Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com
Happy Spring!
April 15-30, 2014
Page 2
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 3
GAT Calendar of Events Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho Photography: Ben Hioe, Rendy Tendean
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 2004-2013
All Rights Reserved: including those to reproduce this printing or parts thereof in any form without permission in writing from Georgia Asian Times. Established in 2004, the Georgia Asian Times is published by Asiamax Inc. All facts, opinions, and statements appearing within this publication are those of writers and editors themseleves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, endorsements by Georgia Asian Times or its officers. Georgia Asian Times assumes no responsibility for damages from the use of information contained in this publication or the reply to any advertisement. The Publisher will not be liable for any error in advertising to greater extent than the cost of space occupied by the error and will only be made for a single publication date. The Publisher reserves the right to reject any ad or articles submitted for publication that may not be in good taste for a free publication.
GAT 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.
PGA Tour Champions Tour: Greater Gwinnett Championship Date: April 14-20, 2014 Venue: TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia For more info: www.GreaterGwinnettChampionship.com Building Strategic Partnership with Asia Organized by SAUPO-Kennesaw State University Featuring keynote speaker: Adil Kabani, OPIC & White House Initiative on AAPI Date: Friday, April 18, 2014 Time: 8:00 am - 11:50 am Venue: Room 400, KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw GA 30144 Free & open to public Register online: www.kennesaw.edu/ saupo GIACC Presents: Lydia Jones, Regional Director SBDC Organized by Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Date: Friday, April 25, 2014 Time: 7:00 am - 9:30 am Venue: Georgian Club, 100 Galleria Parkway, Ste 1700, Atlanta GA 30339 Registration required: Members $20; Non-members $25 For more info: www.giacc.org 29th Annual Unity Gala- Asian Pacific Heritage Month & Scholarship Award Organized by Asian/Pacific American Council of Georgia (APAC) Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014 Time: 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm Venue: Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta For more info: Le Dam Doan 770-7228486 or www.apacga.org
BABC Transatlantic Business Conference 2014 Organized by British American British Group Date: May 20-22, 2014 Venue: Intercontinental Hotel For more info: www.babc2014atlanta. com GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia ~ Awards Presentation Date: Thursday, July 10, 2014 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: TBA Sponsorship opportunities available For more info: gat25@gasiantimes. com Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Atlanta Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014 Time: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Venue: Clarks Bridge - Kayaking Facility, Lake Lanier, Gainesville For more info: www.dragonboatatlanta.com 10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: October 10-24, 2014 Venues: TBA For more info: www.atlaff.org
Page 4
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS
TECO Atlanta hosts teleconference broadcast on eve of Taiwan Relations Act Atlanta, April 9, 2014 — Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta (TECO) hosted a live teleconference between President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan and The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The event was held on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), a key basis for the development of ties between Taipei and Washington.
Asian American teacher finalist for 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year award Atlanta, April 7, 2014 — Hyunjin Son, physics and engineering technology teacher from Gwinnett County’s School of Mathematics, Science and Technology has been named a finalist among ten selected teachers for the 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year award. State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge officially announced the finalists for 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year. The 10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 156 applicants who were selected as the Teacher of the Year in their representative school districts. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included current and former classroom teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.
“I congratulate our ten Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists and those who applied,” Superintendent Barge said. “As usual, we had a very impressive group of teachers make the top ten. I look forward to working with all of them to help continue the student achievement gains our schools are showing.” Over the next several weeks, a panel of judges will conduct video observations and interview each of the finalists. The finalists will also give a speech at a luncheon sponsored by Georgia Power in April. The winner will be announced at the Georgia Teacher of the Year conference during the banquet on May 16, 2014, at the Georgia International Convention Center. The 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. The winner will also be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
P1030820The TRA was enacted on April 10, 1979 to maintain commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the U.S. and Taiwan, after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and Paul Wolfowitz, former U.S. deputy secretary of defense and now a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, participated in the live broadcast discussion. President Ma highlighted in his speech on Taipei-Washington relations and Taiwan’s role in the Asian region’s security and economy. In his speech, President Ma again put forward his proposed East China Sea peace initiative, which he said is aimed at helping to maintain stability in the region and ease tensions arising from territorial disputes. The East China Sea peace initiative — which calls for all parties concerned to shelve their differences and explore resources jointly — has led to the signing of a Taiwan-Japan fishery agreement that covers overlapping economic waters of the two countries, President Ma said.
Such a peace initiative could also be applied to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, he added. President Ma also urged the United States to help Taiwan build diesel-electric submarines to strengthen the island’s defense capabilities. Taiwan’s F-16A/B fighter jets are in the process of upgrade and the country also needs submarines for defense purposes, when asked about Taiwan’s weapons procurement plans. ‘There seems to be a consensus in Taiwan that we should seek foreign technology to help us build ourselves,’ the president said, adding that he hopes the American government will take that into account. Steven Tai, Director General of TECO Atlanta, hosted a panel discussion following the teleconference broadcast at his midtown office. Among the invited panelists are Dr. John Garver, Professor of Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Dr. Chien-pin Li, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Kennesaw State University, The panelists agreed that Taiwan should actively pursue membership in the US-led Transpacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) to strengthen its position in economy and security.and Professor Andrew Wederman, Department of Political Science at Georgia State University.
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 5
METRO ASIAN NEWS creation of this masterpiece. This sake is aged for an extended period prior to bottling. Best served in chilled, body, or room temperature. Kubota Senju (Very Dry) Kubota Senju is fortified with natural alcohol to achieve the perfect clean and crop flavor. Best served in chilled, body, or room temperature. Mr. Hideki Horikoshi , Production Head and Chief Brewer, Ryujin Sake Brewery, introduced “Oze No Yukidoke Ookarakuchi” and “Oze No Yukidoke Genshu” from his brewery located in Gunma Prefecture. His brewery was founded in 1597.
