Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com September 1-15, 2013 Vol 10 No 17
More fresh fruit deters diabetes; juice boosts riskImmigra-
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September 1-15, 2013 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times September 1-15, 2013
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GAT Calendar of Events (For latest & updated events, visit www.gasiantimes.com)
Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho Photography: Ben Hioe
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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. 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.
BPSOS 5th Annual Community Health fair Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013 Time: 9:00 am - 4:00pm Venue: Hong Kong Supermarket, Norcross, GA For more info: 770-458-6700
Peachtree City Dragon Boat Festival Date: Sept 28, 2013 Time: 8:00 am Venue: Peachtree City For more info: ptcdragonboats@gmail. com
Vietnamese American Community (VAC GA) Mooncake Festival Date: Sept 14, 2013 Time: Saturday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Venue: Hong Kong Supermarket For more info: Trish Nguyen email: trishtdng@yahoo.com
Vietnamese American Community (VAC GA) Community Health Fair Date: Sunday, Sept 29, 2013 Time: 11:00 am-3:00 pm Venue: 2nd Floor Hong Kong Supermarket For more info: Trish Nguyen email: trishtdng@yahoo.com
18th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival - Atlanta Date: Saturday Sept 14, 2013 Time: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Venue: Clarks Bridge, Lake Lanier Olympic Rowing Facility For more info: www.dragonboatatlanta.com Rakugo - Japanese Comic Story telling in English Date: Monday, September 16, 2013 Time: 12:30 pm Venue: Kennesaw State University Date: Monday Sept 16, 2013 Time: 7:00 pm Venue: Hill Auditorium, 1280 Peachtree Street, NE For more info: Melissa Takeuchi 404926-3020 AAPOG APA Heroes & Advocates Awards Banquet Date: Thursday Sept 19, 2013 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Oriental Pearl Seafood Restaurant, Chamblee For more info: http://aapg.eventbrite. com JapanFest 2013 Date: Sept 21-22, 2013 Time: 10:00 am Venue: Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway
HH Dalai Lama: The Visit 2013 Date: October 8, 2013 Venue: The Arena, Gwinnett Center For more info: gwinnettcenter.com 9th Atlanta Asian Film Festival (AAFF) Date: Oct 12-25, 2013 Venues: Cinefest-GSU, GPC Dunwoody, University of West Georgia 9th AAFF Premiere Night Gala Date: Friday Oct 11, 2013 Venue: Plaza Theatre, Ponce De Leon Avenue, Atlanta For more info: www.atlaff.org NAAAP Atlanta - Chopstix For Charity Date: Sunday October 27, 2013 Time: 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm Venue: Callonwolde Fine Arts Center 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta GA 30306 For more info: www.naap-atlanta.org
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September 1-15, 2013 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS Chinese Chemicals Company To Open U.S. Headquarters near Savannah Shanghai, August 22, 2013 — Gov. Nathan Deal officially announced that Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group, a leading phosphate and fine chemical products producer, will open its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing plant in Effingham County. The investment will create about 50 jobs and the company is expected to start hiring in 2014.
Global IT Corporation Announce Opening of U.S. Development Center in Gwinnett Duluth, August 27, 2013 – TravelSky Technology Limited, a leading Chinese IT solutions developer for the airline and tourism industries, will house its operations at Satellite Place in the Duluth area, creating 50 jobs and represents a $10 million investment in the community.
as TravelSky,” stated Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash.
Governor Deal announced the new investment following a meeting with Vice President Yuanchang Huang in Qingdao, Shandong, China. The Governor and a delegation of Georgia business, economic development, and state officials are on a business mission in Asia to explore investment, trade, and tourism opportunities in the world’s fastest-growing economy.
“Our region has established itself as the preferred location for global companies,” stated Nick Masino, Senior Vice President, Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett.
