Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

www.gasiantimes.com September 15-30, 2015

Pope starts U.S. visit with gesture of humility, tone of conciliation

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September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

Mark Your Calendar !

NACA Business Forum “Bridge with China - transfer of technology, innovation, & capital” Date: Friday, October 2, 2015 Time: 1:00 pm -5:00 pm Venue: Technology Square Research Building Georgia Institute of Technology 85 Fifth Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 Registration: $50 per person.

NACA 35th Celebration Gala Dinner

Date:Saturday, October 3, 2015 Time: 6:00 pm -10:00 pm Venue: Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom 225 Baker St NW Atlanta, GA 30313 Tickets: $100 member, $200 non-member, Corporate table $3000.00 Corpo

Building Bridges.

Reaching Out National Association of Chinese Americans 5483 Redbark Way Atlanta, GA 30338

www.naca-atlanta.org Tel: (770) 394-6542

For more info: lynn.guo333@gmail.com

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

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

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

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

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

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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.

JapanFest 2015 Date: Saturday, Sept 19, 2015 Time: 10:00 am Venue: Gwinnett Center

Georgia Institute of Technology 85 Fifth Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 For more info: contact lynn.guo333@ gmail.com

“Mr. Deng Goes to Washington” Film Screening Presented by Jimmy Carter Library & Museum Date: Sept 22, 2015 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Jimmy Carter Library & Museum, 441 Freedom Parkway, NE, Atlanta GA 30307

NACA 35th Celebration Gala Dinner Date:Saturday, October 3, 2015 Time: 6:00 pm -10:00 pm Venue: Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom 225 Baker St NW Atlanta, GA 30313 For more info: contact lynn.guo333@ gmail.com

RICE Festival Organized by Asian American Resource Center Date: Saturday, Sept 26, 2015 Time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Venue: Gwinnett Place Mall For more info: 770—270-0663

2015 Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: October 9-24, 2015 For more info: www.atlaff.org

NACA Business Forum Date: Friday, October 2, 2015 Time: 1:00 pm -5:00 pm Venue: Technology Square Research Building

2015 New American Hero Award America Korea Friendship Society Annual Dinner Date: Friday, Oct 23, 2015 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Renaissance Waverly Hotel

By Invitation Only

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September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS ily friendly. And I know you saw the wonderful corporate sponsors we had this year. Without corporate sponsorship and volunteers you simply cannot do what we did.

Post Interview with Gene Hanratty, Festival Director, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival-Atlanta The 20th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival-Atlanta was successfully held on September 12, 2015 at Lake Lanier.

Over 70 teams participated in the one day festival with over 6500 visitors cheering the teams on. Georgia Asian Times had an opportunity to conduct an interview with Mr. Gene Hanratty, Executive Director, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival-Atlanta for his thoughts.

GAT: Before any other questions let me ask how this past weekend’s Festival went?

GH: It was, unconditionally, our best ever!

GAT: Why? GH: First and foremost it was safe.

No injuries or any kind. Safety always remains first and foremost in our plans and preparations. Second, we had a full field of teams. And third, it was a great day weather wise. I might add that it appears that we had a record crowd of near 8,000 people who came.

GAT: To what do you attribute the longevity of the Festival?

GH: The people involved…both the supporters and the participants. We had some incredible people around when we first started twenty years ago.

The four principal ones were Ms. Pin Pin Chau, Mr. David Yu, Mr. Jerry Allison and Mr. Bill Ramsey. I was also lucky enough to have a gentleman from

NYC named Henry Wan who acted as my mentor. I call him the “Godfather of Dragon Boating” in the US. I had no idea that people would take to the sport so quickly. But we began to grow each and every year.

GAT: What do the participants get out of the event?

GH: There are so many things they get out of it. Not necessarily in order of importance let me mention a few. First of all, and I have said this for years, this is “the best hands-on cultural diversity event” in the area. So they get a taste of another culture. Secondly, it’s a great team building sport. Unless you can get all of your paddlers paddling in unison you will not do anywhere near as well as those teams who do. It is for many the only time they will do something with one another away from their normal office environment. And, of course, there is the added benefit of some great exercise.

GAT: What makes your Festival different from others?

GH: Well, for one thing, we have an “Olympic” venue. There may be some venues somewhere that are as good but there are none which are better. It’s an incredible facility. I can’t speak for other Festivals but we have incredible volunteers. This year we had more than 170 who do every task imaginable to keep the Festival safe, clean, and fam-

GAT: Are you looking at any new events for the Festival?

GH: Time constrains us from being able to do too much more but one thing we may look at are some challenge races. We would do these after the normal races we have now. There are some teams ( and I’ve heard them) who want to go one-on-one against each other.

That might be fun. Maybe also some handicap races where we hold the fast boat for whatever amount of time they are faster than the boat they are racing against. Just ideas at the moment.

GAT: What do you see in the future for this Festival?

GH: We are looking to have as much new equipment next year as we can afford to buy. We desperately need new PFDs (personal flotation devices) and paddles. We brought 50 new paddles and 50 new PFDs this year. The PFDs we have right now are flunky to say the least. We want to buy more for next year and hope to have a full new compliment for Festival use only. That will make a lot of people happy. We will look at the possibility of making it a 2-day Festival but that would be a number of years out. Beyond that I see our 21st Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival happening next year on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Executive Director of Asian American Advancing Justice – Atlanta, resigns Atlanta, September 9, 2015 — The Board of Directors of Asian American Advancing Justice – Atlanta announces that Helen Kim Ho is resigning from her position as Executive Director in a released press statement.

