There are good reasons to expect GDP growth to rebound,” analysts at Capital Economics said in a research note, pointing to a rise in household disposable income and household net worth that is “close to a record high.” Major U.S. stock indices were down by about three quarters of a percent at midday. Homebuilder shares performed slightly better. Another housing report last week showed a solid increase in permits for single-family dwellings as the housing market continues to strengthen overall amid a tightening labor market that is pushing up wages. New home sales have also benefited from a dearth of previously owned houses available for sale. Last month, the inventory of new homes on the market rose 1.7 percent
to 235,000 units. New single-family home sales fell 34.3 percent in the Northeast to the lowest level since September 2015. Sales were down 2.4 percent in the Midwest and 12.3 percent in the South but rose 8.0 percent in the West to the highest level since September 2007. At August’s sales pace it would take 4.6 months to clear the supply of houses on the market, up from 4.2 months in July. The median price for a new home fell 5.4 percent from a year ago to $284,000. – Reuters
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
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BUSINESS
Japan big manufacturers’ confidence at multi-year low Tokyo, Oct 3, 2016 -- Business confidence among Japan’s largest manufacturers is at its lowest since Tokyo introduced measures to kick-start the struggling economy more than three years ago, a central bank survey showed Monday.
from 19. However, confidence among medium and small business improved slightly. Stock traders were unfazed. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up more than one percent in the afternoon Monday.
The Bank of Japan’s closely watched Tankan report comes after data showing weak growth in the second quarter and as soft inflation and spending figures on Friday underscored the wobbly recovery.
Officials are under intense pressure to deliver a boost to the economy with experts increasingly writing off Tokyo’s spend-for-growth policy.
The latest Tankan — a key gauge of Japan Inc’s health — missed market forecasts for a slight improvement in the mood among major firms.
On Friday, official data showed spending among Japanese households tumbled in August and consumer prices fell again — putting the Bank of Japan’s 2.0 percent inflation target further out of reach.
Sentiment among big manufacturers is wallowing at its lowest levels since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kicked off his growth blitz, dubbed Abenomics, in 2013.
The target is a cornerstone of Abe’s faltering attempts to kickstart growth. Wobbly recovery
The survey contradicts Tokyo’s view that the world’s number three economy is on the upswing, said Satoshi Osanai, senior economist at Daiwa Institute of Research.
Last month, the Bank of Japan, which launched a massive bond-purchase stimulus programme in 2013, revealed yet another exotic weapon in its monetary policy arsenal.
“The economy is weak and certainly not in a recovery mode,” he added.
After a hotly anticipated meeting, the bank said it would switch its emphasis from interest rates and concentrate its firepower on 10-year government bonds.
“This is more confirmation that Japanese firms are facing headwinds. Conditions remain tough.” The BoJ’s quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies is the most comprehensive indicator of how Japan is faring. It marks the difference between the percentage of firms that are upbeat and those that see conditions as unfavourable. The reading for big manufacturers was unchanged at 6, while the level for big non-manufacturers fell to 18
Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the bank would buy as many or as few of these benchmark instruments as necessary to ensure the yield — the interest rate paid to holders — remained steady at around zero. The bank said it would cut back on the number of longer dated bonds the bank holds. That should reduce the price of long-term securities, which — in turn — should increase their yield.
It was the latest effort to convince Japanese consumers that the price of goods and services will rise in the future. Some analysts, however, said the move was an admission of defeat in the war on deflation and a warning of the limits of central bank power. “I’m sure the Bank of Japan was hoping for a rebound in the latest Tankan — they must be in agony looking at this report,” said Hideo Kumano, an economist at Daiichi Life Research Institute and a former BoJ official. Tokyo in July announced a whopping 28-trillion-yen ($280-billion) package aimed at kickstarting growth, after Britain’s June vote to quit the European Union sent financial markets into a tailspin and sparked a yen rally. The
surge in the currency has taken a bite out of profits at Japanese firms that do business overseas. But Abe’s promises to cut through red tape have been slower, and his plan to buoy Japan’s once-booming economy have looked increasingly unrealistic. The economy contracted in the last three months of 2015, before bouncing back in January-March with a 0.5 percent rise on-quarter and then a 0.2 percent growth in April-June.
