Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
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Northeast Asia Security Forum
June 1-15, 2017
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho Photographer: Ben Hioe
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Millennial Leadership Academy - Leadership Development Workshop Date: June 10 & 11 (High School), June 17 &18 (Professional), June 24 & 25 (College) Venue: Maxim Realty Training Center, 6251 Smithpointe Dr., Norcross, GA 30092 For more info: www.mleadershipacademy.com 2017 K-Pop World Festival Regional Preliminary Presented by Consulate General of the Republic of Korea Date: June 17, 2017 Time: 1:30 pm Venue: Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta, 5900 Brook Hollow Parkway, Norcross GA 30071 For more info: atlanta@mofa.go.kr “How to do business with Gwinnett County” Gwinnett Small Business Week Presented by Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Date: Wed, June 21, 2017
Time: 8:30 am – Noon Venue: UGA Campus @Lawrenceville For more info: gwinnettchamber.org Seoul of the South Food Tour with Explore Gwinnett Date: Saturday, June 24, 2017 Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Venue: 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth GA 30097 https://www.exploregwinnett.org/ seoulofthesouth 2017 International Day of Yoga Date: Sunday, June 25, 2017 Time: 7:30 am – 10:30 am Venue: Heritage Sandy Springs Park, 6110 Blue Stone Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30328 For more info, visit idyatlanta.org GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia-Awards Presentation Date: Wed, July 12, 2017 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Sonesta Gwinnett Place Sponsorship & table reservation available.
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS Brookhaven City Council voted to welcome comfort women memorial
American Korean Friendship Society host forum on Northeast Asia security Atlanta, May 30, 2017 — American Korean Friendship Society (AKFS) organized a luncheon forum entitled “Northeast Asia Security and the Risk of Conflict” at the Georgian Club. The forum features two U.S. (retired) four-star generals and a senior military attache from the Korean Embassy in Washington DC. Mr. Sunny K. Park, President of AKFS, delivers a brief remark stating that the topic is timely with the latest incident involving North Korean provocation in the Northeast Asian region. “AKFS goal is to promote peace and friendship between the two great countries. I hope the forum today will shed some light on the issues affecting the region now,” said Park. Mr. Frank Blake, Chairman of Delta Airlines moderated the panelist consist of U.S. General (retired) Larry Ellis, U.S. General (retired) Burwell Bell and Brigadier General Se-Woo Pyo from the Korean Embassy in Washington DC. “We are confronting the only remaining issue leftover from the end of World War 2 in 1945. The North-South Korean dispute is more threatening today than it has ever been,” said General (Ret.) Belll in his remarks. The panelist also agreed that the instability in the the Northeast Asia region threatened U.S. national interest
in three key areas: homeland threat by North Korean nuclear missiles; global commons or regional peace; and cyber domain and vital common areas threats. “The North Koreans are trying to develop miniaturized nuclear warheads to attack the mainland U.S. and its neighbors,” said Brigadier General Pyo. “North Koreans have tested and launched five times with their nuclear missiles. They are getting closed to achieving their goal with each failure,” added Brigadier General Pyo. All panelist agreed that China will remain status quo and will not help to solve the problem. U.S. military personnel have recently deployed THAAD defense shield systems in South Korea to protect any possible nuclear missile attacks. China is against the THAAD defense shield deployment fearing that it would help identify Chinese missile capabilities, according to General Burwell. Over 80 guests attended the AKFS luncheon forum and amongst the guest is Japanese Consul General Takashi Shinozuka. For more information on American Korean Friendship Society, visit www. uskorea.org
Brookhaven, May 24, 2017 – The Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force announced the unanimous vote by the Brookhaven (Ga.) City Council to welcome the Young Girl’s Statue for Peace to the City of Brookhaven. The vote to permanently house the statue took place during its May 23, 2017 city council meeting. The memorial honors the 200,000 girls and women, euphemistically known as the ‘Comfort Women,’ who were trafficked and sexually enslaved throughout Asia during World War II by the Japanese Imperial Army. “The Comfort Women tragedy is one the largest known cases of human and sexual trafficking in the 20th century. International human rights tribunals, United Nations groups and rapporteurs have all affirmed the history of the Comfort Women and that their fundamental human rights were violated,” said Brookhaven City Councilman John Park. “I know I speak for the City Council, when I say the City of Brookhaven is deeply honored to be the home for the Young Girl’s Statue for Peace. As we remember the history of these victims of human trafficking and enslavement, we bear witness to their suffering so that these atrocities never happen again.” Councilman Park first championed the idea of welcoming the Comfort Women Memorial in Brookhaven and quickly Mayor Ernst and each City Council member enthusiastically agreed on the importance of such a remembrance on Brookhaven. “By establishing this memorial, we are raising awareness of the ongoing problems of sexual and human trafficking taking place in metro Atlanta and the world today,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst. “The City of Brookhaven is proud to join the growing list of progressive cities around the world that have already installed memorials in recognition of Comfort Women and their suffering. Brookhaven is now the first city in the state of Georgia and the deep south to publicly
commit to the Comfort Women memorial, and we encourage other cities to join us in a strong, public stand against human trafficking.” “Brookhaven has led our state in the fight against sex trafficking, which is a very serious problem,” said Tim Echols. “The history of the comfort women will help raise awareness and remind our community how prolific trafficking has been throughout the world.” Echols is the Statewide Advisor to the Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force, Georgia’s Public Service Commissioner, and long-time advocate on anti-sex trafficking. Brookhaven is home to a diverse and vibrant community, where approximately 25 percent of residents are foreign born. The City was also the first city to join We’re Not Buying It, a national initiative to create a forum for all 50 states to collaborate and develop strategies that finally put an end to sex trafficking in the U.S. The specific site will be determined and announced at a later date. The City plans to host an unveiling ceremony later this summer. The Task Force will also organize an educational event on the history of the Comfort Women and the connections with other local and international cases of sex trafficking. “We are grateful for the courage, passion and commitment of the city officials of Brookhaven,” said Mr. Baik Kyu Kim, the Chair of the Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force. “It is our hope that this beautiful statue will bring much healing, peace and hope.” Other U.S. cities that have established Comfort Women memorials include Palisades Park, New Jersey; Nassau, New York (2 memorials); Bergen City, New Jersey; Glendale, California; Southfield, Michigan; Fairfax, Virginia; Union City, New Jersey; San Francisco, CA; with efforts currently underway in Chicago.
