Georgia Asian Times Oct 15-31, 2014

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

www.gasiantimes.com

October 15-31, 2014

Georgia Health officials strengthen Ebola preparedness outreach, urge enhanced protection

Page 2

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho

Tel: 678-971-9388 Advertising: gat@gasiantimes.com Editorial: info@gasiantimes.com URL: www.gasiantimes.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4502 Suwanee GA 30024 Copyright Georgia Asian Times 2004-2014

Page 3

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.

10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: October 10-24, 2014 Venues: Plaza Theatre, GSU-Cinefest, Georgia Gwinnett College, University of West Georgia-Carollton For more info: www.atlaff.org Strategic Deterrence: Looking Forward Presented by General James Cartwright (USMC, ret)-Eight Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Date: Tuesday, Oct 16, 2014 Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Venue: Wardlaw Conference Room RSVP: jeremiah.granden@inta.gatech. edu

Bun Katin Organized by The Cambodian Buddhist Society Inc. Date: Oct 18 & 19 Time: 9:00 am Venue: Wat Khmer Georgia, 6533 Rock Springs Road, Lithonia, GA 30038

Chopstix For Charity Date: Saturday, October 18, 2014 Time: 6:00 pm Venue: Le Fais Do-Do Tickets: $45 regular, $80 specials (2 tickets) For more info: www.naapatlanta.org/ chopstixforcharity Indonesian Cultural Night Gala Dinner to welcome the New Indonesia October 19 @ 4:00 am - 7:00 pm Date: Sunday, Oct 19, 2014 Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Venue: Student Center South – JFBC, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 Admission: $20 Adult, $10 Children For more info: Teguh Yulianto 214.679.1149; Panchah Anugerah 678.851.4650 Concert performance: Love for Bohol with Dr. Raul Sunico World renowned pianist performing classical and timeless Filipino concertos

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2014 Time: 2:00 pm Venue: Emory University Performing Arts Studio 1804 North Decatur Road, Atlanta GA 30322 Admission: $30, VIP Seating + Post event reception $50 For more info: www.brg-usa.org

Page 4

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS

Georgia Health officials strengthen Ebola preparedness outreach, urge enhanced protection Atlanta, October 12, 2014 – Ensuring Georgia’s medical providers, hospitals, and the general public are prepared for the possibility of Ebola infection in Georgia, no matter how remote, is a top priority of Gov. Nathan Deal’s administration. While only two individuals in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Ebola, both in Texas, the time for preparation and education in Georgia is now, said Brenda Fitzgerald M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

“We are working to ensure that all of Georgia knows what to look for, what questions to ask, and what to do,” Fitzgerald said. cdc_ebolaAt the direction of the Governor, DPH and its many public health partners have been strengthening outreach efforts across Georgia.

Individualized guidance has been distributed to all of Georgia’s licensed physicians, physician assistants, educators and emergency medical services (EMS) providers. Specific guidance is now being sent to medical centers and clinics in each of Georgia’s colleges and universities.

Key Public Health leaders are meeting with state medical and hospital associations and are providing guidance to hospitals for infectious disease exercises. DPH is currently monitoring for, and coordinating testing for suspected Ebola. Georgia state law permits DPH to isolate or quarantine individuals if necessary. Fitzgerald remains in close communication with experts at the CDC.

Public Health officials recognize Georgia’s preparation efforts must extend well beyond the medical community, major institutions and government. All Georgians should wash their hands thoroughly and often, certainly before touching any part of their face.

“Anyone, anywhere who is assisting someone who has fallen ill and who has traveled to an impacted nation in West Africa within 3 weeks, needs to be rapidly isolated from others,” Fitzgerald said, noting that suspicion of Ebola infection warrants clear action if symptoms and travel history align with the guidance.

Signs of Ebola include fever (greater than 101.5°F or 38.6°C) or other symptoms, such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal (stomach) pain, or unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising).

Symptoms appear in 2 to 21 days after exposure, but the average is 8 to 10 days. Clinicians, or any other person providing assistance, should ask sick individuals about their travel histories to determine if they have traveled to West Africa within the previous three weeks. Travelers, upon returning to the U.S. from affected regions should monitor their health and body temperature for 21 days.

For more information on Ebola protection and prevention, visit http:// cdc.gov/vhf/ebola or dph.ga.gov/ ebola.

Atlanta Asian Film Festival Kicked Off 10th Year with Hong Kong film Atlanta, October 10, 2014 — Atlanta Asian Film Festival celebrated its 10th year anniversary with “Journey to the West” a comedy feature film by famed Hong Kong Director, Stephen Chow.

IMG_2085Over 180 guests including film makers, community and business leaders were treated to a reception and a series of this year’s festival film trailers prior to the opening night screening.

Among the noted guests are Ambassador Ajit Kumar, Consul General of India, Steven Tai, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta, Yashukata Fukahori, Deputy Consul General of Japan, Atlanta, and Judge Al Wong, State Court of DeKalb County.

“We have come a long way since the founding of the festival ten years ago.

With the help of dedicated volunteers and community support, we managed to grow to be the largest film festival of its kind in the Southeast U.S.,” said Li Wong, Executive Director of Atlanta Asian Film Festival in his remarks.

This year’s festival feature film lineup from China, India, Japan, Hong Kong,

Taiwan, Philippines, and Cambodia. A special Hong Kong Film Showcase is also part of this year’s festival.

“Hong Kong has been producing many award winning films recently.

We are pleased to be part of the Atlanta Asian Film Festival celebrating its tenth year,” said Gene Hanratty, Executive Director of Hong Kong Association of Atlanta.