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EVENTS
October 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
Taiwan Junior Chamber of Commerce - Taste of Taiwan Gala, Sept 19, 2016
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
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LIFESTYLE
Fashion features tropics and layers at Paris show opening Paris, Sept 28, 2016 — Paris Fashion Week displayed colourful and tropical-inspired creations from Paule Ka and layered printed and patterned looks by Dutch designer Liselore Frowijn as it opened yesterday. Several designers will make their debuts for some of the world’s top luxury labels in Paris, which is the final leg of the womenswear spring/summer 2017 catwalk calendar after fashion weeks in New York, London and Milan. paris-fwFashionistas are eagerly awaiting the debut of new Christian Dior artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri, who joined from Italian fashion house Valentino and presents her first line for the French brand on Friday. Chiuri is the first woman to hold the position of artistic director for women’s haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories in Dior’s 70-year history and follows in the footsteps of designers like John Galliano and Raf Simons.
Her longtime design partner Pierpaolo Piccioli will debut as sole creative director at Valentino on Sunday. Among those also showing yesterday were Saint Laurent, where Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello presents his first collection as creative di-
rector after replacing Hedi Slimane, who successfully introduced rock chic looks for the brand. Vaccarello, known for asymmetric designs, was previously creative director at Italian fashion house Versace’s Versus Versace label.
He also has his own fashion brand. Today, fashion house Lanvin will unveil the first womenswear collection of designer Bouchra Jarrar, who took the helm after the departure of Alber Elbaz last year. Jarrar, who has her own brand and joined the prestigious haute couture club of designers in 2013, has previously worked at Balenciaga and Christian Lacroix. The shows in the French capital, also home to renowned fashion houses like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, run to October 5. — Reuters
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October 1-15, 2016
Georgia Asian Times
TECH
Toyota unveils robot baby to tug at maternal instinct in aging Japan Tokyo, Oct 3, 2016 — Toyota Motor Corp today unveiled a doe-eyed palm-sized robot, dubbed Kirobo Mini, designed as a synthetic baby companion in Japan, where plummeting birth rates have left many women childless. Toyota’s non-automotive venture aims to tap a demographic trend that has put Japan at the forefront of aging among the world’s industrial nations, resulting in a population contraction unprecedented for a country not at war, or racked by famine or disease. “He wobbles a bit, and this is meant to emulate a seated baby, which hasn’t fully developed the skills to balance itself,” said Fuminori Kataoka, Kirobo Mini’s chief design engineer. “This vulnerability is meant to invoke an emotional connection.”
Toyota plans to sell Kirobo Mini, which blinks its eyes and speaks with a baby-like high-pitched voice, for 39,800 yen (US$392) in Japan next year. It also comes with a “cradle” that doubles as its baby seat designed to fit in car cup holders. The Toyota baby automaton joins a growing list of companion robots, such as the upcoming Jibo, designed by robotics experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that resembles a swiveling lamp, and Paro, a robot baby seal marketed by Japanese company Intelligent System Co Ltd as a therapeutic machine to soothe elderly dementia sufferers. Around a quarter of Japan’s population is over 65 with a dearth of care workers putting a strain on social services. Exacerbated by a reluctance to invite
immigrants to bolster its working-age population, Japan’s demographic crunch shows little sign of easing, with the government looking at robots to replenish the thinning ranks of humans. In the past half century births in Japan have halved to around a million a year, according to government statistics, with one in 10 women never marrying. Births out of wedlock are frowned upon in Japan and much less common than in Western developed nations. Japan is already a leading user of industrial robots. It has the second-biggest concentration after South Korea with 314 machines per 100,000 employees, according to the International Federation of Robots. New technology to help them better interact with humans means robots have begun
moving beyond factory floors into homes, offices, shops and hospitals. Kataoka said Toyota, which is investing heavily to develop artificial intelligence for self-driving cars, sees Kirobo Mini as a stepping stone to more advanced robots that will be able to recognize and react to human emotions. — Reuters
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
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SPORTS 5 things we have learned from the Ryder Cup CHASKA (United States), Oct 3 — Five things learned from the United States’ 17-11 victory over Europe in the 41st Ryder Cup team golf matches concluded yesterday at Hazeltine: 1. Captain’s picks are huge: European captain Darren Clarke named Cup veterans Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer over more on-form talent such as Scotland’s Russell Knox. While the locker room might have benefited from experience with six rookies, Westwood went 0-3 and missed a short putt to cost Europe a half-point in Saturday four-ball and lost the last three holes to hand US rookie Ryan Moore a singles victory and the Cup-clinching point.