Ho was the original founder of Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (AALAC) and the organization merged into Asian American Advancing Justice in 2014.

“Founding this organization is the proudest professional achievement of my life,” said Helen Kim Ho. “I’ve worked hard these past five and a half years to set the organization up for independence and am confident it is well prepared for this transition. I am also excited about continuing my own journey in a new role where I can continue to make an impact in the South and beyond.”

During the transition, the Board of Advancing Justice – Atlanta has

secured a transition team that will lead the organization in the search for the new Executive Director.

“We will all miss the energy, enthusiasm and drive that Helen has brought to Advancing Justice since its formation, but we are excited about all that the organization has achieved so far and what we hope to accomplish in the future,” said Sonjui Kumar, Advancing Justice – Atlanta’s Board Chair.

Since its launch, Advancing Justice – Atlanta has become a nationally recognized go-to resource for Asian American civil rights issues and leader in immigrant civic engagement work in the South.

Since 2010, the organization’s operating budget has grown from $15,000 to almost $500,000 and has also a robust fund balance. Ho leaves the organization in a strong financial position with exciting programs and an effective staff in place.

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

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METRO ASIAN NEWS

September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

Pope starts U.S. visit with gesture of humility, tone of conciliation Washington DC, Sept 23, 2015 — Pope Francis launched his first visit to the United States with a characteristic gesture of humility yesterday, and sent a conciliatory message to the world’s wealthiest nation about his frequent criticism of capitalism.

After a red carpet welcome by President Barack Obama at an air base near the capital, the 78-year-old Argentine headed off to Washington not in a limousine as is customary but in a modest Fiat.

Schoolchildren cheered the pontiff as his Alitalia plane landed, chanting “We love Francis, yes we do. We love Francis, how about you?”

Obama, his family and Vice President Joe Biden greeted the pope in an honor given to few foreign dignitaries.

The pope’s motorcade ride in the black Fiat 500L was in sharp contrast to the way that US presidents and visiting world leaders sweep into town in limousines and large SUVs after arriving at Joint Base Andrews air base.

The six-day visit to America gives

Francis a chance to showcase some of his favorite themes like compassion and simplicity in the world’s most powerful country.

The pontiff has often taken aim at capitalism, but on the plane bringing him from Cuba he said it would be wrong to presume that his concerns about economic injustice make him a leftist.

“Maybe an explanation was given that led to the impression that I am a bit to the left but it would be an error of explanation,” Francis told reporters.

The first Latin American pope has electrified liberal-leaning US Catholics, Democrats and many non-Catholics with a shift in emphasis toward concern for the poor and immigrants and his appeals for action against climate change. But his criticism of unbridled capitalism has unsettled US conservatives.

The leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, Francis said his teachings on economic fairness and climate change are “all in the social doctrine of the Church.” “It is I who

follow the Church,” he said.

Francis will give the first speech by any pope to the US Congress tomorrow, an address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday and an open-air Mass in Philadelphia where 1.5 million people are expected to attend.

Francis ended a four-day Cuba trip and headed to the United States with a message of reconciliation for the former Cold War foes while avoiding controversy on the US trade embargo or human rights on the Communist-run island.

The pope told reporters he hopes the United States will lift its long trade embargo on the Communist-run island but does not plan to raise it in his address to Congress this week.

His decision to go from Cuba to the United States is weighed with symbolism as the pope pushes the Church to pay greater heed to people who live on the periphery since becoming pope in 2013. He has never visited the United States.

Obama and the pope meet more formally today at the White House where the atmosphere is likely to be cordial.

“I think that you can say that both President Obama and Pope Francis, have, over the course of their careers, both demonstrated a commitment to values related to social and economic justice,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

After the meeting, Francis will then parade past some of Washington’s monuments before a crowd expected to reach tens of thousands.

A poll on Monday showed that 51 per cent of Americans viewed Francis favorably, with just 9 per cent of respondents to a MSNBC/Telemundo/Marist poll reporting an unfavorable view.

US Republicans, who control Congress, often struggle to agree with Francis’ economic messages. But they applaud him for defending Church teachings that oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. — Reuters

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

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BUSINESS ASIA

Apple cleaning up its App Store after XcodeGhost virus attack Boston, Sept 21 — Apple Inc said yesterday it is cleaning up its iOS App Store to remove malicious iPhone and iPad programs identified in the first large-scale attack on the popular mobile software outlet.

The company disclosed the effort after several cyber security firms reported finding a malicious program dubbed XcodeGhost that was embedded in hundreds of legitimate apps.

It is the first reported case of large numbers of malicious software programs making their way past Apple’s stringent app review process. Prior to this attack, only five malicious apps had ever been found in the App Store, according to cyber security firm Palo Alto Networks Inc. The hackers embedded the malicious code in these apps by convincing developers of legitimate software to use a tainted, counterfeit version of Apple’s software for creating iOS and Mac apps, which is known as Xcode, Apple said.

“We’ve removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software,” Apple spokeswoman Christine Monaghan said in an email. “We are working with the developers to make sure they’re using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps.”

She did not say what steps iPhone and iPad users could take to determine whether their devices were infected.

Palo Alto Networks director of threat intelligence Ryan Olson said the malware had limited functionality and his firm had uncovered no examples of data theft or other harm as a result of the attack.

Still, he said it was “a pretty big deal” because it showed that the App Store could be compromised if hackers infected machines of software developers writing legitimate apps. Other attackers may copy that approach, which is hard to defend against, he said.

“Developers are now a huge target,” he said.