Sake tasting as part of Japan’s sake export push Atlanta, April 4, 2014 — Hon. Kozue Sunaga, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, hosted an evening of sake tasting and food pairing for invited guests at his residence in Buckhead. The sake demonstration was organized by Koji Aoto, Savannah Distribution and Ami Nakanishi, Kyodo Trading along with Jim Montgomery of Savi Provisions. Over 40 invited guests were introduced to ten sakes from five brewery from Japan. Guests were treated to traditional Japanese food paired with various sakes imported from Japan.
makers — they are currently boosting productions and global marketing for the rice spirit. Five distinctive brewers from various parts of Japan presented their sakes for tasting at CG Japan residence: Mr. Sotaro Kinoshita, Managing Director, Asahi Sake Brewery, introduced “Kubota Manju” and “Kubota Senju” from his brewery located in Niigata Prefecture. The brewery was established in 1830.
Oze No Yukidoke Genshu Junmai Daiginjo (Slightly Dry) An elegant aroma of Ginjo with rice flavor. It is well balanced sake with a clean finish that goes well with fish dishes.
Kubota Manju (Slightly Dry) It has a refined arema and an elegant flavor. Brewers of Kubota Manju devoted their skills and passion to the
Kikusaui Funaguchi Nama Genshu Honjozo (Slightly Dry) A genuine unpasterurized sake which has a rich, dense sake taste. Combined with a hint of sweetness and full-bodied, it pairs well with numerous rich dishes especially spicy dishes. Kikusui Perfect Snow Futsu-shu (Very sweet) It has a full bodied sweetness coupled with a subtle thexture of the moroni granules. Contains 21% alcohol content with a crisp, dynamic flavor. Best served chilled or on the rocks. Also perfect to mix with soda or milk to draw out the flavor. Mr. Timothy Sullivan, Ambassador, Hakkai Sake Brewery, introduced “Hakkasan Eight Peaks-Honjozo” and “Hakkasan Eight Peaks-Junmai Ginjo” from Niigata Prefecture.
Mr. Koichiro Nishimura. Overseas Business Development Director, Nishimura Sake Brewery, introduced “Amabuki Daiginjo” and “Amabuki Ichigo Nama” from his brewery located in Saga. Kinoshita Daiginjo (Semi Dry) Made from a special sake rice known as “Yamadanishiki.” The yeast used in this sake is from the Aberia flower — which gives the sake its lush and glossy taste. You may taste a hint of melon or white peach on the palate with this delicious sake. Best served either chilled or room temperature.
Sake exports almost doubled from 2002 to 2012, from 1.9 million gallons to 3.7 million gallons. Exports of topped an all-time high of $81.6 million in the 10 months through October 2013, based on data from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Foresty and Fisheries. U.S. market accounted for 28 percent of exports in 2012. There has been a renewed push for exports by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government for the rice spirit. Japan has over 1700 sake
Oze No Yukidoke Ookarakuchi Junmai (Very Dry) This sake has a slightly sweet and full bodied flavor. It has a super dry finishes. It is a suitable sake to be paired with food.
Mr. Richard Priest, Sales Manager, Kikusui Sake Brewery, introduced “Kikusaui Funaguchi Nama Genshu” and “Kikusui Perfect Snow” from his brewery located in Niigata Prefecture. The bowery was established in 1597.
Kinoshita Ichigo Nama (Semi Dry) This sake is beewed using yeast cultivated off the flowers of strawberry plants. Characterized as a refreshing crisp, fresh aroma reminiscent of strawberries. Best served chilled.
Hakkasan Eight Peaks-Honjozo (Very Dry) A premium sake made using finest sake rice — it has a very light and smooth taste. Best served either body or room temperature. Hakkasan Eight Peaks- Junmai Ginjo (Dry) A sake known for its clean, crisp flavor that appeals to everyone. Best served either room or body temperature.
Page 6
METRO ASIAN NEWS
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
Atlanta Asian Film Festival to feature special Hong Kong Film Showcase Atlanta, April 2, 2014 — The organizer of Atlanta Asian Film Festival (AAFF) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETO) officially agreed on a special film showcase at this year’s festival. AAFF is scheduled from October 10-24, 2014 at various venues in metro Atlanta. “We are pleased to partner with Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York to feature a body of works by Hong Kong film makers. It is also to showcase emerging Hong Kong talents and producers,” said Li Wong, founder and organizer of the Atlanta Asian Film Festival. AAFF has scheduled to premiere on opening night — “Journey to the West: Conquering the demons”, a film by well-known Hong Kong Director Stephen Chow, who gained to fame for “Shaolin Soccer” and “KungFu Hustle.” “White Storm”, “The Way We Dance”
and “Simple Life” are Hong Kong films to be featured at this year’s film showcase. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Atlanta Asian Film Festival. The festival regularly feature film works by talented and emerging film producers from Asia Pacific and North American film makers. AAFF is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to educating the Atlanta community about the rich diversity of Asian Pacific culture through films and movies. Its goal is to create an annual consciousness-raising celebration of Asian American cultures through educational and informative films in an entertaining context. For more information on Atlanta Asian Film Festival, visit www.atlaff. org
Hall of Famers joins the list of players for Greater Gwinnett Championship Duluth, April 10, 2014 — Fred Couples, Hale Irwin, Rocco Mediate and Tom Lehman are the most latest additions to the field for the 2nd annual Greater Gwinnett Championship, an Official event on the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour. The tournament will be played from April 14-20 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia. In addition to these three stars, 78 other golf legends will be competing for
a total purse of $1.8 million and a first place check of $270,000 including the defending champion, Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry, Nick Price, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Mark O’Meara. For more info on the Greater Gwinnett Championship, visit www.greatergwinnettchampionship.com
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 7
BUSINESS
Tourists from Asia-Pacific to become world’s top spenders, based on latest report Singapore, April 3, 2014 — The Asia-Pacific will overtake Europe as the region whose tourists spend the most money overseas within 10 years, a report said yesterday, driven by an explosion in the number of Chinese travelers. Spending by tourists from the Asia-Pacific will reach nearly US$753 billion by 2023, increasing the region’s share of global spend to 40 per cent from 25 per cent in 2012, according to a report commissioned by travel technology firm Amadeus.