the chance to yell and scream within reason. Obscene remarks and the chance to abuse players as they walk nearby, or to impact the event by screaming as they swing, is a sad act of pathetic fools. And people wonder why athletes aren’t more open to the public. It’s OK to cheer bad visitors’ shots at the Ryder Cup unlike most other events. Same with Davis Cup in tennis. But it’s worth remembering those players cheered by home soil supporters so lustfully must go on the road later. Respect others. Sportsmanship. Put down the early morning booze and applaud. 4. Swipe from experts:
Kaymer went 1-3 but the win came only after the Cup had been lost. Cup rookie pick Thomas Pieters of Belgium went 4-1, a record for Europe rookie points and the first rookie to play five Cup matches since 1979.
US defeats Europe to end Ryder Cup drought CHASKA (United States), Oct 3 — The United States captured the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 yesterday clinching the victory over Europe when rookie Ryan Moore won the last three holes to defeat England’s Lee Westwood. American singles triumphs by Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler, Brandt Snedeker and rookie Brooks Koepka and a vital half point from Phil Mickelson had put the US team on the brink. Moore completed the triumph with an eagle at the par-5 16th, a birdie at 17 and a conceded par at 18 to produce a 15-10 lead Europe could not overtake.
“To score the clinching point in the Ryder Cup is just incredible,” Moore said. “I can’t digest what just happened. I was trying my hardest not to let my team down.”
2. Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s the truth: Every US player scored at least one point. That had not happened in a Ryder Cup since 1975 at Laurel Valley, when a US side captained by the late golf icon Arnold Palmer defeated Europe 21-11. US rookie Ryan Moore took two wins including the Cup decider. Patrick Reed led the Americans with 3.5 points while and rookie Brooks Koepka and Brandt Snedeker each scored three. 3. Spectator sportsmanship matters too: Most players found nice ways to say it or downplay it but there were far too many jerks getting in the faces and on the nerves of European players at the Ryder Cup. Buying a ticket brings
Europe had won eight of the past 10 Ryder Cups. The USA revamped its programme by basically doing what Europe does. Keep a core of people and have it evolve over time. OK, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood didn’t win majors. But the Ryder Cup wins were their majors. The key is building on what they have done. And the Americans should be so lucky if their organisation can produce as many wins as Europe has in the prior 20 years. USA Basketball put together a tight programme after settling for bronze at the 2004 Olympics and been golden at the Games ever since. 5. The “King” is dead. Long live the “King”: Arnold Palmer died a week ago at age 87. His legacy is in every pro golfer all over the world. Palmer, nicknamed the “King,” touched the hearts of every player at the Ryder Cup.
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October 1-15, 2016 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS
conciliatory statement on his Facebook page in which he appeared to backtrack on his earlier outburst.