Researchers said infected apps included Tencent Holdings Ltd’s popular mobile chat app WeChat, car-hailing app Didi Kuaidi and a music app from Internet portal NetEase Inc. The tainted version of Xcode was downloaded from a server in China that developers may have used because it allowed for faster downloads than using Apple’s US servers, Olson said.

Chinese security firm Qihoo360 Technology Co said on its blog that it had uncovered 344 apps tainted with XcodeGhost.

Tencent said on its official WeChat blog that the security flaw affects WeChat 6.2.5, an old version of its popular chatting app, and that newer versions were unaffected. A preliminary investigation showed there had been no data theft or leakage of user information, the company said.

Didi Kuaidi said in an emailed statement users’ privacy was not intruded upon, and the app has been immediately updated to address the issue.

In a mea culpa on its official Weibo microblog, NetEase apologized to users, saying their private information was not compromised and a fix has been issued.

Apple declined to say how many apps it had uncovered. — Reuters

Warner Brothers plans new joint venture in China Shanghai, Sept 20, 2015 — US entertainment giant Warner Bros plans a venture with China Media Capital to develop films for distribution in China and globally, according to a statement today, as Hollywood seeks a greater share of the massive market.

The new venture — Flagship Entertainment Group — will develop, fund, acquire and produce a wide range of films for distribution in China and around the world, it said. The first movies under the new imprint may emerge as early as next year.

Warner Bros Entertainment will hold 49 per cent of the venture, which will be headquartered in Hong Kong with offices in both Beijing and Los Angeles.

Shanghai-based China Media Capital (CMC), a private equity and venture capital firm, will lead a consortium which will hold a majority 51 per cent stake in Flagship Entertainment, it said, adding Hong Kong broadcaster TVB is a member of the group.

No financial details were given. A spokesman for CMC did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The statement linked the deal to this month’s state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States.

US studios are keen to get a bigger piece of the Chinese market, the world’s second largest box office outside North America with revenue of US$4.8 billion in 2014, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

But the number of foreign films entering China is restricted to an annual quota of just 34 and they face censorship over content deemed politically sensitive or obscene.

“We look forward to working with CMC in this exciting new venture, as we gain additional insight into the Chinese film industry,” Warner Bros chairman and chief executive officer Kevin Tsujihara said in the statement.

At the same time, cashed-up Chinese companies are ramping up investment in the foreign entertainment industry, as the country seeks to boost “soft power” by crafting films which appeal to global audiences.

CMC founder and chairman Li Ruigang said in the statement that the deal would “further CMC’s commitment to building a premier platform for making films that resonate with both Chinese and worldwide audiences”.

In March a unit of China’s statebacked Hunan TV announced a US$1.5 billion agreement to fund the movies of US studio Lionsgate.

China’s Huayi Brothers Media Corp plans to jointly produce at least 18 films with US film and television studio STX Entertainment, while Chinese conglomerate Fosun International has taken a stake in US media company Studio 8.

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September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

BUSINESS

Leading Chinese technology executives AIIB would rely on Chinese investors if to speak at NACA Business Forum international credit ratings unfair Singapore, September 18, 2015 — China’s new international development bank could tap the domestic market to raise the billions of dollars it needs if international credit rating agencies do not treat it fairly, its future president said on Thursday.

Jin Liqun, president-designate of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), also told a conference in Singapore that the bank strives to become a “squeaky clean”, first-class multinational institution.

He said the bank had been engaging credit rating agencies including Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch, which dominate the international market.

“I want you to treat me fairly,” said Jin, referring to their assessments of the AIIB’s creditworthiness.

“If you don’t do it, I’ll go without you.

I have the whole Chinese market to tap.”

He said the bank could easily raise $20-30 billion from the Chinese market at very favorable rates.

“Upon that time, when investors recognize us as triple-A rating and you don’t, you’ll have a huge reputation problem,” Jin added.

China has managed to rally more than 50 nations to join the bank, including the United Kingdom and Australia, but questions have been raised over how it will be run and what its lending and governance standards are likely to be.

The AIIB is expected to rival institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, over which China believes Washington has too much influence.

The bank, with an authorized capital of $100 billion, is on schedule to start operating by a year-end deadline and will have its first batch of projects by the second quarter of next year, Jin also said, but declined to give details on the projects.

– Reuters

Atlanta, September 22, 2015 — The National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA) is hosting a Business Forum on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Technology Square Research Building, Georgia Institute of Technology, featuring leading executives from Chinese technology companies. The goal of the forum is determining the role that Atlanta can play as a bridge with China for the transfer of technology, innovation and capital.

Amongst the speakers for a planned panel discussion are Mr. He Ming, CEO of Huawei Technologies USA, Mr. Raymond Cheng, CEO, SoZo, and Mr. Samuel Sun, Executive Vice President, Sales Account Team, ZTE USA. Mr. Larry Wu, founding partner of United China Fund, will moderate the session.

NACA will continue the 35th anniversary festivities with the 35th Celebration Gala Dinner on Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom, 225 Baker St NW Atlanta, GA 30313. The event Committee Chair is The Honorable Lisa Borders, VP, Global Community Affairs, Coca-Cola.

Tickets for the gala are $100 for members and $200 for non-members.

A corporate table for ten is available for $3000.00 For more information contact (770) 394-6542; Lynn.guo333@gmail.com.

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

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LIFESTYLE

Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein pull in stars in New York fashion week climax New York, Sept 18, 2015 — Fabled US design houses Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein pulled in big stars to sit front row at their dramatically contrasting shows yesterday in a majestic finale to New York fashion week.