This year’s festival focuses on culinary food theme. “The Lunchbox” from India, “Zone Pro Site: Moveable Feast” from Taiwan, “Sriracha” from US, and “The God of Ramen” from Japan are among the films celebrating culinary story-telling.

An award wining film, “The Missing Picture” from Cambodia is part of the festival. Missing Picture won this year’s Cannes Film Festival Uncertain Regard category and is nominated for this year’s Oscar Best Foreign Film.

For a complete schedule of 10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival’s screening, visit www.ATLaff.org

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

Page 5

METRO ASIAN NEWS

Nations’s largest Asian American civil rights group adds first affiliate in U.S. South Washington, DC, September 26, 2014 —– To better serve the rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific Islander population in the U.S. South, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the national affiliation of Asian American civil rights groups, is expanding through the inclusion of a new affiliate organization in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (AALAC), founded in 2010, will now be known as Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta. It is the first nonprofit legal organization serving Asian Americans in the South, and the go-to source for education and policy information about Asian Americans in the South.

The Advancing Justice affiliation eagerly expands its presence to the South, a region that saw the fastest rate of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population growth, according to the 2010 census. In Georgia alone, the AAPI population doubled to 330,000 in ten years, constituting three percent of the population. The growing population has tremendous implications for civic engagement; between 2004-2008, AAPI voter turnout in Georgia increased by 71 percent.

“Asian American communities are growing the fastest in places many people wouldn’t expect, including the South. We’ve been organizing Asian Americans in Atlanta for the past four years, making sure that this emerging community is civically engaged. We’re thrilled to join Advancing Justice to help strengthen civil rights for all, both locally and nationally,” says Helen Ho, executive director of Advancing Justice – Atlanta.

Advancing Justice – Atlanta is the fifth Advancing Justice affiliate, joining Advancing Justice – AAJC in Washington DC (founded in 1991), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco (founded in 1972), Advancing Justice – Chicago (founded in 1992) and Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (founded in 1983).

Georgia’s unemployment rate declines to 7.9 percent in September Atlanta, October 16, 2014 -- The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 7.9 percent, down twotenths of a percentage point from 8.1 percent in August. The rate in September of last year was 8.0 percent.

“The rate dropped because there were 5,744 fewer unemployed people in September, according to the federal government’s monthly household survey, and we had fewer new layoffs,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

While the rate decreased, Georgia lost 7,300 jobs in September, as the total number of jobs dropped to 4,129,200. The net loss was mostly seasonal in nature, with the biggest reduction being the loss of 9,200 jobs in leisure and hospitality, as many students left summer jobs to return to school. Additional losses came in several sectors. Despite the overall loss, government gained 8,200 jobs, which were mostly in public schools, and other gains came in educational and health services and trade and transportation.

“We continue to have strong overthe-year job growth, as Georgia added 80,000 jobs since September a year ago,” said Butler. “Our impressive over-the-year growth keeps Georgia among the leading states for job

creation. And, the growth is in every private sector job category we track, with government being the only sector showing a loss.”

The over-the-year job gains were in professional and business services, 24,100; trade, transportation and warehousing, 18,800; leisure and hospitality, 14,300; manufacturing, 8,500; construction, 7,300; education and health services, 6,400; financial services, 1,000; and information services, 900. Government lost 1,500 jobs.

There were 30,199 new claims for unemployment insurance, which help reflect the number of new layoffs filed in September, a decrease of 923, or 3.0 percent, from 31,122 in August. Most of the September decline in claims came in retail trade, administrative and educational services, and manufacturing.

Also, over the year, initial claims were down by 11.9 percent. There were 4,094 fewer claims filed than the 34,293 in September 2013. Most of the decline over the year came in manufacturing and construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, administrative and educational services, accommodations and food services, and health care and social assistance.

Page 6

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

BUSINESS

Jack Ma’s AliPay lures U.S. retailers, offer tools for selling to China New York, Oct 15 — Alipay, the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. financial affiliate controlled by Jack Ma, is trying to gain a foothold with US retailers by offering them tools to help sell to consumers in China.

Alipay’s “ePass” service will let Chinese shoppers buy products on US retailers’ websites and then manage payments and door-to-door shipping logistics, the company said in a statement. Alipay will also help market US products to consumers in China.

The service allows Alipay to integrate its payment system into US retailers’ websites as an alternative to others like EBay Inc.’s PayPal. The merchants gain an entree into the world’s most-populous country, where Alipay processed almost half of the nation’s US$887.7 billion in online payments last year, according to the market-research firm iResearch.

“You have a store and you can reach out globally, and technology has enabled you to do so,” Jingming Li, president and chief architect of Alipay US, said at a press briefing in New York. “We’re there to help them go into China because we know our customers there.”

Alipay will charge a range of fees on the transactions, depending on

the types of services provided to the retailer, Li said. He declined to say which retailers have agreed to use the offering.

Alipay, which facilitates Web purchases from desktop PCs, tablets and smartphones, has more than 550 million registered users and processes about 8.5 million transactions a day, according to its website. The company handled more than three- quarters of the purchases made on Alibaba’s platforms last year, according to a regulatory filing.

Younger consumers

Toyota issued recalls worldwide for faulty brakes and fuel components Tokyo, Oct 16, 2014 - Carmaker Toyota said Wednesday that it would recall 1.67 million vehicles the world over for possible faults with brakes and fuel components in its best-selling models.