“By bringing together resources, expertise and talent from the state of Georgia, we expect to deliver exceptional IT services and expand into the global markets of travel industry. TravelSky is grateful for the opportunity that Georgia has provided, and we are optimistic that the establishment of our North America R&D center in Georgia will lead to our continued success,” said Mr. Huang. “Our reputation as a leading community in global business helps us attract and support growing companies, such
The company reviewed sites across North America, including San Francisco’s Silicon Valley, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Toronto, before choosing Gwinnett County.
Headquartered in Beijing and employs more than 4,000 people worldwide. It operates 12 branches, 9 affiliated companies, and 21 subsidiaries across Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Europe and the United States. TravelSky services 30 domestic airlines, nearly 200 regional and overseas airlines, 147 domestic airports, and 7,000 ticket agents.
The new plant located in Effingham County will establish a production line to make phosphates. The company will export the products to North American markets. Xingfa, based in the city of Yichang, Hubei Province, engages in the development, production and sales of phosphate and fine chemical products. It is the largest phosphates enterprise in central China. Xingfa manufactures 70 varieties of products including technical, feed, food and electronic-grade products.
Since its 2001 acquisition of phosphate rock and additional processing enterprises, Xingfa has increased its competitiveness in the phosphate industry. The company exports products to more than 40 countries worldwide and has a strategic partner relationship with P&G, Dow Chemical and Unilever. Xingfa has more than 30 subsidiary companies and is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. “Xingfa Chemicals Group Co. Ltd. is committed to serving North America customers by establishing a manufacturing site in Georgia,” said Mr. Guozhang Li, chairman and chief executive officer of Xingfa Group. Gov. Nathan Deal announced Xingfa’s investment following a meeting with Mr. Li in Shanghai. Deal is currently leading a business mission in China to explore investment, trade and tourism opportunities for the state of Georgia.
Gwinnett County SPLOST vote in November Lawrenceville, August 21, 2013 – Gwinnett commissioners officially called for a Nov. 5 vote on renewing the one-cent SPLOST sales tax after the current program ends next March. The County and all 16 Gwinnett cities agreed earlier this month to share the proceeds. The new program will raise an estimated $498 million in total. Gwinnett County will receive 78.9 percent of the proceeds and the cities in Gwinnett will receive 21.1 percent. The County has determined that 70 percent of its share, or an estimated $275 million, will be dedicated to transportation projects such as roads, bridges, intersection improvements and sidewalks, including $25 million for joint city/county transportation projects. The proposed SPLOST program also includes funding for other
purposes such as public safety, parks, library relocation and renovation and senior facilities. A meeting has been set on August 26 for residents interested in serving on a Citizens Project Selection Committee to review and prioritize prospective transportation project categories. Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash said, “Local government leaders agreed that transportation infrastructure is our biggest need and that everyone who uses our roads should help pay the cost of improvements.” More information is available at www.gwinnettcounty.com.
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METRO ASIAN NEWS
Fast Food Workers Goes on Strike For Better Wages Three Japanese Companies announce investments in Gwinnett
Duluth, August 29, 2013 – HAMACO Industries Corporation, Idaka America, Inc., and Okaya (USA), Inc., officially announced the location of North American operations in Gwinnett County. The announcement was made while representatives from both Gwinnett County and Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development are in Japan, participating in an international business mission led by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “The more investment we see from Japan, the more we can point to the value of having a business-friendly state,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “Establishing an office in Japan 40 years ago has brought Georgia a very mature corporate presence from that country. We welcome these three companies as they join the ranks of some 350 Japanese companies already here.” “We celebrate the success Japanese companies find in our community and look forward to future growth,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. HAMACO Industries Corporation, a subsidiary of Japanese-based Hamada Industry Co., Ltd., designs and manufactures material handling equipment, such as hydraulic foot-operated lift tables and carts, from its startup U.S. headquarters at 1780 Corporate Drive, Suite 415 in the Norcross area. “We are proud to call Gwinnett County, Georgia the home of our new HAMACO office. We were seeking a location with access to a quality workforce and airport that would enable us to connect more effectively to the Americas, and we found that here,” stated Ms. Masumi Ito, General Manager for HAMACO Industries Corporation.