The spring/summer 2016 style-fest will close at sundown when Marc Jacobs unveils his always-anticipated take on the latest season. Until then, here are the day’s top highlights before the shows shift from the Big Apple to Europe:

represents to me both the cool insouciance and understated style of the women who inspire me.”

A master in crafting a long, lean silhouette that accentuates the height and slender figures of his models, it was a collection of restrained elegance.

For day, it was a maritime look of white linen shantung pants, navy viscose dresses with cut-out shoulders, navy jackets, sweaters with Breton-style buttons on the shoulder and white silk organza skirts.

Ralph Lauren Flame-haired screen sirens Julianne Moore and Jessica Chastain were the guests of honor at the designer’s Riviera-inspired collection of timeless elegance that saw French chic meet East Coast high society.

The Oscar-winning Moore and critically-acclaimed Chastain were mobbed by photographers as they chatted and posed for pictures in the front row— Moore in a cream dress and Chastain sporting a one-shoulder navy jumpsuit, and both looking as if they had stepped straight out of a Ralph Lauren commercial.

Otherwise, white and blue were paired with prominent use of saddle leather—fashioned into jackets, blouses, cropped pants, shorts and a skirt.

So timeless is the Lauren style that he even managed to make a jumpsuit look elegant, adorned with billowing panels for evening or one in navy liquid lame that looked like the Mediterranean glimmering in the sun.

Besides the plain separates, there was a colorful “bateau” print—inspired by multi-colored sailing ships—made into a shirt, a canvas tote, a sateen trench coat and a strapless organza evening dress.

“My Women’s Collection for Spring 2016 is a modern expression of the glamorous spirit of the French Riviera,” Lauren, one of New York’s most beloved designers, said on Twitter.

Evening dresses were strapless with billowing skirts, or asymmetrically cut in red silk with cut-out panels. A navy halter gown had a pleated skirt.

“It has a romantic rusticity, as well as a sleek and luxurious sportiness that

Lauren gave another nod to on-season pleats, and to bang-on-trend

ruffles, on a silk georgette beaded dress and a champ de fleur linen gown.

The designer came out to rapturous applause at the end, kissed his children and guests of honor, who rose to their feet to greet him, before walking the runway to Frank Sinatra’s classic track “I Love Paris.”

Calvin Klein Model of the moment Kendall Jenner sat front row at Calvin Klein in a barely-there red dress and towering black stilettos, as did actress Zoe Kravitz in cream.

Francisco Costa, the label’s Brazilian-born women’s creative director, presented a collection that he summed up as “the morning after”—an exploration of “modern sensuality through intimate deconstruction.”

The overall effect was unfinished, as if the pattern was still pinned to a mannequin in the studio.

There were lots of apron dresses, sashes hanging down, triangular slits cut at the back bottom of pant legs and seams stitched on the outside, but the collection won warm applause from the fashion crowd.

As always at Calvin Klein, the main focus was on black and white, with the eggshell and gold so pale that they could be mistaken for white.

Unusually for the minimalist fashion house, Costa made liberal use of a delicate peony blossom print.

Shoes were slip-on sneakers, and gold chains were worn around the waist.

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EVENTS

Septemeber 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

“Energetic New Taiwan” Cultural Perforamnce by Taiwanese Youth Sept 8, 2015 Emroy University

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

EVENTS

Page 11

JapanFest Sept 19-20, 2015 Infinte Energy Center

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September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

LIFESTYLE

New insights on men, women and the mating game What we’re looking for in a potential partner changes according to our life situation and those with desirable traits really do have a stronger bargaining hand, according to one of the biggest studies on the mating game in which 28,000 heterosexual people in the US between the ages of 18 and 75 chimed in.

“We looked at the extent to which attractiveness and resources are “desirable” versus “essential” to men and women when they are looking for a long-term partner,” says co-author David Frederick, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Chapman University.

What you find desirable in someone depends first and foremost on your gender, according to the study, more so than your age, income, education or self-confidence.

While men have stronger preferences for slender, good-looking women overall, wealthier men and highly confident people prioritized looks more than women and older men. Men and women put equal emphasis on how “specifically attractive their partner is to them,” (40 and 42 percent, respectively).

In the mating game, there are traits people consider essential and traits they would like to find in a partner, but could live without – a sort of luxury trait.

As for looks, 92 percent of men said it’s essential for them to find a good looking woman, while only 84 percent of women reported good looks being essential in a potential suitor.

Being with a woman with a slender frame was essential to 80 percent of men, yet only 58 percent of women said the same for their male potentials.

A steady income was an important partner trait for 74 percent of men and 97 percent of women, according to the study, and partner earnings potential was essential to 47 percent of men and 69 percent of women.

Technology doesn’t make school pupils smarter

Only 24 percent of men said it was “a must” that their partner earned as much as they do, yet 46 percent of women said the same for their potential suitors.

Computers do not noticeably improve school pupils’ academic results and can even hamper performance, an OECD report said Tuesday that looked at the impact of technology in classrooms across the globe.

Regardless of gender, those most satisfied with their own physical appearance did not express stronger desires for a partner who is physically attractive to them, yet they reported stronger preferences for a partner who is good looking and slender.

While almost three quarters of pupils in the countries surveyed used computers at schools, the report by the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development found technology had made no noticeable improvement in results.

Regardless of gender, those with higher incomes were partial to having good-looking mates, and high-earning men expressed strong desires for women with slender bodies.

Conversely, in high-achieving schools in parts of Asia, where smartphones and computers have become an integral part of people’s everyday lives, technology was far less prevalent in the classrooms.

Wealthier women were partial to men who steadily earned their keep, or made lots of money.

Highly educated men preferred good-looking, slender women, yet the level of education was not related to partiality for making money.

