Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com October 15-31, 2017
Xi JinPing strengthened his legacy in China
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times Oct 15-31, 2017
Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho Photographer: Ben Hioe 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
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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.
13th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: Oct 13-28, 2017 Venues: Georgia State University-Dunwoody, Georgia Gwinnett College For more info: www.ATLaff.org Chopstix For Charity Presented by NAAAP Atlanta Date: Saturday, Oct 21, 2017 Time: 6:00 pm Venue: World of Coca-Cola, 121 Baker Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 For more info: www.naaap-atlanta.org Asian American Resource Center - 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner Date: Thursday, Oct 26, 2017 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Venue: Korean American Culture Center, 5900 Brook Hollow Parkway, Norcross GA 30093 For more info: aarc-atlanta.org
12th Annual Laotian American Society Gala Date: Saturday, Oct 28, 2017 Time: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am Venue: Signature Ballroom, 80 Horizon Drive, Suwanee, GA 30024 For more info: www.lasga.org Community Champions Gala Organized by Asian American Advancing Justice Atlanta Date: Thursday, Nov 9, 2017 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Venue: Westin Atlanta Perimeter North For more info: www.eventbrite.com/ community-champions-gala
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS
Laotian American Society organizes successful 12th annual fundraising gala Duluth, Oct 28, 2017 -- The Laotian American Society (LAS) hosted its 12th annual gala celebrating Laotian culture and heritage. The gala was held in conjunction with a fund raising campaign benefitting Laotian heritage, dances, youth and senior programs. Over 200 guests attended the gala dinner which featured traditional Lao cuisines and dances. Ms. Monica Phromsavanh, CEO of ModaBox, a successful entrepreneur in e-commerce fashion business, delivers the keynote address at the gala. “I hope my personal journey is an inspiration to young generation of Laotian Americans. I am pleased to be here at LAS Gala, who has helped and inspired so many Laotians in the community,” said Phromsavanh, who currently is based in New York city.
Proceeds from the fund raising will also benefit LAS education programs, awards and scholarships. “This year we have awarded over 10 college scholarships to a group of remarkable students attending Georgia Tech, Georgia State, University of West Georgia, and many more schools,” said Ladda Indara Duren, President of LAS in her remarks. For more information on Laotian American Society, visit www.lasga. org
Dragon Boat Fleet at Lake Lanier Grows Gainesville, Oct 14, 2017 — The Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival organization purchases the first of what they hope will be two new Dragon Boats from the 2018 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships at Lake Lanier. “This purchase would not have been remotely possible without the generous support of the National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA),” said Gene Hanratty, Chairman of the Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival. “The Chairwoman of NACA, Ms. Lani Wong, made the formal presentation for the purchase of the boat at our Dragon Boat Festival right here at Lake Lanier this past September 9th,” added Hanratty. Ms. Wong was quoted at saying when she made the presentation, “I guarantee that this boat will be fast and will not sink!”
“We are looking to buy one more. We want a fleet of 10 boats so that we can speed up the flow of races at the Festival to accommodate more teams and shorten the race day,” when asked what the future plans are for the fleet of Dragon Boats at Lake Lanier. This year’s Dragon Boat Festival featured over 80 teams and a crowd estimate of around 8,000 people who were there during the course of the day. Next year’s Festival is scheduled on Saturday, September 8, 2018. For more information call Gene Hanratty at 404.788.8818 or email gene@dragonboatatlanta.com
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2017
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BUSINESS
Japanese carmakers warm to EVs, but still see role for hydrogen Tokyo, Oct 26, 2017 — Japanese automakers are finally embracing electric cars, showcasing concepts ranging from compact sports cars to all-wheeldrive mini SUVs at this week’s Tokyo Motor show, although they haven’t given up on alternative technologies. After years of investing in hydrogen fuel cells and electric-gasoline hybrids, Japanese manufacturers are talking up all-battery electric vehicles (EVs) at the annual gathering. Many are looking to catch up with global rivals amid rapidly tightening global emissions regulations and improving technology that may make EV batteries a price-competitive option to gasoline engines in the coming years. “As far as green cars go, vehicle powertrain electrification is a must,” said Soichiro Okudaira, president of Daihatsu Motor Co, a fully owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp, which showed its concept of the “Pro Cargo” multi-use mini electric van at the show’s first media day on Wednesday .
“EV (technology) is a great match with small cars people use everyday to commute, go shopping, because it’s easy to charge and maintain.” Even Toyota, the country’s largest automaker which set up an EV development team just a year ago, said pure EVs would be one of the “key solutions” for cleaner vehicles in the near future. Still, the maker of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is sticking to its view that the hydrogen fuel cell is the ultimate “green car” technology. Analysts say FCVs can refuel faster than an EV can recharge and can travel longer distances, making them a potentially attractive option for larger vehicles – though the cost and limited refuelling infrastructure pose challenges. Underlining its point, Toyota introduced two new FCVs at the show: the six-seater “Fine-Comfort Ride” concept car, and the “Sora” fuel-cell bus, which will be launched next year.