Importer, exporter, and processor of iron and steel products, Okaya (USA), Inc. has opened its local Atlanta office at 1770 Corporate Drive, Suite 555, in the Norcross area. Both HAMACO and Okaya’s facilities are located in the Gwinnett Corporate Center. Japanese trading company, Idaka America, Inc. distributes machinery and spare parts to the automobile industry. Its Duluth area location at 3675 Crestwood Parkway, Suite 230, houses a sales office. “Idaka America, Inc. is very excited to open a new office in the beautiful county of Gwinnett. The people here are friendly and welcoming and we look forward to building many relationships with the folks of Gwinnett County,” stated Kimiaki Mitsuno, President of Idaka America, Inc. “Gwinnett County is considered the epicenter for Asian citizens and companies in the Southeast U.S. and we are excited to be home to a large and growing number of Japanese businesses,” stated Nick Masino, Senior Vice President of Partnership Gwinnett and Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development. Gwinnett is home to more than 70 Japanese companies, which employ more than 2,900 people in the metro Atlanta area.
Thousands of workers at McDonald’s and other fast food outlets across the United States went on strike Thursday in a growing movement for higher wages in the industry. Workers in 50 cities joined the strike to fight for $15 an hour wages — double what most currently earn — and the right to form a union without retaliation, organizers said. In a statement organizers said it would be the largest-ever strike to hit the $200 billion fast-food industry. The protest movement first began in New York last November with a strike by 200 workers but quickly spread across the country with strikes in July taking place in Chicago, Detroit, Flint, Kansas City, Milwaukee and St Louis. On Thursday organizers said the strike will hit some 1,000 major fastfood restaurants, including Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC. “Hold the burgers, hold the fries, make worker wages supersize!” read a tweet from Fight for 15, a workers organizing committee. Shaniqua Davis, 20, mother of a toddler, joined in a protest outside a McDonald’s on posh 5th avenue in Manhattan. She works at a branch of the restaurant in the Bronx where she earns $7.25 an hour. “They make millions that come from our feet. They can afford to pay us better,” she said.
“I have bills to pay. I need to buy diapers. I can hardly buy food. I am treated good but we need more money.” She said if it wasn’t for food stamps and help she received to pay her rent “I would already be on the street.” Many of the three million fast-food workers in America don’t work fulltime and cannot count on tips like those who staff bars and restaurants. “Many of these workers have children and are trying to support a family,” said Mary Kay Henry of the Service Employees International Union, which is supporting the strike. She highlighted that fast-food workers are no longer only teenagers. “The median wage (including managerial staff) of $9.08 an hour still falls far below the federal poverty line for a worker lucky enough to get 40 hours a week and never have to take a sick day.” During the previous strike in July, McDonald’s said workers’ individual contracts were a matter for the franchisees who operate more than 80 percent of the company’s outlets around the world. “Employees are paid competitive wages and have access to a range of benefits to meet their individual needs,” the company said.
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September 1-15, 2013 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS Pacific trade deal negotiators end ‘difficult’ round BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, August 30, 2013 - Negotiators from 12 Pacific countries concluded a week of talks in Brunei on a free-trade agreement Friday but announced no breakthroughs in discussions that one official called “difficult”. The effort pushed by US President Barack Obama to create an Asia-Pacific free-trade area covering nearly 40 percent of global economic output has run into turbulence amid protectionist reflexes, casting doubt on hopes of concluding the pact by year-end. “Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiators intensified their work this week to close gaps between them ... to discuss possible landing zones on remaining sensitive and challenging issues,” a joint statement said, giving no substantive details. But a Malaysian official said negotiators made little progress. “I know it was a difficult round,” said the senior Malaysian trade official, providing no specifics. The talks have been shrouded in secrecy through 19 rounds since 2010, hosted by the countries involved. The TPP has stirred protests in various nations amid fears it could leave domestic markets exposed to foreign competition. Washington wants negotiations completed this year. “I don’t think it is a realistic timeline,” the Malaysian official said, adding that the country’s government was yet to decide whether it would ultimately remain in the effort.