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS
Casino mogul Ho says Chinese gamblers unhampered by curbs Macau, June 2, 2017 — Macau casino magnate Lawrence Ho, head of Melco Resorts, said measures introduced in mainland China and Macau to tackle capital flight were not denting sentiment, as demand continued to recover in the world’s largest gambling hub. Casino revenue in the Chinese territory of Macau has boomed over the last 10 months, reversing a more than two-year slide that followed the peak of President Xi Jinping’s campaign against corruption and conspicuous consumption. More recent efforts to control capital flight imposed by Macau authorities in May include facial recognition at ATM machines and new anti-money laundering regulations. Ho, son of one-time Macau kingpin Stanley Ho, said these would simply prompt gamblers to alter their banking habits. “It’s been two and a half years of being very stressed and fearful, so people
are starting to let loose now in China,” said Ho, 40, a former derivatives banker whose group operates casinos in the Philippines and Russia, and is vying to build a multi-billion dollar casino in Japan. Macau, a former Portuguese colony and now special administrative region of China, is the only place where Chinese nationals are legally allowed to gamble in casinos. “Normally it would be big news and people would be scared away from Macau,” Ho said of the new measures. “But because of the underlying demand, people adapt.” Speaking in Hong Kong, Ho said his high-profile split from former business partner James Packer had been due to a difference of views - Ho saw a turnaround in Macau in May last year, whilst the Australian billionaire had wanted to focus on Crown Resort Ltd’s domestic assets.
“It was perfect timing. I wanted to increase my exposure and he wanted to decrease it,” said Ho, who did not rule out working with Packer in future. Crown had been retreating from its foray into Macau since last October, when 18 staff were arrested in China for “gambling crimes”, raising questions over the future of the group’s prized source of growth, rich Chinese “VIP” gamblers. Ho stressed the two groups, Melco and Crown, had marketed their companies separately in the mainland and said he did not know the reason for the arrests. Crown and Melco’s partnership dates back to 2006, when they acquired a subconcession from the Macau government to operate casinos. To secure the subconcession they had to pay $900 million to Wynn Macau. Concessions granted by the Macau government will start to expire in 2020 and Ho said he hoped authorities
would give an indication in the next year of what to expect. But he added he remained confident of the company’s ability to rebid or reapply for the licenses. Authorities have been forcing operators to add significant non-gaming amenities to try to shift away from gambling. Melco’s properties include a Batman-themed resort, dancing water show and ferris wheel. The company is due to open a new hotel tower in Macau in the next year. Ho said his main objective, though, is now Japan, which legalized casinos last year. Major operators are jostling for position in what could be the world’s second-biggest casino market and Ho has vowed to outspend rivals. “Whatever capex or capital that we have, we are really looking at deploying it,” he said.
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
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BUSINESS
Chipmakers at Taiwan’s biggest tech fair look beyond crowded smartphone market Taipei, June 2, 2017 — Chipmakers switched focus at Taiwan’s top tech fair this week with bets on new areas such as driverless cars, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, shifting away from smartphones where intense competition has pushed down components prices.
ness development and product management for Internet of Things and consumer electronics at Qualcomm Inc.
The Computex Taipei event, now in its 36th year, has historically been a central venue for electronic parts manufacturers to show off their processors and other components, products that play a large part in Taiwan’s export-driven economy.
A push to boost artificial intelligence processors, a key technology behind driverless cars, has been a prominent part of the fair.
As prices of processors fell, companies pushed into headline-grabbing launches like last year’s Zenbo, a child-friendly home robot unveiled by Asustek Computer Inc, that could sing, snap pictures and help in the kitchen. This year, attention is back on core processing rather than novelties, but this time aimed more squarely at the “internet of things” (IoT), a buzzword used to describe connectivity between an increasing range of devices. “We are going from hype phase to more a reality phase with real products. You can see them, you can feel them,” said Hugo Swart, head of busi-
“I see last year was a year of a lot of promises and this year is a material realization,” Swart said of IoT.