Tipping point Honda Motor Co on Wednesday announced it would launch a compact EV in Japan in 2020, following Nissan Motor Co, long a proponent of EVs and maker of the Leaf, the world’s best-selling battery electric car launched in 2010. As advances in lithium ion battery technology improve charging times and lower production costs, some automakers and suppliers expect increased demand will boost EV sales within the next decade, lowering their price towards gasoline vehicles. “We see this tipping point happening around 2025. By then for the customer to buy petrol or EV it will be practically same cost,” Nissan Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci said. “And then … if you have the same price for EVs and petrol why would you buy traditional technology?”
While global automakers acknowledge the internal combustion engine may become obsolete in the coming decades, smaller automaker Mazda Motor Corp continues to squeeze more efficiency out of gasoline engines, developing its spark-ignition compression engine which it says could improve fuel economy by as much as 30 percent. Others argue that reports of the death of the gasoline engine have been greatly exaggerated. “Many in the media appear to be saying that EVs are going to take over the world, but given ongoing technology and cost limitations, it will be difficult for that to happen anytime soon,” Subaru Corp CEO Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said.
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS
Bitcoin soars to record high above US$6,000 New York, Oct 21, 2017 — Bitcoin surged to a record high of more than US$6,000 on Friday, pushing its market capitalization to US$100 billion at one point, as investors continued to bet on an asset that has a limited supply and has paved the way for a whole slew of crypto-currencies. The original virtual currency has gained over 500% this year, more than any other tradable asset class. Bitcoin though is very volatile – posting gains and losses as high as 26% and 16% respectively on any given day. On Friday, bitcoin hit a record peak US$6,000.10 on the BitStamp platform, and was last at US$5,964.24, up 4.7% on the day. Bitcoin is a digital currency that can either be held as an investment, or used as a foundation for future applications through the blockchain, its underlying technology. The blockchain is a digital ledger of transactions. It is more scarce though than most people realize. The number of bitcoins in existence is not expected to exceed 21 million. Analysts said it was a combination of factors that drove Friday’s surge in price. Charles Hayter, co-founder of data analysis website Cryptocompare in London said hopes that China will soften its regulatory stance on crypto-currencies helped bitcoin’s cause. “As China … fears fade, the price is
unlocked and driven by demand and buyers entering the markets,” said Hayter. Over the summer, China has banned the practice of raising capital through the sale of tokens to the public in what is known as initial coin offerings. It has also ordered the shutdown of digital currency exchanges. But many in the market believe the Chinese ban is temporary. “China would not want to be left out of the digital currency market nor the development of blockchain applications in general,” said Jason English, vice president of Protocol Marketing, at Sweetbridge, a global alliance in Zug, Switzerland that aims to use blockchain to create a liquid supply chain. “As much as 60% of the world’s bitcoin mining is happening in China, and therefore, many of the large … investments in ICO projects have also been coming from crypto-currency holders in China, whether directly or indirectly,” English added. Sean Walsh, a partner at venture capital firm Redwood City, Ventures in Redwood City, California, also believes investors have been going back into bitcoin given the still uncertain global regulatory environment on crypto-currencies. A big part of bitcoin’s recent surge was the ICO craze, which exploded this year. Bitcoins and ether, another digital currency, are used to purchase tokens for ICOs.
Singapore unveils plan to bolster its status as an Asian financial hub Singapore, Oct 30, 2017 — Singapore unveiled a roadmap for strengthening its status as a financial hub in Asia, with the aim of growing the sector more than 4% a year and creating thousands of jobs. “With technology transforming the way financial services are produced, delivered, and consumed, it is critical that Singapore’s financial sector also transforms, to stay relevant and competitive,” the Monetary Authority of Singapore said in a statement on Monday. The central bank said Singapore aims to be a leading international wealth management hub, as well as an Asian hub for fund management. It also wants to be a center for foreign exchange price discovery and liquidity in the Asian time zone. “Singapore is currently the third largest FX center globally. With Asia expected to attract a larger share of global investment flows, MAS will encourage key FX players to anchor their matching and pricing engines here, to enable market participants to benefit from better liquidity and greater efficiency in executing FX transactions,” the central bank said. The MAS said it is working with the financial industry to develop Singapore as an Asian center for capital raising and enterprise financing, as well as an infrastructure financing hub.
It also seeks to develop Singapore as a leading center for Asian fixed income, and a global capital for Asian insurance and risk transfer. A focus of the roadmap is encouraging the adoption of technology to increase efficiency, the central bank said. To this end, the MAS said it will take steps such as collaborating with financial institutions to create common utilities for services including electronic payments, as well as investing in research and development to develop solutions such as “distributed ledger technology” for inter-bank payments and trade finance. The MAS will also expand cross-border cooperation agreements with other fintech centers to help grow Singapore as a base for foreign fintech start-ups, and will harness technology to simplify financial institutions’ regulatory compliance. The industry transformation map aims to achieve growth in financial sector real value-added of 4.3 percent annually, and to create 3,000 net jobs in financial services, and 1,000 net jobs in the fintech sector annually, the central bank said.- Reuters
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2017
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NATION
TPP talks without US near final stretch ahead of APEC Urayasu (Japan), Oct 31, 2017 — The 11 remaining nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States edged towards sealing a comprehensive free trade pact after New Zealand agreed to amend laws that are not subject to TPP, to enable its ban on foreign home purchases. The pact aims to eliminate tariffs on industrial and farm products across an 11-nation bloc whose trade totaled US$356.3 billion last year. This week’s compromise saves member nations from having to renegotiate the ambitious trade pact to accommodate the New Zealand government’s demands for firm measures to rein in housing prices. It also brings member countries closer to an important victory in support of free trade to be finalized at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
next week in Vietnam’s central city of Danang. “The momentum towards (an agreement) at the meeting in Danang has significantly increased,” said Japan’s chief TPP negotiator, Kazuyoshi Umemoto. “The economic impact is certainly not small, but the even bigger message is this agreement can influence the global economic system and bring about peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.” Negotiators gathered for three days in Urayasu, east of the Japanese capital, to narrow down which terms of the original 12-nation deal to suspend, so as to salvage the pact at the Vietnam summit. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was sworn in last week,
has announced plans to ban foreign home purchases that should curb speculation without forcing TPP countries to renegotiate the pact. Japan hopes the deal, which links 11 countries with a combined GDP of US$12.4 trillion, can show other nations it can champion free trade in the absence of Washington’s influence. It could also help Japan resist US pressure for a two-way trade pact, which is likely to come up when President Donald Trump visits, from Sunday until Tuesday, for a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “A TPP agreement could damage the United States, so domestically people may start to realize that they can’t be left behind in free trade,” said Kensuke Yanagida, a research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs.