Hamilton row overshadows Ricciardo’s triumph Sepang, Oct 3, 2016 — Daniel Ricciardo triumphed at the Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday but his win was overshadowed by Lewis Hamilton’s claim that he was the victim of a conspiracy aimed at halting his march to a fourth world title. Hamilton was leading with 15 laps to go when the engine on his Mercedes spectacularly exploded at the Sepang International Circuit. “No, no,” cried the Englishman as flames appeared at the back of his car, leaving Ricciardo to take the lead and eventual victory ahead of Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. Championship leader Nico Rosberg survived a first-bend spin involving Sebastian Vettel and a 10-second penalty to take third place and extend the gap over Mercedes teammate Hamilton to 23 points with just five races remaining. Hamilton was almost in tears after the dramatic end to his race which dealt a severe blow to his chances of
securing a third drivers’ championship in a row. “My question is to Mercedes: we have so many engines made for drivers, but mine are the only ones failing this year,” 31-year-old Hamilton told BBC radio. “Someone needs to give me some answers because this is not acceptable. We are fighting for the championship and only my engines are failing. “There are many decisive races but this is one of those. Someone doesn’t want me to win this year, but I won’t give up. I will keep pushing.” Mercedes executive director Paddy Lowe defended the team, saying there was “no pattern” as to why Hamilton’s engines kept failing and Rosberg’s did not. “It is difficult. No failure is planned,” said Lowe on Sky Sports television. Later in the day, Hamilton attempted to make peace with his team, posting a
Pain is indescribable “Today, the pain is indescribable,” he wrote. “I have 100per cent faith in my team, they have worked so hard both at the track, and factory, and I want to say a HUGE thank you to them. “I know we’ve had all these problems but it’s not how we fall, it’s how we get up... I will, we will, NEVER give up!” Hamilton had looked all set to snatch back the championship lead from Rosberg, who was relegated from second on the grid to 21st after he was hit by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel on the first bend. Vettel was forced to retire with a broken front suspension in the incident that also involved Verstappen. Hamilton had got away cleanly from pole position and sped off into the distance, clear of the trouble behind him. He looked to be heading for a comfortable win until his engine let go in the most spectacular fashion. An ecstatic Ricciardo celebrated his first win of the season on the podium with a “shoey”—drinking champagne from his driving boot.
“It was a race of challenges,” said Ricciardo. “Lewis got the lead and had his problems. It went the other way in Monaco, and I will take this today,” said the Australian, referring to his botched final pit stop which handed Hamilton victory in Monaco earlier in the season. “It has been two years since (my) last win, and it has been a bit emotional. I said two weeks ago we would win one and we did.” Verstappen, who turned 19 on Friday, celebrated his podium finish and his birthday by also drinking the sweaty cocktail. Rosberg sliced his way back through the field imperiously after the first corner drama and was surprised to make the podium. “I thought the race was all over, so I am really happy to fight back all the way to the podium,” Rosberg said. Hamilton’s failure to finish and Rosberg’s third place mean that Mercedes missed a chance to clinch the constructors’ championship in Sepang. They have 553 points but Red Bull, who picked up 43 points for the onetwo, have closed the gap to 194 points with a maximum of 215 up for grabs in the remaining five races of the season.
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
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HEALTH Study: Omega-3 fatty acid could stop known lupus trigger Ann Arbor, Oct 2, 2016 -- Autoimmune disease remains a relative mystery for the medical profession. A growing number of people are affected, with an estimated 22 million Americans suffering from autoimmune disorders, which see the body’s immune system attack and destroys healthy tissue by mistake. Their onset is difficult to explain, as the causes of autoimmune disease remain unknown. These multi-factor conditions are thought to be triggered by imbalances in microbiota, genetic factors, environmental factors — such as exposure to the toxic mineral crystalline silica — and viral infections. By targeting one of the specific risk factors for lupus — crystalline silica exposure — a team of researchers at Michigan State University found that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA (or docosahexaenoic acid)
could stop the activation of this known trigger of the disease, and potentially other autoimmune disorders. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in certain oils, such as canola oil and walnut oil, as well as in oily fish. Intake usually comes from small quantities in our diets, but 30 million Americans now also use fish oil supplements.
The scientists investigated the effect of DHA on lupus lesions in the lungs and kidneys of female mice genetically predisposed to the disease.