Nvidia Corp, a visual computing company, focused on its Volta Graphics Processing Unit, the product of $3 billion investment in research and development. This processor will be used in smart cars such as Tesla Inc, which made its first Computex appearance with two of its vehicles on display. Nvidia is part-owned by Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp, which last month announced its Vision Fund - investing in technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics - had raised $93 billion. SoftBank also has a majority stake in ARM Holdings, a British software and semiconductor firm present at Computex this year, which expects to ship 100 billion chips globally over the five
years, from 50 billion in the 2013-2017 period. Also at the fair was Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co and a major Apple Inc supplier. The firm is developing technologies such as ones that automate sorting and packaging, to be initially implemented at its own factories before wider release to market. Fang-ming Lu, corporate executive vice president at the Taiwanese contract electronics maker, told reporters at Computex that smart manufacturing will be the focus of much of Foxconn’s new investment. “Computex seems to have shied away from mobility in favor of ‘internet of things’, which incorporates aspects of both cloud computing and artificial intelligence,” Anshel Sag, associate analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. While chipmakers have in past years geared their research and development to meet the demands of the global smartphone market, manufacturers are now putting this technology to other uses. For example, Goodix, a Shenzhen-based firm that makes fingerprint
sensors for smartphone touch screens, is developing similar biometric applications for PCs and automobiles and pushing its technology for other uses like reading patients’ heart rates. “Right now we’re focused on things beyond the mobile phone, including PCs and automotives,” David Zhang, Goodix founder, told Reuters in an interview. “We’re seeing if there are opportunities for us in the IoT wearables and industrial space.” - Reuters
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
ENTERTAINMENT
Olivia Newton-John reveals new cancer 25 years later Fan Bingbing says might quit acting at 40 Beijing, June 1, 2017 — Fans of actress Fan Bingbing may have another five years with the actress, as she recently shared her plans to retire from acting at the age of 40. As reported on Tencent, Fan, who spoke with the mainland media after returning from the Cannes Film Festival recently, shared that her plan is to stop acting as soon as she turns 40 and use the time to travel around the world. “I have focused all the time I have before the age of 40 to my career. I think, I should be able to enjoy the fruits of my labour,” she said. However, Fan admitted that a lot of her friends are skeptical with her plans
to retire, saying that a workaholic such as herself would never be able to stay quiet for a long time. “I’m not sure. It’s still unknown,” she added. On the other hand, the actress also shared that she has been supporting young directors by reducing her fee when working with them. “I think having a lot of money is not something that I particularly value,” she said.
New York, May 31, 2017 — Singing great Olivia Newton-John revealed yesterday a return of breast cancer, 25 years after her first successful battle made her an advocate for fighting the disease. The British-born star said she was obliged to postpone a tour of the United States and Canada following her new diagnosis. The 68-year-old said she will undergo a short course of radiation, as well as natural therapies, upon the advice of specialists at a cancer research center named after her in her adopted home of Melbourne, Australia. The singer “is confident she will be back later in the year, better than ever, to celebrate her shows,” said a statement by her management. Newton-John has been a chart-topper since the 1970s with songs that stretch into pop, folk and country but
she became best-known for starring in the 1978 musical comedy Grease alongside John Travolta. Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, forcing her to halt her schedule. The experience had a major impact on Newton-John who became an advocate for research into cancer and for early detection. She has dedicated a series of albums and concerts to cancer and other charities and raised funds to build the health centre in Melbourne. Newton-John had earlier postponed the first half of a North American tour complaining of back pain. After consulting doctors, she learned that the pain was connected with breast cancer which had spread to the sacrum bone of her back.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Tom Cruise says Top Gun 2 in the works Sydney, May 24, 2017 -- Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise revealed Wednesday he plans a sequel to the cult action film Top Gun, with filming set to begin next year. Rumors have swirled for years that he would revisit the 1986 movie that made him a household name, and Cruise finally spoke out while in Australia to promote his latest flick “The Mummy”. Asked by a Channel Seven breakfast TV host about whether a second installment of the action drama was in the cards, he replied: “Yes, it’s true.” “I’m going to start filming it probably in the next year. “It’s happening, it’s definitely happening.”
The original Top Gun, which also starred Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis and Tim Robbins, received mixed reviews but was a huge commercial hit.
The film catapulted Cruise to the ranks of Hollywood’s elite and has since become something of a cult classic.
It was the top grossing film stateside in 1986, raking in $356.8 million globally.
The studly cast, catchy pop soundtrack — Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” won an Academy Award for best original song — and high-powered aerial sequences both entertained moviegoers and fueled interest in the military.
Directed by Tony Scott, Cruise played hotshot US Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who has a dangerous and reckless flying style. He struggles to balance life, responsibility and a love affair while competing at the Navy’s fighter-weapons school. The blockbuster was based on a real training program that was known as Topgun and based at San Diego’s former Naval Air Station Miramar.