The TPP pact was thrown into doubt when Trump pulled the United States out in January to prioritize protecting jobs. New Zealand and Vietnam subsequently pushed to renegotiate it, but countries have been able to narrow their differences in the final stretch. — Reuters
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
LIFESTYLE
K-beauty goes mainstream in North America New York, Oct 31, 2017 — When K-beauty retailer Peach and Lily opened up a dedicated retail space at Bergdorf Goodman’s New York flagship store last week, it proved that, when it comes to cosmetics, the appetite for all things Korean is as strong as ever. The beauty pop-up space will offer shoppers the chance to browse products from five different Korean cosmetics brands, with a focus on cutting-edge skincare and fun makeup pieces. It will also provide a series of cosmetics master classes, demos and talks for those wanting to find out more about all things K-beauty. There will even be treatment spaces where customers can book facials, with Peach and Lily founder Alicia Yoon telling WWD: “I truly love giving facials, and I am really excited to demonstrate through facials how to approach skin care the Korean way. It brings a whole new level of interaction with the Korean beauty philosophy — as much as it is about the products, it’s about the technique, the massages and the approach to skin care.”
Bergdorf Goodman isn’t the only North American retailer taking the lucrative world of Korean cosmetics seriously — when Nordstrom opened its third Toronto store back in September, it featured the company’s very first dedicated ‘KBeauty’ space. The same month also saw CVS Pharmacy open up its largest New York location yet in Times Square, and the store came with a K-Beauty ‘Shop-in-Shop,’ carrying nearly 500 innovative and eye-catching Korean beauty products across the fields of skincare, cosmetics, body and lip care. The pharmacy chain launched a ‘K-Beauty HQ’ at 2,100 of its locations nationwide earlier in the year — a strong vote of confidence in the growth potential of the trend.
Louis Vuitton’s ‘Volez, Voguez, Voyagez’ exhibition arrives in New York New York, Oct 31, 2017 — Louis Vuitton has brought its ‘Volez, Voguez, Voyagez’ exhibition to the US. The exhibition, which retraces the history of the luxury brand from 1854 until the modern day, opened last week in the former American Stock Exchange building in New York City. The show first made its debut in Paris at the Grand Palais in December 2015 and has since enjoyed successful stints in Tokyo and Seoul. Curated by Olivier Saillard, the exhibition explores the archives of the House’s founding family members, to offer an insight into the brand’s journey to global success, telling the stories of the people behind its growth, from the original founders to Nicolas Ghesquière, the current creative director of the brand’s womenswear collections. Divided into ten chapters, the exhibition opens with an antique trunk fashioned with contemporary flair
— a symbol of the House’s signature luxury luggage options. The final room emphasizes the brand’s shared history with New York City and the US. Louis Vuitton is marking the opening of the exhibition with a pop-up store at the city’s Brookfield Place, carrying a curated assortment of leather accessories and fragrances. The boutique will run through March 30, 2018. ‘Volez, Voguez, Voyagez’ will be open to the public through January 7, 2018. For more information, see http:// eu.louisvuitton.com/eng-e1/heritage-savoir-faire/nycvvv#
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2017
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ENTERTAINMENT
Jack Ma to star in martial arts film with Sammo Hung, Jet Li, Donnie Yen Beijing, Oct 31, 2017 — Jack Ma’s love of tai chi is well-known, and it’s now landed him a role in a short film alongside some of the biggest names in the Asian martial arts scene such as Jet Li, Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen and Yuen Woo-Ping. The Alibaba group executive chairman who is China’s richest man shared the news on his Weibo account on October 28. In the post, the 53-year-old wrote six words in Chinese, “Na yi ye…Na yi meng.” Translated, it means, “That one night …That one dream.” He also revealed the film’s poster that shows him taking centre stage as the tai chi master, alongside 11 other famous faces in Chinese cinema such as Jacky Wu Jing, Tony Ching Siutung, Jacky Heung Cho, Thai action star Tony Jaa, professional boxer Zou Shiming, retired Mongolian Sumo champion Asashoryu Akinori and Aus-
tralian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo (who played Snow Vase in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The film Gong Shou Dao (Guardians of Martial Arts) is produced by Jet Li who told South China Morning Post that it aims to promote Chinese culture and pay tribute to the predecessors in these martial arts fields. Li, of course, is well known among martial arts movie buffs for his titular role in the 1993 Yuen Woo-Ping flim, Tai Chi Master. A passionate advocate for tai chi, Ma set up a lifestyle company with Li in 2011 to offer tai chi courses online, as well as a school that teaches tai chi and martial arts in Hangzhou in 2013. Ma who has been practicing tai chi since 1988 also conducts classes to teach its philosophy to entrepreneurs.