Suwanee, April 4, 2014 – Shini Plastics Technologies, LLC, a subsidiary of Shini Group, celebrated the opening of its new America headquarters and Technical & Logistics Center in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The announcement represents the first U.S. presence for the company and initially brings 10 new jobs and $4 million in capital investment to the metro Atlanta community. The 40,000-square-foot facility is located at 4189 Capital View Drive in Suwanee.
Driving this expansion is the explosive growth in the number of travelers from China, the report said.
Travelers from Europe will account for 34 per cent of global outbound spend by the same year, down from 45 per cent in 2012, said the report.
The Asian economic powerhouse is set to surpass the United States this year as the world’s largest source of outbound travelers and is poised to become the biggest domestic travel market globally by 2017, it said.
“The findings underscore what most of us already intuitively know — that we have now truly arrived in the Asian century,” Amadeus Asia Pacific President Angel Gallego said in a statement.
China’s share of global outbound travel is projected to reach 20 per cent by 2023 — from just one per cent in 2005.
“No matter where we look, Asian travelers have and will continue to change the landscape of travel, and business must adapt to them or risk falling behind.”
China’s economy has boomed over the past decade, expanding the ranks of its middle-class who are hungry for foreign travel after the country’s decades of isolation in the last century.
In January the state-run China Daily said Chinese travelers spent US$102 billion overseas in 2012, making them the world’s biggest spenders ahead of German and US tourists.
European Union and Asian countries have moved to ease visa application procedures for Chinese tourists in recent years, keen to cash in on their big-spending habits.
They are almost certain to have surpassed that record last year, added the report.
The report also predicted that global travel would expand 5.4 per cent per year in the next decade, faster than the projected growth of 3.4 per cent for world gross domestic product in the same period.
Visitor flows from Asia over the next decade is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 15 per cent — nearly double the preceding 10-year period and faster than any other region, said the report written for Amadeus by forecasting firm Oxford Economics.
Taiwanese Shini Plastics Technologies opens new America headquarters
Business travel, which was hit by the global financial crisis that started in late 2008, is also expected to bounce back.
“We are pleased that a Taiwanese-based company is locating its North American headquarters in Georgia. It represents sound economic relationships and confidence between the state of Georgia and Taiwan,” said Steven Tai, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Atlanta at the grand opening ceremony. “Our well-knit, global distribution network covers more than 60 countries. When we decided to expand into the North and South American regions, Gwinnett County presented the ideal location to serve both of these markets,” stated Alan Chen, Sales and Marketing Director of Shini Plastics Technologies. “We are confident this facility will further enable us to meet the growing demand for our products and offer faster delivery, better pricing, stronger service, and unparalleled support to our customers.” Shini Plastics Technologies supplies auxiliary equipment to manufacturers of plastic and rubber components. This new facility, modeled after similar centers already established in Poland, Germany, India and Northern Asia, houses a testing and technology area, warehouse, showroom, and offices. The Suwanee facility has two focuses: to provide direct sales and support of automation equipment; and stocking and service support for size reduction,
heat transfer, drying, blending, and material conveying groups. “Shini Plastics Technologies is a worldwide leader in plastics manufacturing. This announcement proves we are able to compete on a global scale for new industry investment and job creation,” said City of Suwanee Mayor Jimmy Burnett in his remark. This announcement is one of several recent global business wins for Gwinnett County, as it continues to build its reputation as a leading hub for global business in the Southeast. Shini joins 10 additional Taiwanese companies, and more than 500 internationally based businesses, currently located in Gwinnett. “Our team maintains a strong focus on attracting investment from Asia – a region that is paving the way in technology for many industries,” stated Nick Masino, Senior Vice President for Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett. “We appreciate that Shini – one such leading-edge company – has selected Gwinnett, and we welcome their presence in our fast-growing international business community.” Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Shini Group has manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, Pinghu, Ningbo and Chongqing, China and Pune, India, as well as a logistics center in Poland for European markets and a sales office in Germany. The company employs more than 2,000 people worldwide.
Page 8
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
LIFESTYLE
arthritis, chronic digestive diseases, some chronic respiratory infections and even depression. Medical experts warn that like any extreme change in habits, fasting should be practiced in moderation under a doctor’s supervision and expectations for dramatic long-term health benefits should be kept in check.
German clinic advocates fasting and natural foods for better health Ueberlingen, April 13, 2014 — What to give the patient who has everything? Well-off Germans in Europe’s top economy are increasingly deciding less is more and fasting to cure what ails them. High-end clinics specializing in deprivation rather than pampering are all the rage in Germany, one of the homes of the fasting movement, and in some cases it is even covered by health insurance plans. Michael van Almsick, 57, is a fasting devotee and, once a year for the last two decades, has spent a month at the Buchinger-Wilhelmi clinic on the shore of scenic Lake Constance on the Swiss border. Van Almsick starts each day with a spartan breakfast comprised solely of herbal tea, has a fruit juice for lunch, takes a two-hour walk in the afternoon and tucks into a thin broth and a bit of honey at dinnertime. He washes it all down with at least two liters of water daily.
promoting concert dates in Germany for the Rolling Stones on their summer tour. He has come to Buchinger-Wilhelmi to tackle a chronic obesity problem and the litany of ailments that accompany it. So out goes the medication for hypertension, in exchange for a regimented crash diet. That means no more than 200 to 250 calories per day, about one-tenth the recommended daily intake for a middle-aged adult. A 10-day stay at the clinic costs around €2,500 euros in a standard room but can run much more with extras. Otto Buchinger (1878-1966), for whom the facility is named, experimented with fasting to treat rheumatoid arthritis, an affliction that forced him to quit his post as a navy physician in 1917 during World War I.