The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

In South Korea, students used computers for an average of nine minutes at school and in Hong Kong, only 11 minutes — just a fraction of the 58 minutes spent in Australia, 42 in Greece and 39 in Sweden.

“Where computers are used in the classroom, their impact on student performance is mixed at best,” OECD’s education director Andreas Schleicher said in a foreword to the report, the think-tank’s first on the topic.

“Students who use computers very frequently at school do a lot worse in most learning outcomes, even after accounting for social background and student demographics.”

The report measured the impact of technology use at school on international test results, such as the OECD’s Pisa tests taken in dozens of countries around the world and other exams measuring digital skills.

It found that education systems which have invested heavily in information and communications technology have seen “no noticeable improvement” in results for reading, mathematics or science.

The OECD urged schools to work with teachers to turn technology into a more powerful tool in the classroom and develop more sophisticated software for experimentation and simulation, social media and games.

“The real contributions ICT can make to teaching and learning have yet to be fully realised and exploited,” it concluded.

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

Page 13

SPORTS

Jason Day wins BMW and becomes world golf No 1 Lake Forest, Sept 21, 2015 — Jason Day claimed his fourth victory in six starts and surged to the world number one ranking after going wire-to-wire to win the BMW Championship by six shots yesterday.

faced no serious challenge as he played conservatively throughout.

The Australian closed out his tournament with a two-under-par 69 to finish at 22-under 262 at Conway Farms, six clear of American rookie Daniel Berger (69) in the third of the PGA Tour’s four FedExCup playoff events.

“Knowing that right now there’s no one on this planet that’s better than me, that’s pretty cool,” Day said.

American Scott Piercy (70) was third at 15-under with Rickie Fowler (69), Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (70) and JB Holmes (68) sharing fourth at 14-under.

“The way I feel about my game, confidence level has been the highest I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Day said.

“Its been an amazing kind of run for me, and now it just tops it off even better to get to number one in the world.

“I felt a lot of pressure over the last two days, especially today just knowing I had a six shot lead.

“Yesterday and today were probably the toughest rounds I’ve ever had to play in my entire life.”

It is the seventh tour win for Day, the fifth of the season after winning the Farmers Insurance Open, the Canadian Open, his maiden major at the PGA Championship and the opening playoff event, The Barclays, prior to this triumph.

He led by as many as seven and by no less than four in the final round and

Day becomes the third Australian to reach world number one, following Greg Norman and Adam Scott.

“That out of all the golfers that are in the world playing right now, that I’m the best.

“It’s such a good feeling.”

He now heads to the 30-man, season-ending Tour Championship in top spot on the FedExCup points list, ensuring a win at East Lake Golf Club would see him claim a US$10 million bonus.

Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth, Fowler, Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Bubba Watson will also control their fate next week in Atlanta by holding spots in the top five of the points list.

Harris English and Kevin Na will join them at the Tour Championship after they made clutch birdies on the 72nd hole while Piercy and Berger also fought their way in from outside the 30 to get to East Lake.

Stormers announce capture of Japan coach Jones Cape Town, Sept 21, 2015 — Japan coach Eddie Jones, widely lauded for masterminding Japan’s sensational 34-32 Rugby World Cup victory over South Africa on Saturday, will take charge of South African Super Rugby side the Stormers next season.

Although his move to Cape Town was an open secret, the Stormers confirmed his capture today.

He replaces Allister Coetzee, who has left for Japanese side Kobe Steel after six seasons in charge of the Stormers, which included a final loss to the Bulls in 2010.

Daniel Summerhays, Russell Knox, Ben Martin and Jason Bohn lost their places in the top-30.

“Eddie was always on my mind in terms of potential external candidates and it’s a massive coup that we have signed a coach of his ability — his coaching credentials and achievements speak for themselves,” Stormers director of rugby Gert Small said in a statement.

A trip to the Tour Championship also brings invitations to the opening three majors of 2016. — Reuters

Jones will arrive in Cape Town at the conclusion of his World Cup commitments.

“We will get Eddie here as soon as we can after the Rugby World Cup so he can get started with his 2016 preparations,” Small added.

“He is obviously focusing on Japan’s World Cup campaign at present, where he has already made a significant impact.”

Jones, who coached Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and was a technical adviser to South Africa when they won the tournament in 2007, believes the time is right for a fresh challenge.

“I am well aware of the responsibilities that come with this job, one of the biggest franchise jobs in world rugby, but I am also excited about the talent available in the Stormers squad and the potential of this playing squad.

“This is a challenge I am looking forward to,” he said.

Jones won the Super Rugby competition with Australia’s ACT Brumbies in 2001. — Reuters

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September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

SPORTS

South Korean’s Son’s sizzling start at Spurs London, Sept 21, 2015 — Son Heung-min has discovered the recipe for success in the Premier League after winning over Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and his new teammates with a delicious Korean feast.

Son has made a sizzling start to life in north London with three goals in three appearances following his £18 million move from German club Bayer Leverkusen in August.

Just three days after marking his home debut with a brace in Tottenham’s Europa League win over Qarabag, the South Korea forward was the key figure again as he scored his first Premier League goal to secure a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace.

Son’s dynamic displays have already made him a firm favorite of Tottenham fans, who gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced late in yesterday’s match, and he is equally popular with Pochettino and the rest of the Tottenham squad.

Naturally, they respect Son’s tireless work rate, clever movement and eye for goal, but the 23-year-old is also a popular figure because he served up a posh Korean takeaway at the club’s training ground.