However, there were no reports of any crashes, injuries or deaths due to reported faults in cars, a statement released to the media said. The move to recall the faulty vehicles was taken as a precautionary measure, it said.

It said that approximately 802,000 vehicles had a defect in their brake systems, affecting some Crown Majesta, Crown, Noah and Voxy models produced between June 2007 and June 2012.

The new offering targets young professionals in China, Li said. The 18- to 35-year-old age demographic accounts for more than 75 per cent of online payment users in China, according to iResearch.

Around 759,000 vehicles globally produced between January 2005 and September 2010 had problems with their fuel delivery pipes, which raised the risk of leaking fuel and potentially leading to fires, the statement added.

The move comes as EBay is spinning off its PayPal division to give it more flexibility to forge alliances with retailers and financial firms as competition intensifies. While PayPal offers cross-border selling solutions, the company isn’t one of the top seven online payment processors in China, which account for 98 per cent of the market.

Some 190,000 vehicles in Japan were also being recalled for problems with their fuel evaporative emission control units. Corolla Rumion and Auris models produced between October 2006 and October 2014 are affected.

“On the subject vehicles the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment were manufactured with Nickel Phosphate plating to protect against corrosion,” the statement said.

“During production, this anti-corrosion material could have contaminated a section of the fuel delivery pipe where the fuel pressure sensor is installed. In this condition, the sealing property of the gasket seated in between the pressure sensor and the pipe could become degraded. If this occurs fuel could leak past the gasket during vehicle operation.”

It said that Lexus models in Ireland have also been affected.

“Lexus Ireland will be writing to affected customers to arrange a time to have their vehicle inspected at a time convenient to them and at no cost.

The remedy will take approximately 3 hours. Lexus Ireland apologises for any inconvenience caused to our customers and continues to rededicate itself to strengthening its commitment to safety and quality by putting customers first.”

The carmaker has been trying to restore its reputation after recent safety troubles. In June, it expanded a 2013 recall list involving a defective passenger-seat airbag. The initial recall affected 2.14 million vehicles worldwide, of which 310,000 were in Japan and 1.83 million were overseas.

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

Page 7

BUSINESS

US Treasury: China not currency manipulator Washington, Oct 16, 2014 — The US Treasury said yesterday that China does not manipulate its currency, but pushed Beijing to do more to focus on domestic demand — not exports — to drive economic growth.

In a twice-yearly report to Congress, which would set sanctions on any country officially branded a “manipulator,” the Treasury said the yuan, or renminbi (RMB), had “partially recovered” from a sharp plunge earlier in the year and had appreciated by 1.9 per cent since late April.

However, the yuan remained “significantly undervalued,” the Treasury said, reiterating the description it has long used in pressing China to allow its currency to move toward a market-determined exchange rate.

The Treasury has consistently decided to not brand China a currency manipulator, which could lead Congress to impose sanctions on the world’s second-largest economy and top holder of US debt.

But President Barack Obama’s administration, lawmakers and manufacturers have long criticized China, alleging it keeps the yuan undervalued to support cheap exports, gaining an unfair trade advantage that has ballooned the US trade deficit.

“In China, the gradual appreciation of the RMB this summer and low apparent levels of intervention indicate some renewed willingness by the authorities to allow a stronger domestic currency and to reduce intervention in line with Strategic & Economic Dialogue commitments,” the Treasury said in a statement.

“Even so, important metrics contin-

ue to indicate that the RMB exchange rate remains significantly undervalued, highlighting the need for sustained progress toward a market-determined exchange rate.”

Trillions in foreign-exchange reserves The Treasury said the yuan gradually appreciated in July and August amid low intervention “and strong FX inflows also indicates renewed willingness by authorities to allow the exchange rate to strengthen.”

The nominal effective exchange rate has appreciated 1.6 per cent in the year-through September 30, it said.

The yuan was 1.4 per cent weaker against the dollar in that period.

At the end of June 2014, China’s total holdings of foreign-exchange reserves reached nearly $4 trillion, or about 40 per cent of China’s gross domestic product.

“This is well beyond established benchmarks of reserve adequacy, and it is very much in China’s interest to fulfill its own commitment to move more rapidly to a market-determined exchange rate, with intervention only in the case of disorderly market conditions.”

The Treasury also pointed to South Korea’s market intervention with the official aim of smoothing won volatility. Exports accounted for all of the country’s 2.9 per cent annualized growth in the first half of 2014, “highlighting the economy’s continued dependence on external demand.”

The won depreciated one per cent against the dollar in the year through mid-October and on a real effective

basis, the won appreciated 3.9 per cent through August, it said.

“Allowing for exchange rate appreciation in response to market forces would help rebalancing, as it would encourage reallocation of production resources to the non-tradables sector, which includes most services,” the report said.

“Given Korea’s size able current account surplus, substantial reserves, and undervalued currency, the won should be allowed to continue to appreciate.”

Page 8

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

FOCUS

Fire Prevention Month: Five Life Changing Facts!

Everyone remembers practicing a fire drill as a student and perhaps more recently as a working professional, but when was the last time a fire drill was practiced at home?

Does your family know what to do in a fire emergency? Unfortunately, the answer is usually no.

As a Fire and Life Safety Educator, I always meet people in the community that are unaware of the potential dangers of living in a home without basic fire protection and having an evacuation plan. The simple fact is, many injuries, property losses, and even deaths from home fires can be prevented.

As October is Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County, I would like to share five little known life changing facts about fire safety in the home, as well as tips that can be applied every day!

1. Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from the manufacture date.

Take a look behind your smoke alarm tonight for a date and add 10 years.