“We have reached a critical stage. So now we need to assess, to take stock -what if we continue, what if we don’t.” Powerful agriculture lobbies in Japan are resisting the TPP and concerns have been raised that Japanese demands for exceptions may present a sticking point. “There was no sector that did not make any progress (in Brunei),” Koji Tsuruoka, Japan’s chief TPP negotiator, told a news conference in the sultanate Friday. “On the other hand, there was no sector that has been resolved and completed,” he added. Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapha Mohamed last week said his country had “serious difficulties” with the potential impact on state-owned firms. The TPP joint statement said further meetings were expected in the coming weeks but gave no specifics. However, Japanese media said a gathering of top negotiators was being arranged for September 18-21 in Washington. Delegates have previously expressed hopes of concluding the pact in time for a major economic summit in October. The annual summit of the 21-economy Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) bloc is held this year in Bali, Indonesia. APEC includes all 12 TPP countries -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
China data shows economy gathering momentum BEIJING, September 1, 2013 - China’s manufacturing activity strengthened in August to its highest level in 16 months, official figures showed Sunday, the latest data to suggest the world’s second-largest economy is picking up steam after two quarters of slower growth. The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 51.0 last month from 50.3 in July, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The index tracks manufacturing activity in China’s factories and workshops and is a closely watched gauge of the health of the economy. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while anything above signals expansion. The August PMI was the best since a reading of 53.3 in April last year, according to previous results. It also marked the second straight month of strengthening and comes as other recent data has spurred optimism a slowdown in the economy may have been stemmed. Zhao Qinghe, a statistician with the NBS, said in a report on the bureau’s website that the result was the highest this year and “shows that China’s manufacturing industry as a force for economic development has strengthened to some extent and makes obvious that a return to corporate stability has quickened further”. In July, generally upbeat economic data, including a jump in industrial production to a five-month high, helped spur optimism that China’s economic weakness may have hit bottom. And British banking giant HSBC said last month that the initial reading of its PMI survey for August came in at 50.1, rebounding from an 11-month low and the first time since April the indicator had expanded. The first half of this year saw a spike in analyst concerns about China’s
economy after an expected rebound from the worst growth performance in 13 years failed to materialize. China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.8 percent in 2012, the weakest result since 1999. Growth in the first quarter of this year dipped to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in the final three months of last year and slowed further to 7.5 percent in the three months through June. ANZ bank economists Liu Li-Gang and Zhou Hao said in a report that the August PMI figure shows China’s “growth momentum has accelerated thanks to faster implementation of the fiscal program and ‘mini stimulus’ initiated by the new government”. Authorities have been loathe to introduce large-scale stimulus measures such as the four trillion yuan ($650 billion) package thrown at the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, but in late July did announce some steps to boost growth, such as reducing taxes on small companies and encouraging railway development. “The government has allowed extra infrastructure investments, including railway, urban infrastructure construction, and shanty town renovation”, the ANZ report said, adding that would result in up to about 200 billion yuan of output, equivalent to 0.8 percent of China’s GDP in the first half of 2013. China’s leaders say they are aiming to move the economy away from dependency on big ticket investment and instead want consumer demand to become the key growth engine. Authorities are targeting 2013 growth of 7.5 percent, which is the same as the objective set last year. They see annual growth in the seven percent range as being more sustainable for the future as the country’s economy matures. As recently as 2011 GDP grew 9.3 percent and expanded 10.4 percent in 2010.
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BUSINESS
India’s rupee skids to new record low against dollar MUMBAI, August 22, 2013 - India’s rupee tumbled to a new record low against the dollar Thursday, hitting the symbolic 65 level, as economists urged the government to focus on reforms to boost confidence instead of quick-fix solutions. The currency, which has hit record lows for five straight trading days, slumped to 65.56 to the dollar as uncertainty about the future of the US stimulus program added to growing fears about the state of the Indian economy.