Navy recruiting officials reportedly saw a dramatic uptick in inquiries from would-be flyboys following the film’s release, with military recruiters in some cities setting up tables outside cinemas. One of the film’s producers Jerry Bruckheimer went on to put out a number of war-themed Hollywood hits that came in the wake of “Top Gun”,
including “Crimson Tide”, “Pearl Harbor”, and “Black Hawk Down”. A sequel has been hinted at for years. In January 2016 Bruckheimer tweeted a photo of himself and Cruise, writing: “Just got back from a weekend in New Orleans to see my old friend Tom Cruise and discuss a little Top Gun 2.”
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EVENT
June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
American Korean Friendship Society - Forum May 30, 2017 Georgian Club
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
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ART
Da Vinci contraptions brought to life in Bruges exhibition Bruges, May 31, 2017 — Leonardo da Vinci’s bird-like flying machine and portable bridge have been brought to life in a new exhibition opening tomorrow in the Belgian city of Bruges. One hundred machines invented or enhanced by the Italian Renaissance mastermind have been realised, by using plans he drew himself. They will be on display in Bruges for six months, before embarking on a world tour over 10 years. Some of the 500-year-old designs, including the bird-like aeroplane, have been created at full life-size scale. Others are scale models made of wood and other materials of the age. Although others have turned drawings by the painter of the Mona Lisa into three-dimensional reality, organisers say this is the biggest such exhibition of its kind. “The highlight of this exhibition is principally the quantity of works that is presented, covering a big variety of instruments, machines, war machines, and other objects in the same place,” said technical designer Vincent Damseaux.
“You see the technique he was designing in that period and you still find a correlation with what you have today,” he added. “The gear box — that is something you’ll find on your bikes today — but it was already invented at that time.” Leonardo’s designs were varied and pioneering. Though he was not the first to conceive of each design, he made significant improvements to many. The exhibition shows weaponry was a common theme in his work, with gruesome bladed war contraptions envisaged. He also imagined the helicopter, plane, submarine and bridges ahead of his time. Visitors to the XPO Centre can turn handles and otherwise activate some devices. Other exhibits include his codex writings and a copy of the Mona Lisa, now hanging in the Louvre in Paris, as well as work by contemporaries like Michelangelo and Raphael. After Bruges, the show moves to Istanbul, then Dubai before further six-month stops across Asia and the United States. — Reuters
Rodin’s ‘Andromede’ sells for US$4.1m at Paris auction Los Angeles, May 31, 2017 ― Auguste Rodin’s white marble sculpture of the mythical Ethiopian princess “Andromede” fetched nearly €3.7 million at a Paris auction yesterday, well above the top estimated price of €1.2 million. The rediscovered masterpiece ― created in 1886-1887 and depicting the daughter of Ethiopian King Cepheus nude and asleep on a rock ― was sold by the Artcurial auction house just as Paris is marking the centenary of Rodin’s death. An exhibit of more than 200 of his works and those of artists he influenced is showing at the Grand Palais in the French capital until the end of July. In 1888, Rodin presented the work to Carlos Morla Vicuna, a Chilean diplomat living in Paris at the time, as a gift, said Bruno Jaubert, Artcurial’s director of the impressionist and modern art department. It has been in the Vicuna’s family ever since.
“For 130 years she stayed in this family of diplomats despite the members’ different foreign postings,” Jaubert said. The work, one of five carvings Rodin created of the subject, is especially notable for the contrast between Andromede’s smooth finish and the virtually untouched roughness of the jutting slab of rock. The US$4.1 million sale price, while substantial, is far from the record set last year for a Rodin sculpture ― his “Eternal springtime” marble sculpture of lovers sold for US$20.41 million at Sotheby’s in New York in May 2016.
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June 1-15, 2017
Georgia Asian Times
LIFESTYLE
The ‘fidget spinner’ that has spun teachers into a tizzy It was supposed to calm nerves, relieve stress and improve concentration but a new anti-fidget toy spreading fast through US and European schools is whipping up anger among teachers on both sides of the Atlantic. Just months after the “fidget spinner” first whirled its way into the hands of antsy youngsters, some schools have already banned it — prompting a debate about difficulties children experience concentrating. “The fidget spinners came out of nowhere, and then it seemed every other kid had them,” said Meredith Daly, a sixth-grade teacher at a public school outside Phoenix, Arizona. “The kids would say, ‘Oh it helps me calm down.’ I did not really know what to think at first.” Sold for just a few dollars, the spinning top-like gadget divided into two or three branches, has proved a surprise hit this spring, first in the United States and then across Europe after its release on the continent last month. The spinners have the advantage of being silent, Daly says — a relief to many grown-ups after months of “bottle flip,” a popular game that involves spinning a bottle of water until it lands upright. But it quickly became clear that with
“the fidget spinner, you need to keep it going, they want to look at it spinning around… it is too distracting if you are trying to learn something new,” she said. “So we all decided ‘No fidget spinners — keep them in your backpacks!’” Like many American teachers who have recently vented their irritation on Twitter, Daly tolerates them only at parents’ express request. Or when the need arises, as is sometimes the case for children with attention problems, hyperactivity or certain forms of autism. Other schools in the United States, France and England have banned them, even during recess, much to the annoyance of children like Tom Wuesteberg. “It would help (to have them in school)… if I don’t want to do my work anymore, I take my fidget, do a little spin and then get back to work,” the eight-year-old New originally from Belgium says. Noelle Cullimore, who lives in Long Island with her two children, says spinning helps her 10-year-old son, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), to relax. “He spins it at the bus stop or in the
car, it really does keep him occupied, and for the most part it has been good for him.”