Smoke alarm units need to be replaced after 10 years because they may not properly work.

2. Sleeping with the door closed will save your life. The leading cause of deaths from a home fire is not the actual flames, it’s the smoke. Sleeping behind closed doors will help block the smoke from entering your room and give your family more time to escape.

3. You may only have as little as 3 minutes to escape a home fire. Today’s home furnishings and construction are extremely flammable. With an average of 5 minutes for the entire home to catch on fire and 2 minutes for a smoke alarm to sound, practic-

ing fire exit drills in the home is more crucial than ever.

4. Smoke alarms should be installed in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on each level of the home. Majority of home fires happen when the family is asleep. Installing smoke alarms throughout the home will increase the chances of the alarm sounding sooner.

5. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries. Stay in the kitchen when cooking and always keep anything that can catch on fire away from the stovetop. Keep an ABC extinguisher nearby, but know when and how to use it.

Remember, only working smoke alarms save lives. Test your smoke alarms monthly, never take the batteries out, and teach your loved ones what to do if the alarm sounds. Fire

safety can be practiced every day.

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services conduct Home Safety Surveys to educate residents on fire safety in the home and assist in creating fire escape plans. We will also install long life battery smoke alarms in your home at no cost! Contact your local fire department for similar programs.

For more information or to sign up for a Home Safety Survey in Gwinnett County, please contact fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com or stella.kim@gwinnettcounty.com.

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

Page 9

TECHNOLOGY

Skip waiting in long food lines with new apps New York, October 15, 2014 — Tired of waiting in line for a cup of coffee?

In a rush to grab lunch? New apps are helping consumers skip the lines by pre-ordering coffee, drinks and meals.

Restaurant chains, startup companies and payment firms are hoping the apps help them capture a bigger portion of the US restaurant industry.

“Retailers are working on making the equivalent of a fast lane on a highway for transactions,” said Nick Holland, of Javelin Strategy and Research in California, which focuses on financial services and payment industries.

The pre-ordering apps have been compared to Uber, the fast-growing rides-on-demand service that is changing the taxi industry.

Preo, for iPhone and Android, works with some bars in New York City to allow customers to pre-order and pay for drinks on their smartphones.

“We’re taking the clunky point-ofsale systems and revamping them so that customers have a simple way of ordering for themselves,” said Richard Liang, the CEO of New York City-based Preo.

Customers place their orders and when the drink is ready, the app sends

a notification and the customer’s credit card, which is stored in the app, is then charged.

Another app called Square Order, also available for iPhone and Android, allows people in New York and San Francisco to pre-order restaurant meals for pickup. It predicts when the customer will pick up the meal based on their location so it is ready and warm when they get there.

Hangry, an app for customers in Toronto, works in a similar way, as does Bar Pass, which allows users in London to pre-order drinks and food at local cafes, pubs and arenas. Both are available for iPhone and Android.

Some large restaurant and food chains have released their own apps, but these are only available in certain regions.

Unlike Uber, Liang said expanding food and drink pre-ordering apps nationally is more difficult, which is why many of these apps only work in large cities.

“In order to onboard a driver, you basically just have to get them to download an app. But for us to onboard a venue, you need to train the whole staff on how to use the system,” he explained.

New Skype app allows for short video messaging New York, Oct 15 — Microsoft-owned Skype yesterday unveiled a new app enabling users to send short video messages to stay “connected between calls.”

The smartphone app called Skype Qik allows users to create and send videos up to 42 seconds long.

The new service seeks to help Microsoft catch up to rivals in the fast-growing mobile messaging space.

It takes some features from Twitter’s Vine — which allows six-second videos — and the ephemeral messaging service Snapchat. With Qik, the messages disappear in two weeks, while Snapchats are gone after being viewed..

“Skype Qik makes video conversations more spontaneous and fun so you don’t have to wait until your next call to connect with your favorite people,” said a blog post from Microsoft’s Dan Chastney and Piero Sierra.

The Qik app is available for phones using Apple’s iOS, the Google Android platform and Microsoft’s own Windows Phone.

Qik brings Microsoft into the red-hot segment of mobile messaging, following Facebook’s multibillion-dollar acquisition of WhatsApp, Other popular messaging services include Asia-based Line and Viber — which was bought this year by Japan’s Rakuten for US$900 million.

Page 10

EVENTS

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Taiwan ROC 103th National Day Celebration Oct 9, 2014, Westin Perimeter North

Rep. Liston Barfield, South Carolina’s member of House of Representative, was honored with an award for his friendship and contribution to the relations with Taiwan.

Rep. Tom Taylor, Georgia House of Representative, (R-District 79) was also honored with an award for his bravery and his rescue operations in Taiwan.

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

EVENTS

Page 11

10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival, Oct 10, 2015 Premiere Opening Night, Plaza Theatre

Gene Hanratty, Executive Director of Hong Kong Association of Atlanta delivering an opening remarks at the Premiere Night screening.

Page 12

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

LIFESTYLE

Facebook, Apple to pay for female employees’ egg freezing to delay childbearing Palo Alto, Oct 15, 2014 — Facebook and Apple are covering the costs for female employees to freeze their eggs to delay childbearing, which could hamper their careers, NBC News reported yesterday.

The companies are covering up to US$20,000 for the procedure and annual storage costs, NBC said, citing sources at the Silicon Valley firms.

Queried about the reports, Facebook and Apple declined to comment.

According to the online forum eggsurance.com. the procedure is gaining popularity as more women delay plans to start a family.