“Try it for a week, just a week. After that you’ll see,” he says with a smile.
A century later, his fasting method is the most widely used in Germany.
Van Almsick runs a large public relations firm in Munich which will be
For its proponents, fasting helps prevent heart disease and treat asthma,
Few randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes have been completed on the subject. However one published by the Lancet in 1991 established a beneficial effect of fasting on rheumatoid arthritis. Others have pointed to the positive impact of fasting on various health issues. “Fasting stimulates the body’s own regenerative powers,” said Francoise Wilhelmi de Toledo, the managing director of the clinic, which also has a location in sunny Marbella, Spain. “The Ueberlingen clinic has been around for 60 years and the Marbella location for 40 years. Each year we have 3,000 to 3,500 patients at each establishment, which means 250,000 fasting cures without complications— it’s not a scientific study but it’s a statistical fact,” the clinic’s chief doctor, Stefan Drinda, said.
Heal thyself Respected news weekly Der Spiegel dedicated a favourable cover story to the practice in 2011 and a book on the subject by a former employee of the clinic, Hellmut Luetzner, has sold more than two million copies in Germany since it was published in the 1970s. “German society blazed a trail,” Wilhelmi de Toldeo said. “You never find anyone any more who tells you that fasting is abnormal.” In a country that has long embraced
alternative medicine, fasting is researched and taught in university hospitals in German cities such as Essen, Jena and Berlin. The Charite hospital in the German capital has offered supervised fasting for 50 years, where patients can undergo a 12 to 14-day program paid for, at least in part, by their health insurance. Less expensive than the Buchinger-Wilhelmi clinic, the Charite programme is within the reach of a broader cross section of society. “Herbs, organic nutrition, vegetarian diets, yoga, living healthily—we Germans are a little obsessed,” said Andreas Michalsen, who runs the natural healing department at Charite. He noted that the 19th century German Romantics pioneered a “belief in the power of self-healing” and “Lebensreform” (life reform) which advocated a back-to-nature lifestyle as a corrective for rampant industrialization. “The situation we have today of swallowing high-calorie foods at regular intervals—you have to see that this is something new in the history of human evolution,” Michalsen said. He said that for all the new medications to treat common modern diseases, many are withdrawn from the market each year due to an abundance of side effects. “The older people get, the more you see these health conditions,” Michalsen said. “I am absolutely convinced that in 10 years, fasting will become more and more important simply because mainstream medicine does not always have an answer to give.”
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 9
Page 10
EVENTS
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
Sake Tasting and Food Pairing April 4, 2014
Japanese Consul General Kazuo Sunaga hosted a sake tasting reception at his residence - to introduce distinguished sake makers from Japan. Guests were introduced to ten different varieties of sakes made from different region of Japan. Sakes were also paired with traditional Japanese food to highlight its taste.
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
EVENTS
Page 11
Grand Opening Ceremony - Shini Plastics April 4, 2014
L-R: Steven Tai, Director General of Taipei Econ and Cultural Office Atlanta, John Padgett, Chairman, GA Republican Party, Albert Tseng, TECO Atlanta.
L-R: DG Steven Tai, Dr. Sue ling Wang, Kenny Wu, President of Shini Group, Albert Tseng, TECO Atlanta.
Kenny Wu, President of Shini Group, Delivering his welcome remarks to the guests.
Cathy Wu, Senior Vice President of Shini Plastics, delivers her greetings to the guests at the cpening ceremony.
John Padgett, Chairman of Georgia Republican Party, delivers his remark.
L-R: Stella Xu, GA Dept Econ Development, DG Steven Tai, Nick Masimo, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, David Wang, TECO Atlanta
Suwanee Mayor Jimmy Barnett welcoming the Shini Plastics to Suwanee.
Nick Masimo, Senior Vice President of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, welcoming Shini Plastics to Gwinnett County.
Page 12
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
TECH Faster WiFi on flights leads to battle in the sky WiFi in the sky is taking off, promising much better connections for travelers and a bonanza for the companies that sell the systems. With satellite-based WiFi, Internet speeds on jetliners are getting lightning fast. And airlines are finding that travelers expect connections in the air to rival those on the ground – and at lower cost. But the fast evolution of rival systems and standards, such as Ku band and Ka band, pose a big question for airlines: which one to choose?
Equipping fleets can cost hundreds of millions of dollars and airlines don’t want to see their investment quickly become outdated because of newer technology. That’s made some cautious about signing up. “We don’t want to end up with a Betamax,” said Peter Ingram, chief financial officer of Hawaiian Airlines, referring to the Sony video format that eventually lost out to the VHS standard, leaving many consumers with obsolete systems. Hawaiian is still considering which system to use.
The drive for in-flight connectivity also has intensified after the disappearance on March 8 of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 with 239 people aboard. Search teams are scouring parts of the Indian Ocean for the missing aircraft, and it might have been better tracked if a satellite system capable of streaming cockpit data had been on board. Global market The United States market for airborne Internet got a big boost last November after the US Federal Aviation Administration allowed passengers to use smartphones, tablets and e-readers throughout a flight, ending a long-standing ban on their use during takeoff and landing. While the change hasn’t been adopted worldwide, the FAA’s move is expected to lead to greater use of devices, and bandwidth, on planes. About 40% of American jetliners already have some WiFi, but the race is on to wire the rest of a growing global
fleet, and to make the existing connections better. The number of commercial planes worldwide with WiFi, cell service or both is expected to more than triple over the next 10 years, to 14,000 from about 4,000 currently, with much of that growth in Asia, according to research firm IHS. Even with a tripling, only half of the worldwide fleet will be wired in 2022, suggesting demand for new systems will last longer. Much of the US fleet will need upgrades to access satellites, since many planes currently are equipped for ground-based transmission, which is typically slower than satellite. “Passengers of the future want to be connected when they want,” said Chris Emerson, senior vice-president of marketing at Airbus, during the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. “Everyone wants Internet the way they have it on the ground, so it has to be cheap or free.”