Burning out stress It’s not just for kids. Adults also like to use spinners as a way “to burn out stress,” says Richard Gottlieb, CEO of Global Toy Expert. “People do want to fidget,” he says. “There is so much to worry about the world right now that people need a way to work out stress.” As annoying as it may be, many teachers recognize that a growing number of children need to play with something in their hands to concentrate better and are now more tolerant of students clicking pens or tapping their feet. Stress balls and wiggle seats have become common in schools, Daly says.
“We could probably make a lot of money if we could come up with that quiet, effective toy that kids could do while they are writing an essay.” One of the contenders to fill that void is the Fidget Cube, a small plastic box whose every side offers a new possibility to keep fidgety fingers occupied. A runaway success on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter, it has spawned multiple imitations. “This behavior (fidgeting) isn’t one that should continue to be stigmatized and mocked as unbecoming or inappropriate,” the inventors of the Fidget Cube said in a press release. “We are passionate about the idea that fidgeting is a process that, with the right tools and outlet, can have positive and real-life applications.”
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
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SPORTS
Valverde ‘lucky’ to be able to count on Messi at Barca Barcelona, June 1, 2017 — New Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde believes more is to come from Lionel Messi as he spoke of his excitement at working closely with the Argentine, whom he called the best player he has ever seen. Messi finished top scorer in Europe’s top five leagues last season with 37 strikes in La Liga and produced a vintage performance as he helped fire Barca to a 3-1 victory over Alaves in the King’s Cup final last Saturday. Outgoing coach Luis Enrique spoke of his gratitude after that game of being able to enjoy Messi at the peak of his powers and Valverde also heaped praise on the five times world player of the year in his official unveiling as Barca coach. “I still haven’t met him but I feel very lucky and it will be a unique experience, he’s the best player I’ve ever seen on a football pitch,” Valverde told a news conference today.
“Whenever it looks like he has reached his peak the next day he surprises you even more. I hope I can help him in any way possible and that I’ll enjoy the experience.” Valverde, who is nicknamed “the ant” and is a respected photographer in his spare time, joins Barca after six seasons in charge of Athletic Bilbao, where he was the longest serving manager. He has also coached Barca’s city rivals Espanyol in addition to Olympiakos Piraeus, Valencia and Villarreal.
quality. He will set the tone of our play, in a positive way,” added Valverde, 53. Messi’s contract with Barca expires next year, although Valverde said he had been told the club’s directors were confident the Argentine will agree a new bumper, long term deal in the coming months. “I’m not worried about it, the information I have is that everyone is optimistic about it,” he said. Constant demands
He said he had not yet devised a plan on how to get the best out of Messi, who assumed a deeper role on the pitch in the last campaign, often dipping into midfield, yet still hit 54 goals in all competitions.
Speaking in a calm, relaxed tone and giving long answers in a presentation that lasted just under an hour, Valverde looks set to operate in a more conciliatory way than his predecessor Enrique.
“He’s decisive in whichever position he plays, although seeing him from the inside will be different from the outside. I’ve never trained a player of his
Valverde, who played for the club between 1988 and 1990 under coach Johan Cruyff, was close to being named Barca coach in the past and said
he was ready for the constant demands and pressure of the job he has just taken on. “The media focus here is non-stop, everything has an impact at Barca, every small question is made into a big one. I know that coaches are blamed for every defeat, I know what I have exposed myself to,” he added. “Barcelona needed a coach, they thought about me, and here I am. I didn’t have to think too much about it.”
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS
Real Madrid and Juventus, the business plans Cardiff, June 1, 2017 ― On one side, one of the world’s most powerful clubs and the reigning champions, Real Madrid. On the other, Juventus, a club without the same financial means, yet. AFP looks at the business models of the two sides who will clash in Saturday’s Champions League final in Cardiff. ― Real Madrid, rich man’s problems There was a minor earthquake in the Santiago Bernabeu boardroom recently when it emerged that the newly-crowned Spanish champions had been dethroned as the club with a the biggest revenue in the world by Manchester United, according to financial analysts Deloitte. Madrid had held the title for the previous 11 years. With a turnover of €620 million last season, Real nevertheless remain in the top three worldwide. And president Florentino Perez assures that the club will remain a leading force financially, despite the fact that ― like Barcelona ― they do not belong to a rich investor but to their members, the “socios”. Perez returned to the presidency in 2009 after his initial six-year stint end-
ed in 2006, and he is best known for his policy of signing “galacticos”. “I am one of those who thinks that if Real have the best players in the world in every position, our revenues won’t be a problem,” said Perez said in an interview in December. He will soon stand for re-election and it is therefore likely the club will get the wallet out to seduce voting members, and give their image a boost along with sales of tickets and shirts. However, since buying Gareth Bale in 2013 for around €100 million, Real have mainly invested in talented young players, like Marco Asensio or the Norwegian teen Martin Odegaard. Recently, Real agreed a deal worth a reported 40 million euros to sign Brazilian starlet Vinicius Junior, just 16, from Flamengo. Economically, the other big project of the Perez presidency is the modernisation of the Bernabeu, approved this week by Madrid’s city hall and expected to cost €400 million. The 81,000-capacity venue will be fitted with a retractable roof and will also include room for a shopping centre and possibly a hotel, all of which is to be enveloped inside a metallic, undulating facade.