“Women today are at a cultural and generational crossroads. We have the same career expectations and demands as men,” says a post on the eggsurance. com website.

“As our biological clocks tick away, we must establish ourselves in the workplace, find the right mate and become financially secure enough to establish a family.”

According to the website, citing US government data, 20 per cent of women wait until age 35 to have their first child. Around one third of women aged 35-39 have fertility problems and the proportion increases to 64 per cent when women are 40-44 years old.

According to NBC, Facebook recently began covering the costs of egg freezing, and Apple will begin in January.

The moves come with tech firms facing renewed pressure over diversity in a male-dominated sector.

In recent weeks, major tech firms have been looking at the issue with “diversity reports” that examine the composition of the workforce.

Microsoft reported earlier this month that its staff was only 29 per cent women. At Google, the figure was 30 per cent. For Facebook, the percentage of women was 31 per cent, but just 15 per cent in technical jobs.

The new benefits are expected to help companies like Facebook and Apple attract more women. At the same time, experts point out that freezing is a relatively new procedure that does not guarantee a successful pregnancy.

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

Page 13

SPORTS

US coach Klinsmann slammed for criticizing MLS 2022 World Cup: Platini calls for fresh new votes if Qatar corruption proven Qatar, Oct 16 — Michel Platini yesterday backed a fresh vote on the 2022 World Cup if proof ever emerged of corruption in the awarding of Qatar as the venue.

“As for Qatar 2022, I wasn’t influenced,” the UEFA president and FIFA vice-president who voted for the Gulf state told TF1 television.

“As far as I’m concerned, the vote was held in all transparency and we’ve always said that in the event of the slightest hint of corruption there’ll be a new vote.

in the winter rather than summer months to avoid the stifling temperatures.

Russia in 2018 and Qatar four years later were awarded the World Cup staging rights after a voting process dogged by allegations of corruption.

Last month, FIFA received the findings of an inquiry into the votes by FIFA’s ethical commission.

The man spearheading allegations of corruption into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids has called for FIFA to make the results public.

“But for now, we don’t know.”

The head of European football has never disguised the fact that he voted for Qatar in a move to help develop football in parts of the world where the World Cup has never been staged.

Since the vote he has campaigned for a switch to hold the sport’s showcase

Former US federal prosecutor Michael Garcia, who has notably been looking into the way Qatar won the right to host the 2022 tournament, made his appeal last month on the eve of a two-day FIFA Executive Committee meeting being held in Zurich.

New York, Oct 16, 2014 — Major League Soccer president Don Garber fired back yesterday at critical comments by US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann about the league and its impact on players.

Klinsmann addressed the decisions

by US standouts Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley to return from Europe to play in the North American league this week by saying they would have to prove the switch has not diminished their skills.

Garber called those remarks “incredibly damaging” to MLS. “I’m demanding that he refrain from making comments that are critical of our players and damaging to our league,” Garber said.

“Jurgen’s comments are very detrimental to the league. They are detrimental to the sport of soccer (football) in America. Not only are they detrimental, they are wrong.”

Klinsmann noted that Bradley has returned to play for a Toronto club that will miss the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.

“Making that decision to go from Roma, a Champions League team,

to now Toronto, a team that it seems like they’re not even qualifying for the playoffs, it’s a huge disappointment,” Klinsmann said.

“You adjust yourself to whatever environment you are in, so he had to adjust to the environment he’s with in Toronto, instead of maybe an environment that plays Champions League football.

“It’s down to him and his environment to see what level he is capable to play.”

Klinsmann also touched on Clint Dempsey’s move from the English Premier League to the MLS Seattle Sounders.

“I made it clear with Clint’s move back and his move back that it’s going to very difficult for them to keep the same level that they experienced at the places where they were.

“It’s just being honest,” Klinsmann said.

“Now making the step back, I totally get it. It’s a huge financial offer, it is also connected to many other elements, and this league is getting better and stronger every year.

Page 14

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

SPORTS “Which we are all very proud about.

And I want everybody to grow in this environment.

“But reality also is for both players making that step means that you are not in the same competitive environment as you were before.

“And so it’s not easy for Michael, and it’s not going to be easy in the future.”

Garber also second-guessed Klinsmann’s decision not to include Landon Donovan, a standout for the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy, on the US World Cup roster.

The all-time US scoring leader played his final international match for the American side last Friday.

“I believe Landon should have been in Brazil,” Garber said.

“His performance dictated it.

“His treatment was inexcusable. I have concerns that (Klinsmann’s) criticism, particularly of Michael, is following that pattern.”

10 years on, Messi aims to score La Liga goals record

Garber hopes to attract top US talent to the league, which launched in 1996 and will add teams in New York and Orlando next year to reach 21 active clubs.

MADRID, Oct 16 — Lionel Messi will have another chance to match or surpass Telmo Zarra’s six-decade-old La Liga scoring record of 251 goals when Barcelona host promoted Eibar on Saturday.

“Sending a message to any player and obviously to US players that signing to Major League Soccer is not going to be good to their career or good to their form is detrimental to Major League Soccer,” Garber said.

The Argentina captain and fourtimes World Player of the Year has netted 249 times in the Spanish top flight since he played his first match exactly 10 years ago on a Thursday aged 17.

The match falls the day after Luis Suarez’s ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup expires and the Uruguay forward could make his official Barca debut at the Bernabeu.

Solid start

Messi’s goals — he has 361 overall in 434 official games — have helped the Catalan club win 21 trophies during the past decade, including six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.

Widely considered one of the best players in football history, the 27-yearold has been showered with praises in the run up to the anniversary although his father Jorge insists his son is unaffected either by acclaim or criticism.