Windows XP loses its protection People still using Microsoft’s ever-popular operating system will now face a situation in which Microsoft will no longer offer technical support and security updates. Without the support, XP will become more vulnerable to hacking. The 13-year-old XP is still used on almost a third of all personal computers worldwide. The venerable operating system may now have to be upgraded with new Windows software, which has given business owners and even governments some grudging moments. Microsoft has tried to explain by saying the code-base underpinning
XP is now outdated and needs to come into line with the more mobile world that has sprung up.
One of iPhone founders leaving Apple
Technology such as touch screens on smartphones and tablets can no longer take advantage of the XP operating system.
One of the pioneers behind the iPhone, software engineer Greg Christie is leaving Apple, a spokesman said yesterday.
Microsoft has also ceased support for Office 2003.
“Greg has been planning to retire later this year after nearly 20 years at Apple,” an official said in an email, saying he had made vital contributions to Apple.
Many companies are now expected to upgrade to Windows 8.1, which will add substantial costs to businesses, most of which have multiple PC’s.
Christie was part of the team that developed the iOS software for the first iPhone, which came out in 2007. Christie was until now leading a
team working on a so-called human interface team developing more software for Apple. His role will be taken over by the current vice president for design, Jonathan Ive. Ive in recent years has been working on Apple products’ external look. But industry publications say he has played a major role in developing the latest version of the iPhone operating system, iOS 7.
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 13
SPORTS
Ferrari F1 boss Domenicali quits Rome, April 14 — Ferrari’s Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali quit today over the legendary Italian team’s disastrous start to the 2014 season. “It is time for a significant change,” Domenicali said in a Ferrari statement announcing his resignation. Ferrari have failed to get in the top three in the first three races of the season and are just fifth in the constructors’ table. Ferrari’s North American CEO Marco Mattiacci will assume control of the team, his remit simple — to reverse the scuderia’s fortunes in a year when Mercedes are leaving all in their wake. Domenicali took over from Jean Todt as Ferrari’s team principal in 2008. But he has faced growing pressure over the poor performances of drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. “There are special moments that come along in everyone’s professional life when one needs courage to take difficult and very agonizing decisions,” Domenicali said in the statement. “It is time for a significant change. As the boss I take responsibility, as I always have done, for our current situation,” he added. “This decision has been taken with the aim of doing something to shake things up,” he said. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo thanked Domenicali “for his sense of responsibility up to today
where he placed Ferrari’s interests before his own”. Domenicali’s near seven-year reign featured a constructors title in his first year in charge but crucially no drivers’ titles, with Felipe Massa going closest in 2008. Alonso had to settle for second best to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel in 2010 and 2012. New technical rules introduced for Formula One cars this season has left Ferrari uncharacteristically playing catch-up to the likes of Mercedes who have won all three races in 2014. Nico Rosberg started the ball rolling in Australia and Malaysia with Lewis Hamilton taking the honors in Bahrain. After the Bahrain race in which Alonso and Raikkonen trailed in 10th and 11th a frustrated Domenicali admitted: “I don’t like seeing our drivers fighting hard everywhere and then being unable to attack or defend on the straights.” Mattiacci joins the team with Alonso placed fourth in the drivers’ title race with 26 points, 35 points behind leader Rosberg, and Raikkonen in 12th with a mere seven points.
Liverpool’s rejuvenated Gerrard ready for title challenge London, April 14, 2014 — Steven Gerrard has made it clear where winning the Premier League would sit in the context of his 17 years as a professional footballer by declaring the next month “the biggest” of his career. In a one-club career, Liverpool captain Gerrard has won 109 England caps, the Champions League, a UEFA Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups but a league championship medal has remained elusive. The 33-year-old midfielder was man of the match, however, as Liverpool put themselves in the driving seat for a first English title since 1990 with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester City at an emotional Anfield yesterday. Gerrard said the performance was the “biggest statement” Liverpool had made during the campaign but admitted he had “feared for the worst” when City came back from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2 before Philippe Coutinho’s late winner. “I think that’s the best we’ve played all season,” he told the club’s TV channel.
The constructors’ standings make equally grim reading for fans of the scuderia with Ferrari only fifth on 33 points behind leaders Mercedes on 111.
“For the first 30-35 minutes, I thought we blew the so-called best team in the league away. And it could have been three or four.
The next race is in China on Sunday.
“(But) they are a top side, they have got world-class players, they have got
£30-40 million (RM163-RM217 million) players coming off the bench to add to what they have already got. “After the effort we put in in the first half, they were always going to have a spell when we tired a bit. Thankfully, we stayed in the game and the little magician has popped up and scored probably the biggest goal of his life.” The victory gave Liverpool a twopoint lead over Chelsea and moved them seven clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand. Victories in their last four matches would hand them a 19th English title. Gerrard’s emotion at the end of yesterday’s match was clear and he hopes to carry that drive into Liverpool’s final four fixtures — away at Norwich City, at home to Chelsea, at Crystal Palace and finishing off with Newcastle United at Anfield. “The journey I’ve had all the way through the years, there have been ups and downs. At the moment, I’m loving every minute of it,” he said. “I feel 21 again, playing with all these top players. It’s probably going to be the biggest month of my career coming up now. I’ll give it everything I’ve got.” “The message is to stay calm and keep going — there are still four cup finals left.”