Wedding comedy ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ set for August 2018 bow Los Angeles, Oct 31, 2017 — The movie based on Kevin Kwan’s hit novel will arrive in Northern Summer 2018, with Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum Jr. and Ken Jeong among its star cast. A bestselling story about three Singaporean families in the lead-up to one of high society’s most glamorous weddings will make its theatrical debut in August 2018.
There she meets Nick’s formidable mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh, Tomorrow Never Dies), his supremely well-off best friend Colin (Chris Pang, Marco Polo) and a cadre of cousins and potential suitors for Nick. After the success of Crazy Rich Asians, Kwan went on to pen follow-ups China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems.
Crazy Rich Asians, based on the Kevin Kwan novel of the same name, has been given an August 17, 2018 release date for North American audiences.
Directing the comedy is Jon M. Chu, who built his career on the Step Up franchise and several Justin Bieber concert recordings.
The story follows Rachel Chu (Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat), a US college professor who accompanies boyfriend and fellow academic Nick (debutant Henry Golding) to a family wedding in Singapore, only to discover that he is actually from an extremely wealthy family and is highly sought after by a caché of eligible women.
He most recently steered the live-action adaptation of a 1980s cartoon Jem and the Holograms and then oversaw a box office smash in heist thriller Now You See Me 2.
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EVENTS
October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
Laotian American Society Gala, Oct 28, 2017
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2017
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ENTERTAINMENT
Stars of South Korean hit TV show marry in real life ‘Pineapple pen’ star to serenade Trump on Japan visit Tokyo, Oct 30 , 2017 — US President Donald Trump will be serenaded with a bizarre hit song about pen-pineapple-apple-pen on his visit to Japan next week. Japan will roll out wacky crooner Pikotaro — whose 45-second PPAP ditty went viral last year after being shared by pop star Justin Bieber — when Trump comes to town at the start of an Asian tour, Kyodo News agency reported. The singer, apparently a favourite of Trump’s grandchildren, will attend a dinner hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, government sources told Kyodo.
Seoul, Oct 31, 2017— Two South Korean stars who played lovers in a TV drama that took Asia by storm last year tied the knot in real life today in a highly-anticipated wedding.
Arabella Kushner, the six-year-old daughter of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, was seen singing along to the tune in a clip shared on Instagram in November by her mother.
Actress Song Hye-Kyo, 35, and actor Song Joong-Ki, 32, who played the two leads in the military romance Descendants of the Sun, married in a star-studded ceremony in Seoul.
The repetitive earworm, whose video features the dancing Pikotaro dressed in his garish animal-print costume, set a Guinness World Record as the shortest song to break into the Billboard Hot 100.
The drama tells the story of an army captain sent on a peacekeeping mission to a fictional war-torn country, Uruk, where he meets and falls in love with a surgeon working with a medical NGO.
Trump is also set to play a round of golf with Japanese pro Hideki Matsuyama during his visit.
It enjoyed huge popularity at home and across Asia, garnering billions of views on Chinese video-streaming sites and winning a thumbs-up from Thailand’s junta chief, who praised the main characters’ sense of duty.
The 16-episode series was hailed as reviving the so-called Hallyu, or Korean Wave, of K-pop and K-dramas that spread across Asia and beyond since the early 2000s. The show also spawned a mini-industry, with Chinese fans snapping up cosmetics, clothes and fashion accessories favoured by the series’ stars and sold on online shopping sites. Today’s closed-door event featured a Who’s Who of the South Korean television industry as well as Zhang Ziyi, the award-winning Chinese actress who starred in the 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
LIFESTYLE
With drunkorexia a growing issue, how to take steps to cut down your drinking Drunkorexia appears to be on the rise again, with many young people reportedly skipping meals in order to get drunk more quickly and reduce their calorie intake from food in order to save them for alcohol. Although it occurs in both men and women it appears to be particularly common in young women, with an Australian study published last year finding that almost 60 percent of female undergraduates in its sample showed drunkorexic tendencies. As alcohol is high in calories — one pint of beer can have as many calories as a slice of pizza and a small glass of wine as many as half a burger — drunkorexics choose to cut down on real meals in order to save their calories for a night out. However, calories from alcohol are ’empty calories,’ which have no nutritional value and therefore don’t benefit your body in any way. Drinking on an empty stomach is also a quicker but more dangerous way to feel the effects of alcohol.
If you’re worried you might be engaging in drunkorexic behavior, or just drinking too much in general, here are some tips from independent UK charity Drinkaware to help you cut down or cut out alcohol for a healthier lifestyle. 1. Watch your measures If you’re used to drinking large glasses of alcohol, swapping 250ml wine glasses for 125ml ones and pints for half portions means you’re automatically drinking less. Buying spritzes will also reduce the amount of alcohol you consume. Remember to check the volume too. Wines with higher ABV have more alcohol. 2. Eat up This is of course what drunkorexics avoid, but a healthy meal before you go out and snacks between drinks can help to slow down the absorption of alcohol and thereby helps you stay in control. With less alcohol inside you and a fuller stomach you’re more likely to also say no to an unhealthy pizza or kebab before heading home.