“There are times when there is too much praise and other moments when the criticism is excessive,” Jorge Messi said in an interview with Spanish radio today.

“You have to stop somewhere in the middle and simply look forward,” he added.

“He (Lionel) reads and listens to everyone and I don’t know how he does it but he doesn’t attach much importance to either the good or the bad.

“People don’t know him. He is a very normal lad, like any other. He spends time with his family, he has fun, he tries to enjoy life. He isn’t any different.”

If Messi fails to equal or overtake Zarra’s mark on Saturday, his next chance will be in the La Liga “Clasico” at Real Madrid a week later.

Barca are looking to bounce back this season after missing out on major silverware last season for the first time in six years.

They have made a solid start under new coach Luis Enrique and are two points clear of Valencia at the top of the standings after seven matches.

Messi has six goals in those seven outings and it is a measure of how high he has set the bar in recent years that his tally this term is considered a meagre one by his standards.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who ended Messi’s four-year reign as World Player by winning the latest award, has a jaw-dropping 13 goals in six La Liga appearances for Real and will be gunning for more when they visit Levante on Saturday.

Real, who appear to have recovered from an early-season wobble, are four points behind Barca in fourth place, with Valencia, who play at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, in second and Sevilla, who are at Elche also on Sunday, third.

Champions Atletico Madrid are fifth, five points adrift of Barca, ahead of their game at home to Espanyol on Sunday.

Diego Simeone’s side slipped to a 3-1 reverse at Valencia in their last match, their first defeat of the campaign.

Georgia Asian Times October 15-31, 2014

Page 15

HEALTH Study shows fast-track weight loss just as effective as slow Paris, OCT 16, 2014 — Weight-loss guidelines have long counseled dieters that kilos shed too quickly are likelier to creep back than those lost at a slower pace.

But an Australian study, published yesterday, says this is wrong.

Over the long term, fast-track and slow-track dieters are equally likely to regain most of the weight they lost, according to a paper published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Research led by Joseph Proietto of the University of Melbourne divided 204 obese men and women into two groups.

intake reduced by about 500 calories per day.

Those who lost 12.5 per cent or more of their bodyweight from both groups were then placed on a three-year maintenance diet.

By the end of the trial, individuals in both groups had regained some 71 per cent on average of the kilos they had shed.

“By contrast with the widely-held belief that weight lost rapidly is more quickly regained, our findings show that regain is similar after gradual or rapid weight loss,” the team said.

One group entered a weight-loss program of 12 weeks, the other a more gradual 36 weeks.

“Our data should guide committees that develop clinical guidelines for the management of obesity to change their advice,” they added.

The 12-week group were restricted to a diet of 450-800 calories per day, while the other group had their energy

Dieters are generally told that a weight loss tempo of no more than 500 grammes (1.1 pounds) per week is best.

The researchers noted some interesting short-term differences in how the two groups responded.

Among the fast-dieting group, more achieved their weight loss target -- 81 per cent compared to half of the other group—and fewer left the program.

These initial successes may be partly explained by a process called ketosis which kicks in with low-calorie intake—the body burns fat to produce breakdown products called ketones, which are known to suppress hunger.

“Losing weight quickly may also motivate participants to persist with their diet and achieve better results,” said the authors.

approach does not win the race,” Corby Martin and Kishore Gadde of the US-based Pennington Biomedical Research Center said in a comment.

“The myth that rapid weight loss is associated with rapid weight regain is no truer than one of Aesop’s fables.”

In comments distributed by the London-based Science Media Centre, nutritionists said the study reiterated that sustained weight loss remained a challenge, however it is achieved.

“While weight loss is hard, weight loss maintenance is even harder,” said Nick Finer, an endocrinologist from University College London Hospitals.

But this made no difference in the longer term, with the weight piling up again over time.

“For weight loss, a slow and steady

Lack of regulation of energy drinks alarm World Health Organization London, October 16, 2014 - The World Health Organization has for the first time raised the alarm on the consumption of energy drinks warning that unless their consumption among the young people is controlled, it could become a significant public health problem.

Calling for a cap on caffeine levels and restrictions on their sale and marketing, the WHO pointed out that energy drinks are known to contain high caffeine levels, which cause palpitations, hypertension, vomiting, convulsions and in extreme cases can lead to heart failure.

The energy drink industry is booming, with sales of energy drinks estimated to be over $ 12.5 billion in 2012, a jump of 60% from 2008 to 2012.

Energy drinks are relatively new to

the wider soft drinks market, with the first energy drink launched in Japan in 1960. Energy drinks first appeared in Europe in 1987 before quickly expanding throughout the rest of Europe and appearing in the US in 1997.

The peak was in 2006, when almost 500 new brands of energy drinks were released worldwide.

The study, which has been published in Frontiers in Public Health on Tuesday, will add to concerns about the harmful effects of excessive energy-drink consumption.

The WHO points out that even as little as 50mg of caffeine can induce tachycardia and agitation. In overdose, caffeine toxicity can mimic amphetamine poisoning and lead to seizures, psychosis, cardiac arrhythmias and potentially but rarely, death.

The review of the published literature on energy drinks identifies a number of policies that might be considered by policy makers as they move to minimize the potential for harmful effects from energy drink consumption, points out WHO. “There should be an evidence-based, upper limit for the amount of caffeine allowed in a single serving of any drink. The restriction of sales to children and adolescents should be considered due to the potentially harmful adverse and developmental effects of caffeine on children,” the UN body states.