Page 14
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS
Bahrain sees bright future for night race
Manama, April 7, 2014 — Bahrain believes its Formula One circuit has a bright future after the country’s first floodlit grand prix turned out a thriller yesterday (April 6).
Sakhir Circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani told Reuters the decision to turn the 10th anniversary event into a night race was a statement of intent for the future of motorsport in the Gulf kingdom. “There’s more to come,” he said in an interview at the Sakhir desert circuit. “We want to branch out. Not just the racing aspects of motorsports but the other stuff that goes around it. The development of teams, research and manufacturing relevant to the motorsport industry. “A racing school, to develop talent. The missing pieces of the puzzle to make motorsport happen.” Another piece of that jigsaw was fitted into place yesterdaywith the announcement that Bell Racing Helmets would be relocating its global research and development and manufacturing operations to a facility within the circuit grounds from 2015. Bahrain is an important stakeholder in Formula One, with state investment fund Mumtalakat owning the circuit as well as half of the McLaren team. The country also has considerable influence within the governing International Automobile Federation, with FIA president Jean Todt making yesterday’s race the first he has attended this season.
By installing floodlights, Bahrain intends to keep activities running at the circuit throughout the year and at more fan-friendly times. “The floodlights will definitely open up a bigger spectrum for us,” said Alzayani.
“We will be able to use the track throughout the summer now, whereas in the past we had to shut down practically from mid-May to September because of the heat. “In the past the only thing that was running through the summer months was the drag championship because it’s a floodlit strip. We will take advantage of the lighting now.” Yesterday afternoon, the traditional slot for races in Europe, is the middle of the working day in the Middle East and when temperatures reach their peak. The shift to evening opens up far more possibilities. The circuit said the race drew its biggest crowd yet with 31,000 attending on Sunday.
Bubba Watson Wins Masters Golf Title for second time Augusta, April 13, 2014 -- Bubba Watson has won the Masters for the second time in three years. Watson claimed the prestigious green jacket that goes to the champion of golf’s first major tournament each year by shooting three-under-par (69) in the final round on Sunday. That gave him a four-round total of eight-underpar (280), and a three-stroke victory over countryman Jordan Spieth and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt (283).
He was tied with the 35-year-old Watson to start the fourth and final round, and led by two shots after seven holes. But then the tournament swung in Watson’s favor. He grabbed the lead after nine holes and stayed in front the rest of the way to win the first prize of $1.62 million. Finishing alone in fourth place (284) was 50-year-old Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.
At 20 years old, Spieth was bidding to become the youngest-ever champion at the Augusta National Club in Georgia.
This year’s grand prix was the third round of the season but Bahrain has opened the championship before and Alzayani was coy on whether the race might seek that slot again next year.
ments. But I think we did well this year by securing testing before the season.
don’t think our image was affected,” he said of 2011 and its bloody aftermath.
“It’s not out of reach. But it’s something we have to agree mutually with Bernie.”
“We are in constant talks with Bernie (Ecclestone),” he said. “It’s premature now to talk about next year’s calendar. Towards the end of the year we’ll talk and exchange ideas and see what suits better.
Alzayani painted an upbeat picture for the future, despite a continuing backdrop of civil unrest - which led to the event being cancelled in 2011 and has triggered subsequent calls by human rights activists for the race to be cancelled.
“I think 2012 wiped out the misery of 2011. We had a fairly good attendance, good support and the race went on despite all the speculation and negative media.
“They also have to look at logistics and team movements and cargo move-
“In terms of public perception, I
“In 2004 we had Humvees at the gates with machine guns. That was because of concern from the F1 travelling family that because of the Iraq war we wanted extra security. We had cement blocks ... we don’t have any of that today.”
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 15
HEALTH Green tea boost working memory, study suggests A beverage with multiple benefits, green tea has inspired a number of research projects in recent years. One of the latest studies on the subject, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, offers additional evidence on how the drink can improve working memory and cognitive performance. According to various studies, the antioxidant-rich beverage may help in maintaining a healthy weight and fighting bad cholesterol, in addition to improving memory and preventing cognitive decline. The latter benefits in particular were the subject of a key study by Chinese researcher Bai Yun published in Food Science and Molecular Nutrition and Food Research in June 2012. Eager to evaluate claims of green tea’s power to improve memory and to identify the mechanism behind it, researchers in Basel, Switzerland asked a group of healthy volunteers to consume a soft drink with green tea extract before solving a series of working memory tasks. The test subjects’ brain activity was analyzed using an MRI machine. The researchers, led by Christoph Beglinger and Stefan Borgwardt, of the University Hospital of Basel and the Psychiatric University Clinics respectively, observed improved connectivity between the frontal and parietal brain regions in the test subjects who were given green tea extract. This improved connectivity between the two brain regions correlated with enhanced performance of the memory tasks. “Our findings suggest that green tea might increase the short-term synaptic plasticity of the brain,” Borgwardt indicated. In the future, the findings of the study could be used to assess the effectiveness of green tea extract in treating dementia and other neuropsychiatric illnesses, according to the researchers. The study was published in the journal Psychopharmacology.
Drinking milk could prevent arthritis in women, according to latest study Boston, April 10 — Drinking low-fat or skim milk could slow the progression of knee arthritis, according to a recent study published in Arthritis Care & Research, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). While cow milk certainly has its detractors, its role in promoting healthy bone structure has long been established. This latest study provides additional evidence in favour of the beverage, particularly for women at risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. A chronic degenerative condition, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Seen most frequently in women over age 50, osteoar-
thritis causes sustained pain and swelling of the joints due to abnormal deterioration of cartilage and bone. In the US, according to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), 27 million people suffer from osteoarthritis, and the knee is among the joints most commonly affected. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include advanced age, obesity, prior injury or repetitive use from some types of sports. Dr Bing Lu, together with a team of researchers at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, sought to investigate a possible link between dairy intake and the progression of the disease.