The operation will be financed by Abu Dhabi-based sponsor IPIC, who will be given naming rights, and the club’s revenues should rise considerably as a result. ― Juve not yet on the same level Juventus are by far and away the richest club in Italy and have easily the healthiest finances, but they are a long way away from competing with Real Madrid.
In other words, Juve are becoming one of the biggest European clubs, certain to play in the Champions League every year and with the means to strengthen while weakening their domestic competitors. They are trying to close the gap to the ogres of Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and they have also become very astute in the transfer market.
The specialist website Calcio e Finanza states that Juve’s turnover in the last five years has risen from €213 million to 387 million at the end of last season.
They have been able to spend big on players like Gonzalo Higuain and Miralem Pjanic while also making some outstanding signings for nothing, or next to nothing.
It is in terms of commercial revenue and marketing, as well as income from their stadium ― which is barely half the size of the Bernabeu ― that the gulf between the two finalists is most pronounced.
The likes of Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Dani Alves, Kingsley Coman and Sami Khedira fall into that category, but will their transfer market savvy help them become champions of Europe?
Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio coldly summed up Juve’s power domestically, saying: “After they were relegated (following the Calciopoli scandal in 2006), they worked to a precise business plan...they built their own stadium and worked on their commercial development.” He added: “They have managed to do all that with continuity and that is why there is a big difference between them and the rest.”
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
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HEALTH Survey: Late-night handphone use affects mental health Sydney, May 31, 2017 -- Late night mobile phone use has devastating effects on teenagers’ mental health, a new study by Australian researchers at Murdoch and Griffith Universities found Tuesday, according to China’s Xinhua news agency. Funded by the Australian Research Council, the world’s first long-term assessment of adolescent mental health regarding late-night mobile phone usage examined students’ quality of sleep, along with mood, aggression, coping skills, self-esteem and whether they were experiencing any symptoms of depression. The process was conducted as an annual survey over four years and included 1,100 students from 29 schools. When the subjects began the process, they were in Year 8 of high school. When the programme concluded, they had hit Year 11. The questionnaires focused on what
time of the night students continued to receive or send text messages and phone calls. “We found that late-night phone use directly contributed to poor sleep habits, which over time led to declines in overall wellbeing and mental health,” lead researcher Dr Lynette Vernon said.
According to Mark Levi, a Sydney-based sleep doctor, the scientific reason for why mobile phones can have such a negative influence on sleeping patterns is due to the unnatural light they produce.
ing, all these things affect the slow waves of your sleep pattern and will give the person poor quality sleep.
“Blue light in your bedroom retards your sleeping.
For Levi, the findings of the study are no surprise. “There is no question, no question at all, that it’s a growing issue with teenagers, adolescents and the young,” the sleep expert said.
“We have demonstrated how poor sleep is the key link connecting an increase in night-time mobile use with subsequent increases in psychosocial issues.” Around two-thirds, or 65%, of students in Year 8 who owned a mobile phone, reported using it regularly after “lights out”. When the study concluded four years later, the figure was 78%, finding that “as their levels of mobile phone use grew over time, so did their poor sleep behaviour”, co-author of the study Dr Kathryn Modecki said.
“Blue light is a real, real problem in the bedroom. It’s a big, huge problem.”
“If I nudged you every couple of minutes in bed, you wouldn’t sleep very well. “It affects your hormones, it affects your melatonin secretions, your insulin secretions, it affects a lot of balance in the body,” Levi told Xinhua. “So the more you sit in bed and watch TV, play with your tablet, play with your phone and have your phone beeping at three o’clock in the morn-
“So when a phone is beeping all night or they are watching a screen all night, it’s affecting their sleep a lot and we’re seeing children with sleep patterns that are disturbed. “It’s going to affect their attitude, their cognitive skills, their concentration skills, their moodiness during the day.”
New study finds a cup of joe reduces liver cancer risk The study by the University of Southampton along with researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyzed data from 26 observational studies involving more than 2.25 million participants. The team set out to look at the effect of drinking between one and five cups of caffeinated coffee a day on hepatocellular cancer (HCC), the second leading cause of death from cancer globally, due to its poor prognosis and high frequency, especially in China and Southeast Asia. The findings showed that drinking just one cup of coffee a day was associated with a 20 percent reduction in the risk of developing HCC, two cups was associated with a 35 percent reduction, and up to five cups with a 50 percent reduction.