“I wanted to say thank you to my colleagues and staff for welcoming me to Tottenham and I wanted to introduce Korean food and culture to the players,” Son told reporters at White Hart Lane.

“It was traditional Korean food, with barbeque, seafood pancakes and various different foods.

“I ordered it from a very famous

Korean restaurant in London. They organized everything.

“They all loved it, especially the coach, he had so many plates. He enjoyed it so much and the players did as well. I would like to do it again if there is a chance.”

After confirming he had tucked into a large helping of the Korean banquet, Pochettino said Son’s generous gesture was typical of the down-to-earth attitude that has so endeared him to his new club.

“He is a very friendly, humble guy.

After one week with the team he brought very good Korean food to the training ground. I had a big dish, I like it a lot!” Pochettino said.

Glowing report With the food review out of the way, Pochettino gave an equally glowing report about Son’s quick transition to the unique demands of the Premier League.

“He is a player we followed for a long time, he can play all different attacking positions, so when you sign a player like this it is big,” Pochettino said.

“His character is to run a lot. I wanted to sign him because of his profile.

He has energy and can press high with a high tempo.

“His performance was fantastic, the energy he showed was amazing and for that I think the supporters are very happy with him.

“I’m happy because he scored three goals now in two victories. I’m very pleased with him.”

Despite Pochettino’s praise, Son claimed he doesn’t feel completely at ease in the English top-flight just yet and he promised there is even better to come once he finds his feet.

Wednesday when Tottenham host bitter rivals Arsenal in the first north London derby of the season in the League Cup.

“I haven’t adapted to the Premier League yet. I want to do much better and prepare as well as I can,” he said.

As a big fan of Premier League football, the Korean knows all about the animosity between the two clubs and would love to play a big role against the Gunners.

“I understand what the club invested in me. I’m getting a lot of help from my team-mates and coaches and that’s why I want to do even better.”

“I heard about the north London derby when I was in the Bundesliga.

I want to prepare well and do well on Wednesday,” he added.

Son’s next rite of passage in his English education should come on

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

Page 15

HEALTH Yoga helps alleviate arthritis & boost mood After eight weeks of yoga classes improved the symptoms of patients with one of two common forms of the disease — in addition to lifting their mood — a new study concluded that the practice is safe and effective for those living with arthritis.

“Yoga may be especially well suited to people with arthritis because it combines physical activity with potent stress management and relaxation techniques, and focuses on respecting limitations that can change from day to day,” says Susan J. Bartlett of Johns Hopkins University in the US. Thought to be the largest randomized trial ever to explore yoga’s effect on arthritis patients, the research team recruited 75 participants, all of whom had either knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

They were randomly assigned to either two séances of yoga per week for eight weeks, plus an Om session for practice one a week in the home, or to a waiting list, which served as the control group.

Nine months after the relatively short program ended, the yogis’ improvements were still apparent, according to the study, which was published in The Journal of Rheumatology.

Researchers who were left unaware as to which group the participants belonged assessed their physical and mental health regularly.

The study was developed by Clifton O. Bingham III, MD, and director of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, who says watching arthritis patients improve by doing yoga gave him the idea to conduct a formal experiment.

Those who practiced yoga demonstrated a 20 percent improvement over the control group in pain, energy levels, mood and physical function, reporting being better able to perform physical tasks at work and at home.

What’s more, they were able to walk faster than those in the control group, although balance and upper body strength remained unchanged between the two groups.

Health professionals have questioned the safety of arthritic people practicing yoga, which emphasizes changing positions and flexibility that can be tough on tender joints, so participants were required to get the ok from their doctors prior to the study.

“Our first step was to ensure that yoga was a reasonable and safe option

for people with arthritis,” says Bingham. “Our instructors were experienced yoga therapists with additional training to modify poses to accommodate individual abilities.”

Working with data from their study, the researchers developed guidelines to help doctors decide whether yoga is right for their arthritic patients.

Bingham advises anyone with arthritis to address the specific joints of concern with their doctor before starting yoga and, importantly, find the right guru.

“Find a teacher who asks the right questions about limitations and works closely with you as an individual,” he says. “Start with gentle yoga classes.

Practice acceptance of where you are and what your body can do on any given day.”

Healthy gut bacteria could ward off age-related disease, study finds Los Angeles, Sept 15, 2015 — In the quest to determine why some people remain in good physical and mental health until a very old age and others don’t, scientists working with fruit flies suggest that a factor of healthy aging could be found in the gut.

Other recent studies have begun connecting diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson’s to changes in gut bacteria, although they have not pinpointed the ideal composition.

“Age-onset decline is very tightly linked to changes within the community of gut microbes,” says senior author David Walker of the University of California, Los Angeles in the US. “With age, the number of bacterial cells increase substantially and the composition of bacterial groups changes.”

The research team used fruit flies because of their short life span — which lasts an average of eight weeks — and the diverse ages at which they die.

“One of the big questions in the biology of aging relates to the large variation in how we age and how long we live,” says Walker.

What’s more, scientists have identified all the genes of the fruit fly, and are able to switch them on and off individually.

Springboarding off previous research in which they observed that the flies develop leaky guts within days before dying, they analyzed the gut bacteria — collectively referred to as the microbiota — of more than 10,000 female flies.

They isolated a group of flies to which they gave antibiotics to reduce the number of species found in the intestinal tract, resulting in improved digestive function as they aged.

“When we prevented the changes in the intestinal microbiota that were linked to the flies’ imminent death by feeding them antibiotics, we dramatically extended their lives and improved their health,” says Walker.

After leaking began, flies that had been given antibiotics lived an average of 20 days, which represents a substantial chunk of time considering their average lifespan.