3. Dinner-only drinking Instead of opening your whole evening up to drinking, why not just allocate dinner as the time you enjoy a drink? This gives you a leisurely period of time to have a glass of wine or beer, and having alcohol only with your evening meal can help you drink less, but enjoy it more. If you stop when you’ve finished eating it also allows your body more time to process the alcohol before you go to bed (it takes about an hour to process one unit of alcohol). 4. Tackle your triggers If you always have a drink to celebrate a good day at work, or commiserate a bad one, try doing something else instead. An alcohol-free dinner out makes a feel-good treat, while a gym session is a great way to relieve stress. 5. Give alcohol-free days a go If you drink regularly, your body starts to build up a tolerance to alcohol. Many medical experts recommend taking regular days off from drinking to ensure you don’t become addicted to alcohol. Test out having a break for yourself and see what positive results you notice
6. Treat yourself Splash out on a special bottle of wine or liquor that’s expensive enough to encourage you to savor it over a few days or months, rather than down it all in one night. This way, you’ll space out the units you’re consuming. 7. Track your drinking over time If you choose to drink, recording exactly what you’ve drunk during the week will tell you whether you’re keeping within the unit guidelines. The Drinkaware Drink Tracker and its various tools to track your units will also help you keep an eye on your drinking while at home or out and about. 8. Make space Sipping a soft drink between alcoholic drinks slows down the rate of your drinking and means you’ll drink less over the course of the evening. If you’re out clubbing, take a bottle of water out with you on the dancefloor, and when in a bar try opting for non-alcoholic mocktail, a premium soft drink, or a glass of water.
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31 2017
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SPORTS
Woods to make competitive return in Bahamas next month New York, Oct 31, 2017 — Tiger Woods announced yesterday he will make his return to competitive golf at the Nov. 30–Dec. 3 Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas. Woods, who continues to recover from back surgery and has not played competitively in nine months, will be part of an elite 18-player field.
16 months on the sidelines, and finished 15th in a final field of 17. He showed flashes of the brilliant golf that carried him to 14 major titles. However, he also delivered the inept, often finding sandy waste areas off the tee or with his approach shots.
“I am excited to return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge,” tournament host and 14-time major champion Woods said in a statement.
As his back issues continued, Woods returned to the PGA Tour in January. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open and shot an opening-round 77 a week later in Dubai before withdrawing.
“Albany is the perfect setting and it will be great to join this outstanding field...”
In April he announced that he had undergone a fourth back operation in three years.
The 41-year-old American has only played six competitive rounds in the past two years while trying to recover from multiple back surgeries.
The winner of five tournaments in 2013, Woods has played just 19 events since.
Last year Woods also made a comeback at the same event, ending nearly
“All of us would be overjoyed if Tiger Woods could come back and play at a high level,” Woods’ former swing coach
Butch Harmon told Sky Sports. “He’s playing an appropriate event because there are only 18 players, even though they are top echelon players. “It’s a more relaxed type of event. It’s his tournament. I think he’s going to feel a little more relaxed there. “We’ll have to see how he is physically, how he is mentally and how his nervous system holds up.” Woods will not find the competition any easier this year with a top flight field that includes Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar and Justin Rose. The Hero World Challenge will be the latest in a long-running comeback saga that has produced more downs than ups. The most recent embarrassing setback came last Friday when Woods
pleaded guilty in a Florida court to reckless driving and entered a program for first-time offenders, avoiding a conviction on the charge of driving under the influence (DUI) last spring. He was found asleep in May behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz, which was parked alongside a road not far from his home on Jupiter Island. Woods had five drugs in his system when he was arrested, but no alcohol, according to a toxicology report. Those drugs included generic forms of the painkillers Vicodin and Dilaudid; the mood drug Xanax; the sleeping pill Ambien, and a drug that contained THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. — Reuters
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS
Formula One to have louder and simpler engine in 2021 London, Oct 31, 2017 ― Formula One will have simpler, cheaper and noisier engines from 2021 as part of a “road map” for the future presented to teams today that could entice new manufacturers to enter the sport. The Paris presentation was the product of research by experts assembled by former team boss Ross Brawn, now Formula One’s managing director for sporting matters. “We’ve carefully listened to what the fans think about the current power unit and what they would like to see in the near future,” Brawn said in a statement. He said the aim was to come up with regulations which, apart from making engines more affordable and louder,
would also make it easier for new manufacturers to come in and for teams to be competitive. Formula One changed owners in January when US-based Liberty Media took over and ousted former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Liberty have already made a mark on the race weekend, with more of a show for fans, but long-term contracts mean more substantial changes will take time. Formula One said it and the FIA had proposed an engine that would be the same 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrid but without the MGU-H, one of the two motor generator units. The sound would be improved by
having a higher engine running speed of 3,000rpm. Development costs would be restricted and extreme designs discouraged, there will be a single turbo with dimensional constraints and weight limits and a standard energy store and control electronics. The MGU-K, the electric motor that recovers and supplies kinetic energy from braking, will be more powerful with a focus on manual deployment along with an option to save up energy over several laps and create a driver-controlled tactical element. “Work will continue over the next 12 months to define certain elements of the Power Unit,” the Formula One statement said.