US pledges patience as Pacific free trade talks stumble BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, August 23, 2013 - Representatives from countries negotiating a free trade pact that will cover nearly 40 percent of global economic output said Friday that differences between them persisted, as the US sought to assuage concerns over a looming year-end deadline.
Economic giant China is not a party to the negotiations. US trade representative Michael Froman said Friday that the world’s largest economy would not force anyone to accept a deal until they are ready.
Trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific, Latin American and North American regions have been meeting since Thursday in the sultanate of Brunei to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It is the 19th round of talks on the 12-nation deal.
“First of all, there is no US template being imposed on any country. This is a negotiation of 12 sovereigns coming together to work together on a number of challenging issues,” he told a joint press conference at the end of the twoday ministerial meeting.
In a joint statement, the ministers said they hoped to “offer guidance” and conclude the deal this year.
New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser tried to play down the 12 countries’ differences.
Doubts persist over whether the target can be met, with concerns from Malaysia over the impact state-owned enterprises and affirmative action.
“All of us understand that there are sensitive issues,” he said at the press conference. “We have got many years of practical experience to handle these sensitivities. Nobody is going to push anybody in a corner.”
Critics in Japan have also warned that Japanese demands for exceptions may present a sticking point. The TPP member countries comprise Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
Pressure is mounting on Malaysian officials from civil societies and the opposition to abandon the TPP. The country’s trade minister Mustapa Mohamad said he raised a number of concerns at the meeting, including
Pant with India Ratings, part of the Fitch ratings group. Investors are concerned that the US Federal Reserve will begin winding down its bond-buying scheme, which has helped fuel an investment splurge in Asia’s emerging markets. India has a large current account deficit which must be funded with foreign capital and the country is seen as one of the most vulnerable among emerging markets whose currencies are under pressure globally.
The rupee has lost about a fifth of its value this year and there are doubts over whether policymakers are in control of the situation, which analysts now routinely refer to as a crisis.
Pant said the government needed to find ways of boosting foreign direct investment, which plunged to $36.8 billion last year from $46.5 billion the previous year.
“Unless reforms related to growth and lowering the current account deficit are addressed, things will not improve,” said economist Devendra
Since June 1 -- after the US Fed signalled a tapering of its stimulus -overseas funds have pulled out nearly $12 billion from India’s stock and debt
on a proposal to loosen the grip on state-owned enterprises.
of joining the TPP, signaling a potential delay to ratification of the pact.
He also implied that the country would not budge on an affirmative action programme to give preference to its majority ethnic Malays when awarding contracts.
Some voices have also warned that Tokyo, which joined the negotiations last month, will try to write in so many exceptions that any agreement might fall far short of expectations, and could, in any case, take much longer to reach.
The policy has put off some investors and been a sticking point in past free trade negotiations with the US, which were eventually put on ice. “In my interventions, I drew attention to the growing discomfort domestically arising from Malaysia’s participation in the TPP negotiations,” he said in a statement, emphasizing critics’ concern over a lack of transparency. He added that some other TPP countries shared Malaysia’s concern on state-owned enterprises. Malaysia had last week announced that it would further study the benefits
Japan’s market of 128 million consumers is potentially a big prize for foreign firms, many of which presently complain that Tokyo kicks up obstacles -- tariffs and non-tariff barriers -- that stop their products reaching shelves. The automotive, healthcare, insurance and agricultural sectors are seen as particularly cushioned. - AFP
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September 1-15, 2013 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS markets. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government have been trying to stabilise the rupee for months by announcing measures such as hiking short-term interest rates and imposing capital controls. But the measures have failed to halt the plummet and this week the central bank changed tack, announcing it would inject 80 billion rupees ($1.26 billion) into the banking system by buying back long-term government bonds. The move was aimed at making more credit available to boost economic growth, which is at a 10-year low of 5.0 percent. “The government and RBI need to focus on reforms rather than shortterm quick fixes (for the rupee),” said Shubhada Rao, chief economist with private Yes Bank. She said one option the RBI has is to launch a bond targeted at Indians overseas, which could raise an estimated $10-12 billion.