The team also found that both existing coffee drinkers and new coffee drinkers benefited from the same reduced risk, and that decaffeinated coffee was also found to have a protective, although smaller, effect — news which may encourage those who are not coffee lovers to make the drink a bigger part of their lifestyle. There was little data available above five cups a day to show what effect increasing consumption further may have. Lead author Dr Oliver Kennedy noted that “We’re not suggesting that everyone should start drinking five cups of coffee a day though. There needs to be more investigation into the potential harms of high coffee-caffeine intake, and there is evidence it should be avoided in certain groups such as pregnant women.”
Professor Peter Hayes of the University of Edinburgh, said, “We have shown that coffee reduces cirrhosis and also liver cancer in a dose-dependent manner. Coffee has also been reported to reduce the risk of death from many other causes. Our research adds to the evidence that, in moderation, coffee can be a wonderful natural medicine.” Dr Kennedy also added, “Our find-
ings are an important development given the increasing evidence of HCC globally and its poor prognosis.” It is estimated that by 2030 the number of new cases of HCC annually will have risen by about 50 percent, to more than 1.2 million. Increased coffee consumption has already been shown to protect against serious non-cancer chronic liver disease (cirrhosis), possibly due to the compound molecules in coffee possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and other beneficial properties. The study’s findings were published in the journal BMJ Open.
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
Misc Asia
Indonesian ‘rainbow village’ is internet sensation
Jakarta, June 1, 2017 -- An Indonesian hamlet dubbed “the rainbow village” after being given a makeover in a kaleidoscope of colours is attracting hordes of visitors and has become an internet sensation.
Global fashion giants fret over India cow crackdown New Delhi, June 1, 2017 -- The government last week declared a nationwide ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter, startling major fashion labels who buy billions of dollars worth of leather from India every year to make high-end shoes, handbags and jackets. “They’re calling and writing emails and asking what the consequences of this will be, and I don’t know what to tell them,” said Mohammad Zia Nafees, whose Kolkata-based business sells finished leather to Zara and Marks & Spencer for shoes. The controversial ruling effectively chokes off India’s supply of beef and leather, and industry groups and some states where cow slaughter has previously been permitted have vowed to fight the decree. India is the world’s second-largest producer of footwear and leather garments and sold $13 billion worth of goods last year — nearly half to clients abroad who are growing skittish, industry groups say. “My family has been working with Radley and Armani for the last few decades and now they’re asking us if we
can fulfil our commitments to them,” said Imran Ahmed Khan from the Council for Leather Exports. “The industry is in panic mode at the moment. We have been handed a death certificate by the ruling Modi government.” Cows are considered sacred by Hindus and the new ban was justified on the grounds of avoiding animal cruelty. But critics have accused the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing a hardline religious agenda. The BJP has pushed for stronger protections for cows during the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There has been a surge in vigilante attacks on cattle handlers and curbs on the meat industry since he took office in 2014. Industry figures said the latest decree ran counter to Modi’s goal of creating jobs and luring foreign investment, and said retailers could look next door if the disruption continued. Neighbouring Bangladesh and Pakistan — both major garment producers
The collection of about 200 modest homes on a hillside above a river used to be a typical, low-income Indonesian neighbourhood that was filthy and gloomy. But residents of the Wonosari community in Semarang decided an extreme makeover was needed, and received money from the local government and several companies to carry out the project. The houses were re-painted in a dizzying array of colours during a month-long overhaul which cost about $200,000, and the polluted river nearby was also cleaned up. The local mayor opened the newly decorated hamlet on Java island to the public in mid-April and the community quickly became a local landmark known as “the rainbow village”. The buildings — many of which are decorated with art such as pictures of angels’ wings and whales — can be
are mainly Muslim and cow slaughter is not an issue. The industry hopes the ruling which affects not just cows but the trade in bulls, bullocks, buffaloes, calves and camels will be rescinded or amended to exclude buffalo, an animal not considered sacred but valued for its leather.
seen for miles around, climbing up the hillside like a gigantic staircase. Domestic and foreign visitors have been flocking to the village to snap pictures, which have been rapidly spreading on Instagram and Facebook. “This is very special, extremely creative,” said Maya Susanti, an Indonesian visitor who came to the village with her friends. “The village used to look plain but now there are so many good spots for taking pictures.” Community leader Yosep Tri Prawoko added: “Every single alleyway has become a favourite spot for a photoshoot, it’s great.” Villagers are enjoying the tourism boom sparked by the makeover. Surani, a local flower seller who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said local people were feeling the benefits: “I hope our livelihoods keep on getting better.” The makeover and flow of visitors has also encouraged residents to keep the community clean, and rubbish bins have been put up around the hamlet.
The slaughter of cows, as well as the possession or consumption of beef, is banned in most but not all Indian states. Some impose up to life imprisonment for infringements.
Georgia Asian Times June 1-15, 2017
Page 17
Misc Asia
Beijing’s rickshaws teeter between tradition, survival Beijing, May 31, 2017 ― The makeshift red-canopied vehicles are ubiquitous in Beijing: rickshaws traversing narrow alleyways and skyscraper-lined avenues alike. A historic mode of transport, they have survived China’s modernisation, and remain an integral part of city living ― but for the drivers, life remains a struggle. Near the lofty Forbidden City, where emperors once lived, a man surnamed Guo has worked as a rickshaw driver for 10 hours every day for the last 30 years. The boom of cars, electric scooters, and, more recently, shared bikes, has not managed to kill his business. “It hasn’t changed anything,” Guo said with a smile. Appearing in China at the end of the 19th century, rickshaws originally had
two wheels and were pulled by their driver on foot, with passengers seated at the back.