“But the design and development of the complete power unit will not be possible until all the information is released at the end of 2018. This aims to ensure that manufacturers continue to work on the current specification power unit.” The current engine, introduced in 2014 and much quieter than the previous V8s and V10s, ushered in a period of Mercedes dominance with the German manufacturer winning both championships for the past four years. Other engine makers ― Ferrari, Renault and Honda ― have been racing to catch up with varying degrees of success. ― Reuters
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2017
Page 15
HEALTH How a heart attack can affect men and women differently Munich, Oct 27 — Adding to previous work on heart attacks that suggests that causes, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes can all differ between men and women, new European research has revealed another difference between men and women, finding that women who experience a heart attack have a greater risk of mortality than men within the year following the incident.
Heart health: How to boost potassium intake New York, Oct 27, 2017 — Potassium is an essential mineral that some people tend to lack. It is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses, as well as muscle contraction (particularly the heart) and good kidney function, and plays a role in fighting high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. World Stroke Day is October 29. Potassium is naturally present in pulses, such as white beans, chickpeas and lentils, vegetables (chard, spinach, potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms), fruit (avocado, banana, apricots, citrus fruit, blackcurrants), and dried fruit and nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, dates, figs). It is also found in meat and fish, especially oily fish (salmon, sardines and mackerel), as well as chocolate and wholegrain cereals. Only fats such as butter, crème fraiche, oil and margarine don’t contain this mineral.
The top 10 most potassium-rich foods include lentils (810mg per 100g), dried dates (790mg), prunes (732mg), almonds (705mg), spinach (662mg), avocado (650mg), chestnuts (600mg), mushrooms (520mg), walnuts (450mg) and apricots (440mg). Potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps, is particularly beneficial for athletes to help counterbalance the production of lactic acid when muscles work hard. Chia seeds, for example, contain more potassium (407g/100g) than bananas (360g/100g) and can be particularly beneficial for the recovery phase. Recent studies show that low dietary potassium can lead to calcified arteries and aortic stiffness.
These differences include what triggers a heart attack, with heart attacks in women less likely to be caused by a local narrowing of blood vessels that can be widened relatively easily. Instead they suffer more often from diffuse coronary artery disease, may not be treated as successfully by surgical procedures.
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Germany analyzed patient data collected from two studies with a total of 4,100 participants.
Women also tend to be around 10 years older than men when they experience a heart attack, and also more likely to have accompanying conditions such as diabetes.
They found that within one year of having a heart attack, the women in the sample were 1.5 times more likely to die than men with similar case histories.
Females are also less likely to experience typical signs and symptoms of a heart attack, such as neck or jaw pain, with a heart attack sometimes occurring without any apparent signs or symptoms at all.
The team are now urging doctors to provide intensive support to female heart attack patients, especially in the first 365 days after the event. “Family doctors have to be keenly aware of the social situation of these women and try to provide support. Particularly when there are signs of depression, family doctors need to be especially alert,” commented study contributor Prof Georg Schmidt.
Commenting on the new findings, Prof Schmidt suggested that societal factors could explain why a woman is at a higher risk of death in the year following a heart attack, noting that, “In everyday life, women often face different expectations after a heart attack than men. They are expected to start ‘functioning’ again sooner, which means that they are subject to bigger stresses.”
“If such indications are observed, it is important to refer the patients quickly to specialists so that they can start working with a therapist as soon as possible if needed.”
Depression could also be another important factor, with previous research suggesting that the condition can be a risk factor in combination with other illnesses.
Other differences between sexes regarding heart attacks have already been revealed in previous studies, although the disease is still seen as one that mainly affects men as they account for around two thirds of patients hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.
The study did not look into which psycho-social factors may play a role, with Prof Schmidt adding that future studies are needed to assess whether they are the main cause of the differences between men and women, or whether there are other reasons, possibly biological, at play.
However, women suffer from “different” heart attacks, potentially leading them to have a higher rate of death and other consequences.
The findings can be found published online in the journal PLOS ONE.
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October 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
Misc Asia
Singapore boasts the world’s most powerful passport 2017 Toronto, Oct 26, 2017 — Singaporeans now hold the most powerful passport in the world, with visa-free access to more countries than any other nation in 2017, according to a new index. Thanks to new developments with Paraguay, which removed visa requirements for Singaporeans, the city-state has managed to edge out long-time chart-topper Germany, in the newest Passport Index. “For the first time ever an Asian country has the most powerful passport in the world,” said Philippe May, managing director of Arton Capital’s Singapore office which developed the index. “It is a testament of Singapore’s inclusive diplomatic relations and effective foreign policy.” Arton Capital is a Canada-based global advisor on residents and citizenship solutions. After Singapore comes Germany, with visa-free mobility to 158 countries, followed by Sweden and South Korea, which tie for third place with access to 157 countries. Overall, the index is dominated by European countries. Meanwhile, authors note the declining power of the US passport, which lost visa-free entry to countries like Turkey and the Central African Republic.