If the crisis worsens the country could be forced to go to the International Monetary Fund to borrow funds in a repeat of its 1991 balance of payments problems, which were considered a national humiliation. Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has in recent weeks promised to reduce the deficit, stabilize the rupee and reduce imports, but this has not eased global rating agencies’ concerns over the country’s weak economic conditions. Dealers said they feared the rupee could weaken further -- with Deutsche Bank analysts forecasting on Wednesday that the rupee could fall to 70 to the dollar. Minutes from the US Fed’s July policy meeting released Wednesday showed board members had differing opinions on when to wind down the $85 billion a month bond-buying. Some back a “taper” as soon as next month, while others said the bank needed to see more evidence the US economy was strong enough.
Indonesia aims to boost economy as emerging Asia struggles JAKARTA, August 23, 2013 - Indonesia on Friday announced measures to shore up its economy as Asia’s emerging nations come under huge pressure from outflows of foreign cash that have sent their stock markets and currencies plummeting. The move comes as emerging markets around the world start to take action in response to investors fleeing on fears that the US may soon wind down its huge stimulus program, however analysts and investors were skeptical Friday’s announcement would be enough to protect Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Earlier this week, the Indian central bank said it would pump $1.26 billion into the country’s financial system to
support the rupee and ailing economy, and on Friday Brazil said had put aside $55 billion to back up the sliding real. The US Federal Reserve’s stimulus scheme, unveiled in September to boost the US economy, has been credited with fueling a global equity and currency rally as traders sought out better returns in developing economies. However, with the US economy showing signs of strength the general feeling is that the Fed will start to pull the plug, leading investors to return to the West, where the dollar and equities look like a better and safer bet. India and Indonesia’s economic
woes have been compounded by domestic problems, such as slowing growth, rising inflation and a widening current account deficit. On Friday, Indonesian ministers announced steps aimed at reducing the current account deficit and making investment easier in what is a notoriously difficult business climate. “We are taking every step to deal with the impact of global turbulence,” Finance Minister Chatib Basri told reporters in the capital Jakarta. “I have always said that bad times make good policies.” The government said it will hike taxes for imports of some luxury goods, reduce oil and gas imports by increasing the use of biodiesel, and boost exports with tax breaks for certain industries, he said.
sank to a record low 65.56 to the dollar, with some market-watchers warning political intransigence in New Delhi could even see the unit fall to 70. “The only long-term solution -deep economic, political and social reforms -- is unlikely ahead of the upcoming elections and possibly for years to come,” said Credit Agricole economist Dariusz Kowalczyk in a note. Among other regional markets, Bangkok is down more than six percent, while Manila slid six percent on Thursday, its only trading day so far this week. However, some observers believe that the tapering off of the Fed’s stimulus program might not be bad news for Asia in the long term.
It also said it was aiming to make investment in projects in the agricultural and mineral sectors easier, while the central bank announced several measures to shore up the rupiah.
“The tapering and tightening of US monetary policy, when it occurs, will not be a bad thing for the region’s economies,” Singapore Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said at a regional business forum.
Official data last week revealed that the current account deficit widened to $9.8 billion in the second quarter, the biggest shortfall since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.
“It is not in anyone’s interest, including the emerging economies, for very low global interest rates to continue indefinitely,” said Shanmugaratnam.
Analysts were unsure about the proposals.
And Diwa Guinigundo, deputy governor of the Philippines’ central bank said: “We should be concerned but we should not be alarmed” about an end to quantitative easing.
“I don’t believe it will give a boost to confidence in the short term,” Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Jakarta-based chief economist at Danareksa Research Institute, adding that many would not be convinced the government would follow through on the promises. The plan did not impress investors either, with the Jakarta benchmark index closing down 0.04 after sitting 1.42 percent higher earlier in the day. The index is down around nine percent this week, while the rupiah is sitting just short of 11,000 to the dollar, its lowest since mid-2009. Indonesia’s woes are mirrored in India, where the rupee on Thursday
“This is something that is driven more by market sentiment rather than the fundamentals of the macroeconomy of the emerging markets.”