“The health of the intestine — in particular the maintenance of the

barrier protecting the rest of the body from the contents of the gut — is very important and might break down with aging,” says lead author Rebecca Clark of Durham University in the UK. In collaboration with professors at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida, the team produced a group of germ-free flies, whose guts were barren of microbes.

These flies lived for an estimated average of 80 days, about one and a half times longer than the un-doctored flies.

The study, which follows on the heels of another in which scientists mapped out how microbiota change over the course of a lifetime, was published in the journal Cell Reports.

Page 16

September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia Prime Minister of Malaysia named in US probe on corruption Washington DC, September 22, 2015 -- US authorities are investigating allegations of corruption involving Prime Minister Najib Razak and people close to him, according to a New York Times (NYT) report.

The report, which quoted anonymous sources, said the investigation was focused on properties in the US that were purchased by shell companies belonging to Najib’s stepson, Riza Aziz, and other pieces of real estate connected to tycoon Low Taek Jho. According to NYT, the probe is being conducted by a unit of the US Justice Department called Kleptocracy Initiative, which has seized properties in the US owned by relatives of politicians from Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, South Korea and Taiwan.

The paper added that investigators were also looking into the deposit of RM2.6 billion into the Prime Minister’s personal accounts with AmBank Islamic because the payment was allegedly routed through Wells Fargo, an American bank.

NYT said it failed to get a comment from Najib’s office. Its reporter spoke to a representative of Riza, who said the PM’s stepson was not involved in any investigation. It quoted a spokesman for Low as saying the tycoon had not been notified that he was the subject of any investigation.

NYT said it could take years for the investigators to determine if any US law had been broken.

The properties involved in the investigation include a penthouse in New York’s Manhattan district that was purchased for US$30.55 million by a shell company connected to Low’s family trust.

“Companies tied to Mr Low’s family have also purchased a US$39 million mansion on Oriole Drive in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills and part of the Park Lane Hotel in New York,” NYT said.

It said Reza purchased, through shell companies, a US$33.5 million condominium at the Park Laurel in Manhattan, a home in Beverly Hills, as well as other properties in the Los Angeles area.

“The Park Laurel condo and the Beverly Hills home were owned by shell companies connected to Mr Low’s family before being transferred to shell companies tied to Mr Aziz,” it added.

“In the case of the Beverly Hills home, the property was transferred without any public filings, with Mr Low’s family trust selling ownership of the shell company to a corporate entity controlled by Mr Aziz.

“Mr Low’s spokesman said this year that the transfers to Mr Aziz were done at fair market value and at arm’s length.

“New York City also appears to be home to at least one other person involved with Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.

“A condo at 23 East 22nd Street was purchased for US$4.5 million in 2014 by a shell company called Cricklewood One Madison LLC that listed Ai Swan Loo as its authorised signer, public records show.

“This summer, Malaysia’s Central Bank announced that a person named Jasmine Ai Swan Loo, a former executive involved with the 1MDB fund, was wanted for assistance in its investigation.”

Philippines leader pokes fun at Beijing’s South China Sea claims, praises Japan Manila, Sept 22, 2015 — Philippine President Benigno Aquino today joked about China’s disputed maritime territorial claims and praised Beijing’s regional rival Japan for passing new legislation allowing the nation’s troops to fight abroad.

Speaking in an interview with ABSCBN television, Aquino said that China had proposed the joint development of the South China Sea while at the same time claiming almost all of the strategically sensitive waters.

“The joke then was that China was saying ‘what is ours is ours, what is yours, we share,’” Aquino said.

He also rejected China’s calls for a bilateral dialogue, saying that any talks should involve other countries that claim parts of the area such as Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Aquino praised Japan’s passage of controversial legislation that eases restrictions on its military, opening up the possibility that it could fight abroad for the first time since World War II. He said this would make Japan “a more able partner in various activities like peace-keeping.”

“Should they be accorded lesser rights because at one point of time, they were very aggressive?” he added.

The security bills, which the Japanese parliament passed into law on Saturday, drew condemnation from China, which said they were a threat to regional peace, but the Philippines welcomed the move.

Aquino firmed up the strategic partnership between the two countries when he visited Japan in June and the Philippines hosted two naval exercises in quick succession with Japan earlier this year.

The Philippines has been the most vocal opponent of China’s claims in the South China Sea, criticising its efforts to turn isolated outcrops in the disputed waters into artificial islands that can host military facilities.

Manila has also filed a case with an international tribunal challenging Beijing’s maritime claims.

Georgia Asian Times September 15-30, 2015

Page 17

Misc Asia

Indonesia president to visit White House next month Washington DC, September 22, 2015 — Indonesia’s Joko Widodo will visit Washington and the White House on October 26 for a crucial first visit since he became president last year.

The trip will be an opportunity for Widodo, who came to power in October last year, to get to know President Barack Obama at a time of geopolitical tension in South East Asia.

“As leaders of two of the largest democracies in the world, the president and President Widodo will discuss plans to expand existing areas of bilateral cooperation,” the White House said.

The visit comes as Obama — who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia — presses for Jakarta to play a bigger role in its region, where there is nervousness about Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. The world’s most populous Muslim nation has long punched below its weight, struggling with domestic economic and democratic development, but Washington hopes that it will begin to set a more positive example.

“Indonesia, as everyone knows, is the world’s third largest democracy,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said, welcoming his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi to the State Department.

“And there are many critical issues that we share enormous concerns about. We’re working very closely on any number of economic relation-

ships,” he said, praising Jakarta’s role in the regional body ASEAN. “Indonesia plays a critical role, with respect to the South China Sea, our concerns about climate change and other issues.”