The US is ranked 6th on the list, alongside Canada, Malaysia, and Ireland. For the index, authors looked at the passports of 193 UN member countries and 6 territories, including Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. For the purposes of the report, visa-free travel also includes visas issued on arrival. Another passport ranking by Henley & Partners published earlier this year named Germany the most powerful world pass. New Top 10 Passport Power Ranking: 1. 159 – Singapore 2. 158 – Germany 3. 157 – Sweden, South Korea 4. 156 – Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, United Kingdom 5. 155 – Luxemburg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal 6. 154 – Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, United States of America 7. 153 – Austria, Greece, New Zealand 8. 152 – Malta, Czech Republic, Iceland 9. 150 – Hungary 10. 149 – Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia
Slurp alert: Japanese fork masks noodle-sucking noise Tokyo, Oct 25, 2017 — A Japanese firm has created what it claims is a world-first “noise-cancelling” fork to mask the sound made by slurping down noodles, dubbed “noodle harassment” on social media. Foreign visitors to Japanese noodle bars are often startled to hear the locals — normally so polite and restrained — noisily slurping down their noodles with lip-smacking gusto. The tradition is supposed to show the diner’s appreciation for the food but some people are becoming bothered by the noise. Now an instant noodle producer claims to have found a solution to the problem. Inspired by Japanese toilets, which can be programmed to play an artificial flushing noise to cover embarrassing
sounds, Nissin Food Products looked at creating something similar for noodles. The result was a giant fork — 4.4 centimeters (1.73 inches) wide and 15.2 centimeters long — with a sensitive microphone to detect offending slurps. “We developed a system in which any subtle slurping sound can be detected,” said the company. When the slurp alert is triggered, the fork sends a signal to the user’s mobile phone, which plays the soothing sound of flowing water to mask the offending noise. Nissin will however only sell the gadget if it receives 5,000 pre-orders by mid-December — at the price of 14,800 yen ($130).
Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2017
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Misc Asia Hiroshima survivor to accept Nobel Peace Prize for nuclear watchdog Ottawa, Oct 28, 2017 — Setsuko Thurlow was 13 years old and standing only a mile away from ground zero when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945.
Technicolor Thailand is back after a black-clad mourning year for late king Bangkok, Oct 30, 2017 — Thailand officially ended a year of mourning for its late King Bhumibol Adulyadej today, marking a return to colors for some after a monotone year during which many wore black from headto-toe out of respect for their revered monarch. Hundreds of thousands of people thronged Bangkok’s historic quarter to bid farewell last week to King Bhumibol, who died in October 2016. His US$90 million funeral, full of pomp and ancient ritual, took place over five days. His remains were brought to their final resting place within Bangkok’s Grand Palace yesterday. Portraits of the bespectacled late king, who became a father figure for many during a seven-decade reign, were hung across Thailand. The black-and-white funeral bunting that had hung on the gates of Bangkok’s Government House for a year was taken down on Monday and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha made a televised announcement to mark the official end of the mourning period. “The government would like to thank officials, both soldiers and civilians ... and the more than 10 million Thais who came to pay respects to the royal body over the past year,” Prayuth said. May Kanokwattana, 29, an office worker, wore bright yellow as she waited at the Siam BTS, a major Bangkok transport interchange.
“I wore black for one year. I needed to show my sorrow. Today is the first day I am wearing a different color,” May told Reuters. She also wore a pin with the Thai number nine out of respect for King Bhumibol, who was also known as the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. Colors have a profound meaning for Thais. Astrological rules followed by many in the Southeast Asian nation assign a color to each day of the week. King Bhumibol was born on a Monday, a day associated with the color yellow. His only son, new King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was also born on a Monday. Some people shared charts on social media showing which colors would be considered luckiest to wear. “For confidence, health and power wear orange. For good support wear pale green,” said one chart. Pattinya Mankongwongcharoen, 49, an accountant wearing a peach-colored dress, said: “I won’t continue wearing black because the mourning period is officially over and to do so would be disrespectful.” Others said they would continue to wear muted colors. “I’m still grieving. I’ll wear black or grey for a few more weeks,” said Pimsuda Chatree, 37, a shop owner. — Reuters
More than 62 years after that horrific day, she will jointly accept the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of this year’s laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), an organization in which she has played a major role. “I remember a bluish-white flash. My body was flung into the air, and I remember a sensation of floating,” she said in an interview, describing the day of the bombing.
She has been a leading figure in ICAN since its launch in 2007 and played a pivotal role in the UN negotiations that led to a treaty outlawing nuclear weapons in July, the group said in a statement. “I keep recalling these painful memories so that people who have never experienced such devastation can understand,” she said. “It’s very difficult for many people to understand, but it’s extremely important that we use our ability to imagine (these horrors), and together we can stop this from ever happening again.”
Thurlow suddenly found herself pinned under a collapsed building with dozens of others people. A stranger eventually pulled her out.
Reflecting on the current state of affairs, Thurlow lamented the proliferation of nuclear weapons to nearly 15,000 since the World War II, although arsenals are down significantly from a peak in the mid-1980s.
“The city I saw was almost indescribable,” she said.
“The world is a much more dangerous place now,” she said.
It was 8:15 am in Hiroshima and the sun had been up for nearly two hours, yet darkness covered the ruins.
Thurlow condemned US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s threats of war and personal insults that have sparked global alarm.