The researchers suggest that DHA could help cells send an anti-inflammatory signal to the body and change the way in which cells react to silica in the lungs, somehow modifying the immune system’s response. Another theory is that DHA could help cells absorb and remove silica without dying, again preventing an inflammatory response. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that is more frequent in women than men. It can cause damage to any part of the body, such as skin, joints, kidneys, the heart or the brain. The disease can be limited to the skin or it can spread to affect several organs, with serious consequences if not treated effectively.
They found that 96% of lung lesions triggered by silica exposure were stopped by DHA. “I’ve never seen such a dramatic protective response in the lung before,” said Jack Harkema, one of the study’s authors.
Painkillers linked to heart failure, study finds Paris, Sept 29, 2016 — Widely used prescription and non-prescription painkillers are associated with an increased risk of hospital admission for heart failure, according to a study released today. The drugs in question are so-called NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including several known as COX-2 inhibitors. pain-killersMany are among the most commonly used drugs to alleviate pain and inflammation, and some were introduced over a century ago with minimal safety checks. The broad link between the use of NSAIDs and heart failure is well established, but which drugs pose the greatest risk, and at what doses, remains poorly understood.
To get a clearer picture, a team of researchers led by Giovanni Corrao at the University of Milano-Bicocca combed through the medical records of nearly 10 million NSAID users in four European countries: Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Italy. They identified 92,163 hospital admissions for heart failure and then checked to see which of 27 drugs — and at what doses — each of them was taking. Overall, they found that current use of NSAID slightly raised the risk of hospital admission compared to past use for nine drugs. These included diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, naproxen, nimesulide, and piroxicam, along with two COX 2 inhibitors, etoricoxib and rofecoxib.
At very high doses, some doubled the risk of hospital admission. The researchers emphasised that the study was observational, meaning that it did not benefit from the controlled conditions of an experiment and thus could not draw firm conclusions about cause and effect. But the findings “offer further evidence that the most frequently used individual NSAIDs and selective COX2 inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions,” they concluded. The study was published in BMJ, a leading medical journal. “Even a small increase in cardiovascular risk is a concern for public health,” two Danish heart experts,
Gunnar Gislason and Christian Torp-Pedersen, wrote in a comment, also in BMJ. For one drug in particular — diclofenac — the European Society of Cardiology has recommended against its use at any dose, they noted. Helen Williams, a consultant pharmacist for cardiovascular disease at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Britain, noted that the country’s National Health Service had been “moving away” from the powerful NSAIDs in recent years. “Reassuringly,” she added, “use of the most commonly purchased NSAID — ibuprofen — was associated with a lower overall increased risk” compared to the other medicines, she added in a comment released by the Science Media Centre.
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Philippines’ Duterte pivots to China, Russia as investors flee Manila, Sept 26, 2016 —- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he would seek closer economic ties with China and Russia, as the local currency and stock market extended declines following Western criticism of his deadly war on crime. The peso hit a seven-year low to the dollar on Monday and foreign investors pulled out from local shares for a 23rd straight day, which analysts said was due to growing uncertainty over Duterte’s handling of what has been one of Asia’s best-performing economies in recent years. “I will open trade alliances with Russia and China so all you other investors, just go. No problem,” Duterte said in a speech at the presidential palace. Duterte has attracted widespread criticism from Western governments and rights groups for a bloody crime crackdown has that claimed more than 3,300 lives since he took office on June 30. International credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s warned last week Duterte’s war on crime was threatening the Philippines’ economy and endangering its democratic institutions. It also said his unpredictable foreign policy and national security statements were other downsides that meant a credit upgrade for the Philippines was unlikely in the next two years. Duterte has responded with abusive comments against his critics over his
war on crime, such as branding US President Barack Obama a “son of a w****” and UN chief Ban Ki Moon a “fool”. The Philippines, a former American colony, had up until Duterte been one of the United States’ most loyal and enduring allies in Asia. The two nations are bound by a mutual defence treaty. Duterte has repeatedly signalled he is looking to distance the Philippines from the United States, but his comments on Monday were his most explicit that he was planning to pivot towards US rivals China and Russia. Duterte said he had already privately spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, although it was impossible to immediately verify when the conversations had taken place. “Global funds sold Philippine stocks for a 23rd straight day amid nervousness about the fallout from Duterte’s anti-drug war and his outbursts against the US and the United Nations,” Bloomberg reported. “(The peso’s decline is) mainly due to politics, with the Philippine president’s ongoing war on drug dealers and his intent to seem to alienate all of their major trading partners,” Jeffrey Halley, a market strategist at Oanda Asia Pacific Pte in Singapore told Bloomberg.