Working in constant fear of being caught by the traffic police, Li speeds up when he sees a uniformed officer.
Today, most of the vehicles are tricycles. Some still have pedals and are propelled by physical force, but the majority are equipped with electric or gas engines.
The 29-year-old has been caught six times in four years, each time having to pay a fine of 1,000 yuan.
The drivers must be licensed and operate within government-defined zones, mainly around scenic downtown lakes. But others tinker with their own vehicles and work illegally, without licenses. They are targeted by police officers who accuse them of dangerous driving, traffic disruptions, and tourist scams. Li Wei is among them. A young father hailing from the impoverished central Henan province, he drives from 8:00pm until dawn.
Unlicensed work also carries the risk of having the rickshaw ― worth 2,000 yuan ― confiscated. But for Li the rewards are worth the gamble. On weekends, he takes home partygoers spilling out of bars, earning 500 yuan a night. Though this is a hefty sum in China and his wife also works ― she is an assistant at a clothing store ― but they can still only afford a tiny, dilapidated apartment in Beijing. His father, also a rickshaw driver, lives with them. It has been four years since Li first
took the job, and he confesses he is already tired of earning a living this way. But having worked in factories and restaurants in Shanghai, he concedes that driving for a living is far better. Asked what he would do instead, if he could, he shrugs his shoulders in defeat. He explains: “I have no idea how I would make a living otherwise.”
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June 1-15, 2017 Georgia Asian Times
TRAVEL
Tired of Versailles? Here are three other day trips to make from Paris Paris, May 25, 2017 — Paris, as they say, is always a good idea. One can never get enough of its elegant boulevards, its show-stopping cuisine, fresh pain au chocolat in the mornings and long walks along the Seine. But if you have been there several times, or you are staying for an extended period of time, you might want a brief change of scenery. Beyond the obvious nearby destinations such as Versailles or Mont St Michel, where else should you go if you are itching for a day trip out of the capital? Here are three suggestions. Giverny If you love rustic botanical beauty, visit Giverny. Only an hour’s train ride from Paris, it is a tiny town with a big claim to fame: Claude Monet called it home. Here, you can visit Monet’s Gardens (€9 for entry), encompassing the Impressionist painter’s house and the extensive gardens he planned with care and skill, which then served as inspiration for some of his most wellknown paintings. There are two large areas: The Clos Normand, planted with the flowers of Monet’s choosing, in front of the residence; and the water garden, with the bridge over the lily pond depicted in
the famous paintings. The best time to visit is in the spring or summer, when the flowers are in bloom. You can also tour the house where Monet and his family lived. In the picturesque village, you can visit the family’s graves in the churchyard, as well as the Museum of Impressionism. Feeling peckish? Two hundred metres from Monet’s Gardens is the Hotel La Musardiere and the casual Hotel Restaurant, where you can get buckwheat galettes and local cider, as well as crepes dusted with sugar. By train: Get off at Vernon-Giverny station and take a shuttle bus, which costs €5 each way. Dijon It is not all about the mustard in Dijon, although, of course, there are several moutarderies (mustard shops) that do a thriving business. Dijon, formerly a Neolithic as well as Roman settlement, was the seat of the Dukes of Burgundy, and it is where you can view their palace, some impressive cathedrals, medieval houses, and beautiful Renaissance and Gothic architecture. In fact, the historical city centre is a Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage site. It takes about three hours by train to get from Paris to Dijon. Once there, you can download and use the
Owl’s Trail app , which leads you on a walking tour. If you follow the little owls marked out on the ground in sequence, you will be on an efficient trail that shows you all of Dijon’s major attractions. Why the obsession with owls? Well, there is a stone owl on the side of the Notre Dame cathedral that is supposed to bring you good luck if you rub it. You will also eat well in Dijon if you plan ahead: The town has four Michelin-starred restaurants and, of course, it is also a good place to enjoy the wines of the Burgundy region. By train: Get off at Dijon Ville station and walk about 10 minutes to the main shopping street. Strasbourg Strasbourg, in the region of Alsace, is located on the River Rhine close to the German border, and is just two hours from Paris, by train. It has a very interesting history, having fluctuated between French and German rule several times within the last century or two.
The heart of the old city, with its medieval streets, is the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral with its astronomical clock. In the Petite France area, there are fairy-tale-pretty half-timbered houses painted in pastel colours. And in the La Neustadt area, with its German architecture, there is a completely different feel. A good option is to join a two-hour walking tour such as the one run by Happy Strasbourg, which offers free, informative English-language tours daily from April to October as well as in December. Just remember to tip your guide at the end. While you are here, try the tarte flambee, also known as Flammekueche, sort of a crispy pizza topped with lardoons, creme fraiche and the sweet onions the region is known for. Do not miss out on sampling Alsatian wines, especially its famed Riesling. By train: Get off at Strasbourg station and walk about 15 minutes to the Notre Dame Cathedral square.