“It was like the morning had turned to night,” Thurlow said. “The dirt and particles from the mushroom cloud had prevented the sun’s rays from getting through.” It was eerily quiet: “Nobody was yelling, nobody was running. Survivors didn’t have the physical or psychological strength. All they could muster was a faint whisper, begging for water.” Thurlow said she looked around and saw thousands of people who were “badly burned and swollen. They no longer looked human. That image burned into my retina.” “As a 13-year-old high school student, I witnessed my city destroyed. It had become a city of death.” An estimated 140,000 people were killed in the atomic blast on August 6, 1945. Another 80,000 would die in the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. Sharing ‘painful memories’ Now 85 and living in Canada, Thurlow tells her story widely—to school children and diplomats alike—in order to bring attention to the horrors of nuclear war in the hope of stemming nuclear proliferation.
And she rebuked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for not signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in July. A spokesman for Canada’s foreign ministry said, “progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation must involve states with nuclear weapons,” which Ottowa does not have. The situation on the Korean peninsula, Thurlow said, “is very frightening, even for a person like me who experienced the first atomic bombing.” “I’m very worried.” The octogenarian urged citizens of the world to get involved in nuclear anti-proliferation efforts. “We all have to do our part,” she said. “Don’t just leave it to the fading memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.” “No other human being should ever
experience the violence of nuclear weapons. Never again.” - Reuters
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Oct 15-31, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
TECHNOLOGY by advertisers, by law enforcement and maybe someday by private individuals,” she said. Garvie said her research found significant errors in law enforcement facial recognition databases, opening up the possibility someone could be wrongly identified as a criminal suspect.
New iPhone brings face recognition (and fears) to the masses Washington DC, Oct 29, 2017 — Apple will let you unlock the iPhone X with your face — a move likely to bring facial recognition to the masses, along with concerns over how the technology may be used for nefarious purposes. Apple’s newest device, set to go on sale November 3, is designed to be unlocked with a facial scan with a number of privacy safeguards — as the data will only be stored on the phone and not in any databases. Unlocking one’s phone with a face scan may offer added convenience and security for iPhone users, according to Apple, which claims its “neural engine” for FaceID cannot be tricked by a photo or hacker. While other devices have offered facial recognition, Apple is the first to pack the technology allowing for a three-dimensional scan into a handheld phone. But despite Apple’s safeguards, privacy activists fear the widespread use of facial recognition would “normalise” the technology and open the door to broader use by law enforcement, marketers or others of a largely unregulated tool. “Apple has done a number of things well for privacy but it’s not always going to be about the iPhone X,” said Jay Stanley, a policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union.
“There are real reasons to worry that facial recognition will work its way into our culture and become a surveillance technology that is abused.” A study last year by Georgetown University researchers found nearly half of all Americans in a law enforcement database that includes facial recognition, without their consent. Civil liberties groups have sued over the FBI’s use of its “next generation” biometric database, which includes facial profiles, claiming it has a high error rate and the potential for tracking innocent people. “We don’t want police officers having a watch list embedded in their body cameras scanning faces on the sidewalk,” said Stanley. Clare Garvie — the Georgetown University Law School associate who led the 2016 study on facial recognition databases — agreed that Apple is taking a responsible approach but others might not. “My concern is that the public is going to become inured or complacent about this,” Garvie said.
Another worry, she said, is that police could track individuals who have committed no crime simply for participating in demonstrations. Shanghai and other Chinese cities have recently started deploying facial recognition to catch those who flout the rules of the road, including jaywalkers.
Widespread use of facial recognition “could make our lives more trackable
Kaufman says in a blog post that courts will be grappling with the constitutional guarantees against unreasonable searches and self-incrimination if a suspect is forced to unlock a device. US courts have generally ruled that it would violate a user’s rights to give up a passcode because it is “testimonial” — but that situation becomes murkier when biometrics are applied.
Facial recognition and related technologies can also be used by retail stores to identify potential shoplifters, and by casinos to pinpoint undesirable gamblers.
Apple appears to have anticipated this situation by allowing a user to press two buttons for two seconds to require a passcode, but Garvie said court battles over compelling the use of FaceID are likely.
It can even be used to deliver personalised marketing messages — and could have some other potentially unnerving applications.
Regardless of these concerns, Apple’s introduction is likely to bring about widespread use of facial recognition technology.
Last year, a Russian photographer figured out how to match the faces of porn stars with their social media profiles to “doxx” them, or reveal their true identities.
“What Apple is doing here will popularise and get people more comfortable with the technology,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, who follows the sector.
This type of use “can create huge problems,” said Garvie. “We have to consider the worst possible uses of the technology.” Apple’s system uses 30,000 infrared dots to create a digital image which is stored in a “secure enclave,” according to a white paper issued by the company on its security. It said the chances of a “random” person being able to unlock the device are one in a million, compared with one in 50,000 for its TouchID. Legal battle brewing
Advertisers, police, porn stars
FaceID “brings the company deeper into a legal debate” that stemmed from the introduction of fingerprint identification on smartphones, according to ACLU staff attorney Brett Max Kaufman.
Apple’s FaceID is likely to touch off fresh legal battles about whether police can require someone to unlock a device.
“If I look at Apple’s track record of making things easy for consumers, I’m optimistic users are going to like this.” Garvie added it is important to have conversations about facial recognition because there is little regulation governing the use of the technology. “The technology may well be inevitable,” she said. “It is going to become part of everyone’s lives if it isn’t already.”