Slurps up! Obama’s noodle visit sparks feeding frenzy in Vietnam Hanoi, Sept 23, 2016 – Four months after US President Barack Obama plonked down on a plastic stool at Bun Cha Huong Lien for a bowl of Hanoi’s signature pork noodles, the restaurant is cashing in on customers eager to taste what all the fuss is about. Previously a mainstay among a mostly local customer base, hungry foreigners are now coming in droves to the restaurant dubbed “Obama bun cha” for the Hanoi lunch staple: grilled pork patty and bacon in a sweet broth with rice noodles. “People come here because they are curious about why Obama chose my restaurant,” said owner Nguyen Thi Lien, who has been running the eatery for 23 years. Eager to tap the star power of her recent VIP diner, Lien has introduced a US$4 “Combo Obama” lunch special of noodles, a side of deep fried spring rolls and a Hanoi beer – but swears she has kept her prices the same. “So many have come and we cannot serve them all,” she said at the two-story restaurant, which is now plastered with photos of Obama and his dinner guest, globetrotting US chef Anthony Bourdain.
The pair stopped by during Obama’s May trip to Vietnam – the third by a sitting president since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 – to film a scene for Bourdain’s CNN show “Parts Unknown” which airs Sunday. In a teaser for the episode, Bourdain lauded the US leader for his chopstick skills as he expertly scooped up a mouth of noodles during an evening off from his diplomatic duties. Obama seemed impressed with the local fare. “This is killer, this is outstanding,” he said. The pork pit stop has seen the number of customers double, according to Lien, and the restaurant appears set to become a fixture on Hanoi’s tourist trail. “I saw that Obama had been here, saw that Anthony Bourdain had been here, and I generally follow their advice, figured they’d have good taste, came here and found it to be true,” said American tourist Andrew Lala.
Georgia Asian Times October 1-15, 2016
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Misc Asia India-Pakistan tensions rise after Indian PM cancels trip New Delhi, Sept 28, 2016 – Tensions between India and Pakistan rose on Tuesday as India’s leader canceled a visit to a regional summit and Islamabad warned it would treat it as “an act of war” if India revoked a water treaty. India blames Pakistan for a deadly assault on an army base in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir this month that has heightened fears of a new conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
WATER TROUBLES India’s announcement came hours after Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, warned India against drawing more water from three rivers that flow from India into Pakistan. Aziz said Islamabad would seek arbitration with a commission that monitors the Indus Water Treaty if India increased its use of water from the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers.
India says militants sneaked across the de facto border that separates the countries and killed 18 soldiers on Sept. 18, the biggest loss of life for Indian security forces in the region for 14 years.
India says it does not plan to abrogate the treaty but Modi said on Monday India should “maximise” the amount of water it uses without breaching the agreement.
Pakistan rejects the accusation and says India should conduct a proper investigation before it apportions blame.
If India revoked the treaty, Aziz said, Pakistan would treat that as “an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan”.
India said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, a regional meeting of South Asian leaders, in Pakistan in November.
“It’s highly irresponsible on the part of India to even consider revocation of the Indus Water Treaty,” Aziz told the national assembly.
“Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad.” Pakistan’s foreign ministry called India’s move “unfortunate” and said it remained committed to peace and regional cooperation. In a statement, it accused India of meddling in Pakistan’s internal matters.