(3,064 knees in total), all between the ages of 45 and 79. Each volunteer reported how often he or she consumed milk, yogurt and cheese, and the researchers measured joint space width (JSW) between the femur and the tibia in the knee. The participants returned for a follow-up every 12 months over a four-year period. “Our findings indicate that women who frequently drink milk may reduce the progression of OA,” said Dr. Bing Lu. Interestingly, the study did not indicate similar benefits from eating cheese or yogurt.
The study looked at a sample population of 888 men and 1,260 women
Lab clue to caffeine benefit on Alzheimer’s Paris, April 10, 2014 — French and German researchers yesterday said they had found evidence in the lab to back theories that drinking caffeine has a preventive effect on Alzheimer’s disease. In mice, regular doses of caffeine inhibited the growth of tau, a protein that clogs brain cells in Alzheimer’s patients, they said. The discovery was made among mice that had been genetically modified to produce tau. They were given a tiny dose of caffeine — 0.3 grams per litre — in their drinking water over 10 months.
This is roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee per day for human beings. The mice were compared with an identical group of “tau” rodents, which did not get the caffeine dose. “Mice that were given caffeine were less affected in terms of memory and tau build-up but also in terms of inflammation of the brain tissue,” said David Blum of France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). Previous research has found that older people are less likely to suffer cognitive decline if they take regular, moderate amounts of caffeine.
Experiments have also found that caffeine slows memory loss in mice bred to develop so-called amyloid plaques — another compound buildup in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer’s. The study appears in the US journal Neurobiology of Aging.
Page 16
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
Misc Asia Chinese regulators have sights on luxury foods Hong Kong, April 12, 2014 — China’s corruption watchdog has been concentrating on markets in Hong Kong, especially in the luxury food sector. The sales of luxury goods in Hong Kong have been declining since a clampdown on delicacies which are considered to be environmentally at risk. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature in Hong Kong, the sale of shark fins from Hong Kong to China has plummeted due to environmental concerns over the shark fin trade.
‘Cherry tree from space’ mystery baffles Japan Tokyo, April 11, 2014 - A cosmic mystery is uniting monks and scientists in Japan after a tree grown from a cherry stone that orbited the Earth for eight months bloomed years earlier than expected and with very surprising flowers. The four-year-old sapling grown from a cherry pit that spent time onboard the International Space Station (ISS) burst into blossom on April 1, possibly a full six years ahead of Mother Nature’s normal schedule. Its early blooming turned on its head the received wisdom of the Buddhist brothers at the ancient temple in central Japan where the tree is growing.
The wonder pip was among 265 harvested from the celebrated “Chujo-hime-seigan-zakura” tree, selected as part of a project to gather seeds from different kinds of cherry trees at 14 locations across Japan. The stones were sent to the ISS in November 2008 and came back to Earth in July the following year with Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata after circling the globe 4,100 times. Some were sent for laboratory tests, but most were ferried back to their places of origin, and a selection were planted at nurseries near the Ganjoji temple.
“We are amazed to see how fast it has grown,” Masahiro Kajita, chief priest at the Ganjoji temple in Gifu, told AFP by telephone.
By April this year, the “space cherry tree” had grown to around four metres (13 feet) tall, and suddenly produced nine flowers each with just five petals, compared with about 30 on flowers of the parent tree.
“A stone from the original tree had never sprouted before. We are very happy because it will succeed the old tree, which is said to be 1,250 years old.”
It normally takes about 10 years for a cherry tree of the similar variety to bear its first buds.
Mainland Chinese officials have also put a clamp on trading in abalone and birds nest, leading to a drop in delicacy-seeking mainland visitors.
China has been cracking down on other luxury goods, after being squeezed by luxury goods lobbyists from Europe and the US. The categories that are mostly impacted are watches and clothing.
Exposure to cosmic rays? “It was an educational and cultural project to let children gather the stones and learn how they grow into trees and live on after returning from space,” said Miho Tomioka, a spokeswoman for the project’s organiser, Japan Manned Space Systems (JAMSS). “We had expected the tree to blossom about 10 years after planting when the children come of age,” she said. Kaori Tomita-Yokotani, a researcher at the University of Tsukuba, who took part in the project, told AFP she was stumped by the extra-terrestrial mystery. “We still cannot rule out the possibility that it has been somewhat influenced by its exposure to the space environment,” she said. Tomita-Yokotani, a plant physiologist, said it was difficult to explain why the temple tree has grown so fast because there was no control group to compare its growth with that of other trees.
She said cross-pollination with another species could not be ruled out, but a lack of data was hampering an explanation. “Of course, there is the possibility that exposure to stronger cosmic rays accelerated the process of sprouting and overall growth,” she said. “From a scientific point of view, we can only say we don’t know why.” Wakata is back aboard the ISS, where he is in command of the station.
Georgia Asian Times April 15-30, 2014
Page 17
Misc Asia
Bluefin-21 ‘mini-sub’ to join search for Malaysian jet Perth, April 14, 2014 -- “We haven’t had a single detection in six days so I guess it’s time to go underwater,” Angus Houston, a former air marshal who heads the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, told a news conference in Perth. Searchers are confident they know the approximate position of the Boeing 777, some 1,550 km (963 miles) northwest of Perth, and are moving ahead on the basis of four acoustic signals they believe were from its black box recorders. “Despite the lack of further detections, the four signals previously acquired taken together constitute the most promising lead we have in the search for MH370,” Houston said. “The experts have, therefore, determined that the Australian Ocean Shield will cease searching with a towed pinger locator later today and deploy the autonomous underwater vehicle, Bluefin-21, as soon as possible,” he said, referring to the US-made mini-submarine. The batteries in the plane’s black box are now more than a week past their 30-day expected lifespan and searchers will be relying on sonar and cameras on the Bluefin-21 to find the box. The last confirmed ping came on Tuesday of last week.