The study points out that there is also a proliferation of new products containing excessive caffeine levels, far higher than mainstream brands.

Energy drinks also include other ingredients such as taurine, guara-

na and B vitamins, which the WHO researchers say need further investigation, including into their interaction with caffeine.

Energy drink manufacturers aggressively market their products to children, adolescents, and young adults.

WHO blames the absence of regulatory oversight in many countries for the tendency of companies indulging in aggressive marketing of energy drinks targeted primarily toward young males.

Though, some coffees have comparable levels of caffeine, energy drinks can be drunk cold and therefore act more quickly.

According to Euromonitor, global sales of energy drinks increased from 2.4 billion British pounds in 1999 to 17.3 billion pounds in 2013.

Page 16

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia

Pakistan’s Malala viewed as Western agent, hated at home despite Nobel win

Islamabad Oct 15, 2014 — Malala Yousafzai may have won the Nobel Peace Prize, but she remains an object of hate for many Pakistanis who view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame her country.

Shot in the head by Taliban insurgents two years ago after she spoke out against them for opposing girls’ education, it comes as little surprise that hardline Islamists continue to revile the 17-year-old.

More difficult for her supporters to comprehend is the outpouring of invective from Pakistan’s middle classes, who may be keen to educate their daughters but who object to airing the country’s problems abroad. “#MalalaYousafzai should b awarded Oscar Award instead of Nobel Prize,” tweeted user Adnan Karim Rana, a common refrain among detractors who believe her shooting, hospitalisation and coma were all staged as part of a conspiracy that involved Britain where she now lives.

Other social media users regularly post sexualised insults.

Inquilab Khan, a 45-year-old pharmacy owner in Peshawar — the main city in the Islamist insurgency-racked northwest — said he did not understand why Malala had been awarded the Nobel prize.

“Through Malala they want to malign the image of Pakistan and Islam and they were in search of a figure from

this region with a Muslim name, so that they could use her against us,” Khan said.

Bookshops in the city continue to refuse to stock her autobiography, “I am Malala”, after receiving threats from the Taliban and being warned by police against selling the book.

American agenda Malala is the country’s second-ever Nobel laureate after Abdus Salaam, who won the physics prize in 1979 but was widely shunned for being a member of the persecuted Ahmadi minority.

She has been widely praised by some sections of the public and by politicians including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who called her the “pride of Pakistan”.

Malala was also hailed in her home town of Mingora in the Swat Valley.

Even in Peshawar, some 200 people gathered last week to celebrate the award by distributing sweets and dancing to a powerful drum beat.

The hatred towards her stems partly from religious conservatism and opposition to female empowerment.

But it also taps into scepticism towards a decade-long fight against militants which many Pakistanis regard as being imposed by United States.

“It’s about what she’s come to embody — the idea that militancy and the war on Taliban is an externally imposed war on Pakistan. It chimes with

an American agenda and all things American are deserving of acute suspicion,” said Cyril Almeida, a columnist.

“The fact she is being feted globally and in the very capitals of countries regarded by conspiracy-minded people as hostile to Pakistan and Muslims — that is seen as evidence there must be something going on,” he added.

Her critics on social media — many of whom support right-of-centre opposition leader Imran Khan and who include women — have posted pictures of Pakistani girls going to school to “prove” that Malala was lying about the Taliban’s campaign to raze hundreds of schools.

A new Facebook page called “Malala Haters” depicts the teenager with fangs, juxtaposing her image alongside alleged child victims of US drones. The aim is to suggest that while she is glorified, the stories of victims of Western violence remain untold.

Others question how much she has achieved so far and maintain that octogenarian Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi was more deserving of the prize.

Supporters fear Malala could be forced to remain in exile like fellow laureate Salaam, who left the country after Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims.

Despite his groundbreaking work in subatomic physics, including predicting the existence of the so-called “God particle” later known as the Higgs boson, Salam’s achievements have been expunged from official records and his grave lies desecrated.

Georgia Asian Times October 15-30, 2014

Page 17

Misc Asia

South Korea ferry disaster victims’ families continue to grieve Seoul, Oct 15, 2014 — “Sewol ferry recovery update No. 377 ... Days since last body found — 88.”

Six months after South Korea’s worst maritime disaster, the official e-mails keep coming — sometimes several a day — recording every detail of a largely forgotten and ignored operation.

Weather and sea conditions permitting, they detail the latest mission by divers to penetrate the sunken vessel in the search for 10 bodies that remain unaccounted for.

The last body to be pulled from the upturned ship was way back on July 18. The last before that was on June 19.

Just two bodies in almost four months.

“There is no deadline. The work will continue indefinitely,” said Kim SangIn, an official at the Disaster Management Headquarters overseeing the recovery effort

with anxiety, for five hours down to the southern island of Jindo where the rescue operation was gearing up.

I will never give up Six months later, he is still there — one of a tight group of relatives still camped out in a public gymnasium which had housed hundreds of family members in the immediate aftermath of the sinking.

“I will never give up or leave this place until I can see my daughter,” the 50-year-old told AFP by telephone from Jindo.

Huh’s daily routine rarely varies: He wakes at 7.00am, has breakfast and walks to the local district office to check if there are any updates.

Some days he goes down to Jindo port and boards a boat to take him to the barge where the divers work from.

“The government has already clarified its position that without the consent of the victims’ families, it will not cease operations unilaterally,” said Kim, whose office issues the e-mail updates.

Otherwise he watches television, or talks with other relatives of the 10 people still unaccounted for.

It’s a consent that steel worker Huh Hong-Hwan has no intention of giving.