New Delhi has vowed to respond to the Kashmir attack, and has launched a campaign to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, including through the United Nations. Aziz said India’s provocative posturing constituted a breach of the water treaty and was an attempt to deflect attention from unrest among the Muslim population in the Indian-ruled side of Kashmir. Divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, the flashpoint of Kashmir lies at the heart of the countries’ rivalry. India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi and told him that security forces had in their custody two men from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir who had helped the gunmen cross the border
Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 gets closer to passage Washington, D.C, Sept 28, 2016 — The Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 gets closer to passage after it was unanimously passed by the US Senate and received the required number of co-sponsors in the US House of Representatives. The Senate version (S.1555) was sponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dean Heller (R-NV), Harry Reid (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI). The House version (H.R.2737) was sponsored by Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Joseph Heck (R-NV), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mark Takai (D-HI), and Jackie Speier (DCA). Both bills were introduced on 11 June 2015. S.1555 passed the Senate on 13 July 2016. H.R.2737 obtained 299 co-sponsors as of 26 September 2016. The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. welcomes the development. “This is a significant step forward in the long battle for due recognition of our veterans who courageously fought side by side with the Americans in the
before launching the army base raid. Indian and Pakistani mistrust has long undermined South Asian cooperation and is widely blamed for the poor performance of SAARC, which successive Indian leaders hoped would help South Asia become a viable economic counterweight to China. – Reuters
defense of freedom and democracy,” said Minister Patrick Chuasoto, Chargé d’Affairés ad interim of the Embassy. State Arrival Ceremony for President Arroyo of Philippines“We look forward to the bill’s passing into law as soon as possible and appreciate the support of all the co-sponsors in the Senate and House. We also recognize the instrumental role of the Philippine Consulates General and Filipino communities across the United States, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP) in this joint campaign,” Minister Chuasoto added. The bill seeks to honor the heroism and sacrifice of the 260,000 Filipino veterans of World War II by collectively awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
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Dubai to become world’s busiest airport this decade, CEO says Dubai, Oct 3, 2016 — Dubai International Airport expects to become the world’s busiest within this decade, overtaking Beijing and Atlanta, spurred on by the expansion of Emirates airline. The airport, which overtook London Heathrow, sees passenger traffic climbing to 83 million this year from 78 million last year and expects 90 million people using the facility next year, Paul Griffiths, the chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, said in an interview. “The growth rates that we are experiencing are more than double what is being experienced by both Beijing and Atlanta,” Griffiths said. “Within perhaps this decade, we should see ourselves exceeding the total traffic through those airports for the No. 1 absolute spots.”
Dubai, already the world’s busiest airport by international traffic, added 7.5 million passengers last year. While Atlanta Hartfield-Jackson, the main hub for Delta Air Lines Inc, remains the busiest, it only processed 5.3 million additional passengers for a total of 101.5 million. Beijing airport added 3.8 million to reach 89.9 million. Dubai airport, which faced a more than five-hour shutdown in August following the crash-landing of an Emirates jet, said the incident didn’t affect its annual traffic target. The country’s civil aviation regulator is continuing with the investigation and has released an interim report. Griffiths said he can’t “speculate on the outcome.”
London’s Tower Bridge closes until New Year London, Oct 1, 2016 - London’s iconic Tower Bridge closed to vehicles for three months today for its first major maintenance works in nearly half a century. The 122-year-old drawbridge by the Tower of London - whose roadway leaves are lifted to allow tall ships on the River Thames to pass through - carries 21,000 vehicles and some 40,000 people per day. “This heavy use has had an effect on timber decking of the bridge, which was last refurbished in 1970,” said a statement from the City of London Corporation, which owns the Victorian Gothic landmark. “To ensure that the bridge continues to serve as a vital river crossing we need to undertake the essential maintenance works.”
It will be closed to road traffic until December 30. The bridge’s leaves will continue to operate as normal for river traffic. It lifts on average 800 to 900 times a year, a major tourist attraction that can be viewed from a glass walkway above. The bridge’s galleries will remain open during the works, and pedestrians will still be able to pass with the exception of three weekends in November and December. The bridge is 801 feet (244 metres) long and 213 feet (65 metres) high. The maintenance includes major work to the bridge lifting mechanisms, replacing the timber decking, resurfacing the road and walkways, and waterproofing the brick arches.