The Bluefin-21 is equipped with side-scanning sonar and will initially focus on 40 square kilometres (15 square miles) of sea floor in the vicinity of the detected signals, Houston said. But he explained that the vessel operates slowly, with each mission taking a minimum of 24 hours to complete. The device needs two hours to reach the bottom, where it will work for 16 hours producing a high-resolution 3D map before surfacing in another two hours. Downloading and analysing data requires another four hours. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared soon after taking off on March 8 from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board. Houston said that although an oil slick was located in the search area on Sunday evening, he was pessimistic about the likelihood of finding any debris. “The chances of any floating material being recovered have greatly diminished and it will be appropriate to confer with Australia’s partners to decide the way ahead later this week,” Houston said.
Chinese families of MH370 passengers wait for answers Beijing, April 14, 2014 — As the search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 enters its second month, relatives of the Chinese passengers on board remain in Beijing, waiting for answers. Despite millions of dollars and more than a month of searching, the international effort into what happened to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has found few answers. Australian authorities Monday announced that the aerial search for debris would end within two days and that an unmanned submersible, called the Bluefin 21, would begin slowly building high resolution maps of the ocean floor, a process that could take months to complete. Most of the passengers on board the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing were Chinese. More than 200 relatives of those passengers continue to meet daily with Malaysian officials at the Lido hotel in the suburbs of Beijing. Steve Wang’s mother was on board. He said the experience has unified passengers’ relatives. “We are not only friends, we are family.” Australian authorities have cautioned that the investigation could take years and that the black box flight data recorders may never be found. Passen-
gers’ relatives say they will wait at the hotel until they have answers. “There are some obvious mistakes that were made from the beginning and they should find out who is responsible and who should be blamed for it,” said Wang. China repeatedly called on Malaysian authorities to fully disclose information about the crash, following revelations that authorities had waited days to release information about the plane’s abrupt change in flight path. Following the revelations, many relatives here grew skeptical of the information provided by the airline and the Malaysian government, and have been waiting for conclusive proof that the flight ended in the southern Indian Ocean. American Gail Dunham sympathizes. She heads a U.S. organization called the National Air Disaster Alliance, which advocates for airline safety and provides assistance to survivors and family members of plane crash victims. She has met several times with family members in Beijing. “We have a lot in common with the Chinese relatives... their goal for truth and their need to know,” she said.
Page 18
April 15-30, 2014 Georgia Asian Times
TRAVEL
Beloved in antiquity, Greece’s hot springs left untapped Hercules used them to regain his strength after his legendary labours, Hippocrates lauded their beneficial properties and even a famous Roman general, Sulla, said he owed his health to them. Their praise was for hot springs, a medicinal resource known and appreciated in Greece since antiquity – though regrettably less so nowadays. “Greece invented the therapeutic use of hot springs thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ,” says Zisis Aggelidis, a professor of hydrogeology at Thessaloniki’s Aristotelio University. In ancient Greece, healing temples known as Asclepieia – named after the god of medicine Asclepius – were popular with pilgrims. Greece today has some 700 hot springs known to have curative properties, but just over 100 are accessible and even fewer are commercially exploited. Many are still free of charge to the
public, out in nature with minimal facilities, even on popular tourist islands such as Santorini, Milos and Kos. Evangelos Kyriazis, a barrel-chested man in his sixties, says he has not been to a doctor in years thanks to his local spa. Kyriazis’ magic potion bubbles forth from a mountain in central Greece, near the town of Thermopylae. His self-styled treatment is to take 300 baths a year for half an hour in the sulphurous water, which has a temperature of between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. “It detoxifies and oxygenates the body, regulates pressure, dilates the blood vessels, relaxes the muscles, clears the lungs, strengthens the bones and relaxes the nervous system,” says Kyriazis. “It even whitens the teeth.” Hot gates Thermopylae, literally “hot gates”
in Greek, has become synonymous with the ferocious battle in which 300 Spartans sacrificed themselves against overwhelming Persian odds in 480 BC. Few today, however, associate Thermopylae with the hot springs Hercules frequented in Greek mythology, except a few locals and a small number of connoisseurs. “These springs cured my aching knees and shoulder. The waters here are more natural than in Germany,” says pensioner Alfred Weigel, who makes an annual pilgrimage from his native Bavaria for a dip here. To the uninitiated, the site appears inauspicious, close to an abandoned petrol station and a derelict hotel. Bathers change in their car, and step over a wobbly wooden pallet to reach the springs. “We have an exceptional product but it is poorly used,” sighs Markos Danas, secretary general of the union of Greek spa towns. He notes that across the country less than a dozen sites offer acceptable tourism infrastructure. “Hot springs are mostly run by local communities, and this has limited the scope of development,” he adds. Three of Greece’s best-known spa
towns are Loutraki in the Peloponnese, Kamena Vourla in central Greece and Edipsos, on the island of Evia. The latter is known to posterity through the Greek biographer Plutarch as the site that cured Rome’s Sulla. For years much of the clientele were Greek pensioners on state-funded curative tours. However, in the wake of the economic crisis gripping the country for the past five years, demand has fallen dramatically. The union of spa towns reports a 50% drop in paying customers since 2009. The spa towns are now hoping an EU directive that authorises reimbursing citizens taking hot baths in other member states will revive interest. Greece’s state privatisation agency last year also offered four hot springs in central Greece, including Thermopylae, for sale to private developers. But there were no takers – meaning more free visits for Evangelos and his fellow bathers in the foreseeable future.