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FOCUS
Edible algae -- coming to a rooftop near you? BANGKOK, August 27, 2013 - On a hotel rooftop in Bangkok, dozens of barrels of green liquid bubble under the sun -- the latest innovation in urban farming. Proponents of the edible algae known as spirulina say it could help provide a sustainable source of protein as an alternative to meat. Three times a week, Patsakorn Thaveeuchukorn harvests the green algae in the barrels. “The algae is growing so fast, normally the doubling time is around 24 hours,” said Patsakorn, whose employer EnerGaia uses Bangkok’s rooftops to grow spirulina. With its high levels of protein and nutrients, “it is beneficial to food security,” he said. “If you compare it to meat it will take six months to grow a kilogram of beef, but this we can grow in a week,” said Patsakorn. Spirulina has been described by health food experts as a super-food, and it is becoming more popular worldwide. Rosa Rolle from the UN’s food and agriculture organization (FAO) says it has been an important food source for centuries. “It grows naturally in Lake Texcoco in Mexico. It was eaten by the Incas,” she said. “It’s in many countries that
border Lake Chad in West Africa and is a protein source for a lot of people.” However she warns that it can lead to health problems for people suffering from gout, as it produces a lot of uric acid, and says people need to be educated about spirulina’s positive and negative effects before they consume it. “You need some nutritional information, but for people without medical conditions it would be fine,” she said. The empty space on top of Bangkok’s many skyscrapers provide suitable growing conditions for spirulina as the constant high temperatures and sunlight are ideal breeding conditions. The algae also helps combat carbon dioxide levels through photosynthesis, its champions say, and growing it in cities means it can reach consumers the same day it is harvested. Once the spirulina algae has been collected, it is hand rinsed and spun dry in a modified washing machine. It then has to be hand pressed into jars, as there is no machine yet available that can work with the thick, jelly like substance it produces. “There has been a lot of trial and error,” said Derek Blitz, technology director at EnerGaia. “It is great for vegetarians and vegans. It’s also packed with anti-oxi-
dants. It is really good for cleansing your body.” In their laboratory, lines of different sized test tubes all connected to one another act as the breeding ground for the algae. On the rooftop, barrels of different shapes are in testing, to see which will produce the highest yield. The company says it is the only producer of fresh spirulina in the world; other companies only sell dried and processed varieties. Jars of the algae have a shelf life of around three weeks from harvest, though Blitz plans to increase that so it can be exported abroad. “The advantages of having it fresh are that it has virtually no taste, so you can mix it with anything,” he said. “Eating dried spirulina is like eating a cooked vegetable as opposed to a raw one, so you are getting a little bit more nutrition out of it (when fresh). The other reason to eat fresh produce is because there’s a lot less energy involved in producing it.” And chefs across Bangkok are starting to experiment with the algae. Bill Marinelli, the owner of the Oyster Bar, is a convert.
“It is really good for you,” he said in between mouthfuls of green pasta made with the algae. “We add it to dishes to increase the nutritional value.” The color of the algae is so strong that anything it is mixed with instantly turns green. But despite that, and the fact it has no flavor, Bill is still keen to use it in his dishes. “I’m looking at it as an alternative to animal protein. We can cut back on the amount of protein we serve as fish or meat, and incorporate spirulina for the additional protein source,” he said. Spirulina has been used as a food supplement for decades, and is popular among body builders. The question now is whether consumers will see it as a possible alternative to meat and fish. - AFP
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LIFESTYLE
More fresh fruit deters diabetes; juice boosts risk
PARIS, August 29, 2013 - Eating more whole fresh fruit, especially blueberries, grapes, apples and pears, is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but drinking more fruit juice has the opposite effect, says a study. British, US and Singaporean researchers pored over data from three big health investigations that took place in the United States, spanning a quarter of a century in all.