“It’s important because it’s very difficult — mentally and physically.

I feel abandoned and trapped here.

Sometimes I even think of suicide, but then I cling to the hope of finding my daughter,” he said.

Of the 476 people on board the 6,825-tonne Sewol passenger ferry when it capsized on April 16, 325 — including Huh’s teenaged daughter — were high school pupils on an organized outing.

Only 75 of the students survived.

As soon as Huh heard of the disaster, he jumped in his car and drove, sick

“We look out for each other,” Huh said.

The Sewol disaster and the loss of so many young lives was a profound shock that plunged the entire country into mourning and raised questions about what Asia’s fourth largest economy had come to and where it was going.

The grief swiftly turned to anger as it became clear that the tragedy was almost entirely man-made — the result of an illegal redesign, an overloaded cargo bay, an inexperienced crew and an unhealthy nexus between operators and state regulators.

And while the tragedy initially seemed to unite the country, its legacy six months later is one of division and discord.

Parliament was paralyzed for months as the ruling and opposition parties bickered fruitlessly over the content of a bill to create an independent inquiry into the Sewol sinking.

Two weeks ago they finally reached a compromise about the composition and investigative powers of the inquiry — but the plan was immediately rejected by the majority of victims’ families, who had been pushing for a say in who should sit on the panel.

A group of family members, some of them on rotating hunger strike, have been camped out of Seoul’s main ceremonial thoroughfare for months to push their demands.

“The political parties are trying to use the tragedy for their own political interests,” said Jun Myoung-Sun, the father of one of the dead students who heads a group that claims to represent the majority of victims’ families.

“What we want is a full investigation aimed at making a safer society. A full disclosure that tells the truth about how such a disaster could occur,” Jun said.

As far as the continuing recovery operation in Jindo goes, Jun acknowledged the challenge posed by the coming winter weather — but was adamant that the time had not yet come to bring in the heavy lifting cranes.

“We have no plan to raise the vessel as yet. This is the wish of most of the families,” he said.

Page 18

October 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

Quito is the leading South American destination of the year This South American gem is more than an award-winning destination.

Quito is geographically rich with snow-capped mountains, rain forests, volcanoes and more.

Travelers interested in exploring the best of South America should consider bypassing predictable destinations like Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires and instead book a stay in Quito, which was named South America’s leading destination for the second year in a row at a major awards gala dubbed the Oscars of the travel world.

Quito was also the host city for the World Travel Awards South America, beating Santiago, Chile; Lima, Peru; and Sao Paulo, Brazil, among others, to take the coveted title for the second consecutive year.

rain forests, lakes, lagoons, volcanoes and cloud forests – all within striking distance of the city.

Meanwhile, the gala event also crowned LAN Airlines, based in Santiago, Chile, as the continent’s leading airline.

Peru also won big at the awards, snagging titles like leading culinary, heritage and cultural destination.

Here are a few other major winners at the World Travel Awards, South America: > Leading beach destination: San Andres Island, Colombia > Leading city-break destination: Lima, Peru

Last year, the city celebrated its 35th anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage Site – one of the first capital cities in the world to be included in the exclusive club.

> Leading hotel: JW Marriott Hotel Lima, Peru

The Ecuadorian capital, which is perched 2,850m above sea level on the ruins of an ancient Inca city, is cementing its place on the proverbial travel map for those interested in cultural and authentic vacations. It boasts one of the best-preserved historic centers in Latin America.

> Most romantic resort: Charming Luxury Lodge & Private Spa, Argentina

Surrounding areas of Quito are some of the most biodiverse and geographically rich regions in the world, with snow-capped mountain peaks, tropical

The Asia and Australasia edition of the awards takes place Oct 10 in New Delhi, India.

> Leading resort: Arasha Tropical Forest Resort & Spa, Ecuador

> Leading boutique hotel: Hotel 101 Park Houses Suites & Spa, Colombia > Leading green hotel: Finch Bay Eco Hotel, Ecuador

Paris may have found a solution to their love lock problem: Glass panels Paris, October 11, 2014 — The city has started to replace sections of mesh fencing on the city’s iconic footbridge, Pont des Arts, with two shatter-resistant and anti-glare glass panes, reported No Love Locks, a group that has been campaigning for an end to the practice of affixing “love locks” onto the bridge.

The glass panes are treated with a special coating that prevents graffiti-tagging. A third panel will also be installed.

If the pilot proves successful, love birds will no longer be able to pledge their undying love for each other via lock and key, as all 110 sections of the bridge’s metal fencing would be replaced. This summer, in an attempt to discourage this distinctly tourist behaviour, the mayor’s office launched a campaign asking couples to take selfies of themselves on the bridge instead.

“Our bridges can no longer withstand your gestures of love. Set them free by declaring your love with #lovewithoutlocks,” read the city’s message. The

practice of couples sealing their love by attaching padlocks carrying their names to the fence railing and throwing the keys in the Seine – a phenomenon that spread around the world in the last decade – came to a head in Paris this year when a section of metal fencing about 2.4m long collapsed under the weight of hundreds of padlocks, forcing authorities to close off the historic bridge for repairs.

On the Pont des Arts, 15 grills have had to be removed for safety reasons.

Each of these panels were carrying nearly 500kg, more than four times the maximum weight, said city hall. It’s been estimated that the bridge groans under the collective weight of about 45 tonnes of padlocks.

Critics, like the pair of American expats who launched the online petition No Love Locks, say the practice is an act of vandalism, while tourists believe it to be a harmless pledge of their love.