Kerry said Widodo and Obama have a very similar attitude to “getting things done” and breaking bureaucratic barriers, and that he looked forward to a productive meeting next month.

“This is the best time for Indonesia and the US to sit together and discuss about the future relations between the two countries,” Marsudi told reporters before her meeting with Kerry.

“Indonesia plays a very significant role in ASEAN and as the biggest Muslim-population country we can contribute a lot to create a positive situation towards peace and stability in the region and the world.”

Marsudi also insisted on the importance of the extensive trade ties between Indonesia and United States.

Ties were rattled last year when documents leaked by fugitive US contractor Edward Snowden revealed that Australia, part of the US-led “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing network, had targeted Jakarta.

According to a report, which angered Indonesia, Australian spies had tried to tap the then-Indonesian leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s phones during a trade dispute with Washington.

Top 100: US universities lead in innovation, but Asia a rising power London, Sept 16, 2015 — US universities lead the world in scientific innovation but face strong competition from Asian rivals with close ties to industry, according to a detailed analysis of academic papers and patent filings.

nine — more than all countries bar the United States.

The inaugural Reuters Top 100 survey, published today, places Stanford University in top spot, reflecting its position as a crucible for new ideas at the heart of Silicon Valley.

Policymakers and corporations alike rely on universities to convert publicly funded science into knowledge and ultimately new products that drive economic growth.

Stanford alumni have gone on to create some of the world’s biggest technology companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Yahoo and Google.

But while academic innovation is lauded around the world, it is not easy to measure.

The top nine places are all taken by US schools, with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University ranked second and third.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) was 10th, while Imperial College London was the highest-ranked European in 11th place.

Asian universities are a growing force in scientific innovation and have proved particularly adept at turning this into products, with South Korea — home to rising tech giants such as Samsung — scoring highly in patent approvals.

South Korea has eight schools in the top 100 universities, while Japan has

China, however, had only one entry on the list in Tsinghua University, ranked 72nd.

The new Reuters league table aims to produce the most comprehensive and systematic ranking to date by analysing 10 different measures, based on the volume and impact of scientific research, the volume and success of patent filings and the use of cited discoveries in the academic and corporate worlds.

Large, populous countries inevitably score highly, so it is also instructive to look at relative performance.

Tiny Switzerland, with a population of eight million people and two of the world’s top drug companies, stands out with three schools on the list, giving it more top 100 innovative universities per capita than any other country. — Reuters

Page 18

September 15-30, 2015 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

World’s best spa destination goes to…

Thailand!

Bangkok, Sept 16, 2015 - Thailand, with its centuries’ old history of wellness and massage treatments, has been named the world’s best spa destination by travellers and industry leaders at the inaugural World Spa Awards.

Along with Thailand, the Emirates Palace Spa in Abu Dhabi also emerged a big winner, taking the title of World’s Best Hotel Spa and World’s Best Spa Signature Treatment for its decadent 24-carat gold facial.

Held at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Vietnam this week, the gala event was created to serve as a benchmark for world spas.

Thailand was named the best destination in the world for the breadth of its spa and wellness treatments, which range from world-class retreats in luxurious settings, to US$3 an hour foot and Thai massages on the streets of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the beaches of Phuket, Samui and Pattaya.

Treatments at the Emirates Palace Spa, on the other hand, are reserved for the moneyed client, where sheets of gold leaf are massaged onto cheeks to impart a “glow” to the skin.

After 90 minutes, the 24-Carat Gold

Radiance Facial promises to deliver “an illuminating radiant glow to all skin types.”

Skin is first prepped with a deep cleansing sequence before micronized 24-carat gold sheets are massaged via an “Ultra Sonic Nano” mist.

To finish the treatment, the skin gets a hydrating serum, moisturiser, eye cream, scalp and hand massages.

The spa itself, meanwhile, spans 1,500 square metres and features a traditional Moroccan Hammam, Jacuzzis, steam rooms, heated marble, an ice cave, and treatment rooms that offer gold, pearl, and caviar beauty treatments.

Here are some of the other winners from the World Spa Awards: World’s Best Countryside Hotel Spa 2015 The Spa at Fonteverde Tuscan Resort & Spa, Italy World’s Best Cruise Spa 2015 Mandara Spa at Norwegian Cruise Line

The spa at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi.

World’s Best Hotel Spa 2015 Emirates Palace Spa (Abu Dhabi)

The Saxon Spa and Studio at Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa (South Africa)

World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand 2015

Africa’s Best Spa Destination 2015

Talise by Jumeirah

Morocco

World’s Best Male Spa 2015

Asia’s Best Hotel Spa 2015

All-men’s Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre

Aman Spa at Aman Tokyo (Japan) Europe’s Best Hotel Spa 2015

World’s Best Mineral & Hot Springs Spa 2015 Six Senses Spa at Evason Ma’in Hot Springs

Bagni di Levante at Bagni di Pisa Palace & Spa (Italy) Europe’s Best Spa Destination 2015

World’s Best New Hotel Spa 2015 Turkey HARNN Heritage Spa at InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

North America’s Best Hotel Spa 2015

World’s Best Spa Brand 2015 The Spa at Viceroy Miami (Florida) QMS MediCosmetics World’s Best Wellness Spa 2015

North America’s Best Spa Destination 2015

Forte Village Resort (Italy)

California

REGIONAL WINNERS

Middle East’s Best Hotel Spa 2015

Africa’s Best Hotel Spa 2015

Emirates Palace Spa (Abu Dhabi)