People who ate at least two servings each week of certain whole fruits, especially blueberries, grapes and apples, reduced their risk of Type 2 diabetes by as much as 23 percent compared to those who ate less than one serving per month.
More than 187,000 nurses and other professional caregivers were enrolled.
“Our findings provide novel evidence suggesting certain fruits may be especially beneficial for lower diabetes risk,” said Qi Sun, an assistant professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Their health was monitored over the following years, and they regularly answered questionnaires on their eating habits, weight, smoking, physical activity and other pointers to lifestyle.
On the other hand, those who consumed one or more servings of fruit juice each day saw their risk of the disease increase by as much as 21 percent.
Around 6.5 percent of the volunteers developed diabetes during the studies.
Swapping three servings of juice per week for whole fruits resulted in a seven-percent reduction in risk, although there was no such difference with strawberries and cantaloupe melon. The paper, published on Friday by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), says further work is needed to to explore this “significant” difference.
It speculates that, even if the nutritional values of whole fruit and fruit juice are similar, the difference lies with the fact that one food is a semisolid and the other a liquid. “Fluids pass through the stomach to the intestine more rapidly than solids even if nutritional content is similar,” says the paper. “For example, fruit juices lead to more rapid and larger changes in serum [blood] levels of glucose and insulin than whole fruits.” The study also points to evidence that some kinds of fruit have a beneficial effect for health. Berries and grapes, for instance, have compounds called anthocyanins which have been found to lower the risk of heart attacks.
But, say the authors, how or even whether this also applies to diabetes risks is for now unclear. The investigation looked at data from the Nurses’ Health Study, which ran from 1984-2008; the Nurses’ Health Study II (1991-2009); and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (19862008). Ten kinds of fruit were used in the questionnaire: grapes or raisins; peach, plums or apricots; prunes; bananas; cantaloupe melon; apples or pears; oranges; grapefruit; strawberries; and blueberries. The fruit juices identified in the questionnaire were apple, orange, grapefruit and “other.”
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LIFESTYLE South Korea’s traditional markets go high-tech SEOUL, August 23, 2013 - Seoul’s traditional markets -- bustling, narrow streets of small vendors selling cheap, fresh produce -- have largely opted out of the high-tech charge to make the South Korean capital one of the most wired cities on earth. But squeezed by big-box stores and dwindling custom, these momand-pop operations are slowly going digital, replacing well-thumbed ledgers with tablet computers, and cash pouches with sleek smart phones that can scan credit cards. Yoo Hyung-Geun has been selling sesame oil at Seoul’s outdoor Junggok Cheil market for the past 14 years. Two months ago , he finally parted ways with his trusted manual cash register and replaced it with a Samsung Galaxy touchscreen tablet provided free by the country’s top mobile operator, SK Telecom. The tablet not only functions as an electronic cash register but also features software specifically developed by SK Telecom to help small businesses improve their performance.
At the most basic level, it stores and provides basic sales and inventory data, such as how many bottles of sesame oil -- a key ingredient in South Korean cuisine -- are sold each day, week or month. But it also lists and stores the items brought by individual customer, allowing Yoo to engage in some basic target marketing, promoting new products via text messages or e-mails to regular shoppers based on their purchase history. “These days, I’m trying to analyze this data in different ways,” Yoo said, adding that his sales had jumped nearly 30 percent since he embraced the new technology. Yoo was one of an initial batch of 14 merchants in Junggok Cheil market to receive the tablet and specialized software. SK Telecom launched the initiative partly in response to a call from President Park Geun-Hye for large companies to lend a hand to smaller businesses who struggle to stay competitive.
South Korea’s huge, family-run conglomerates, like Samsung and Hyundai, have been blamed for stifling innovation and deliberately smothering small firms -- especially in the retail sector -- as they seek to expand into new markets. For those working in the country’s 300 or so traditional markets, the growth of supermarket chains like E-Mart and HomePlus with modern, spacious, air-conditioned stores and ample parking space is a daunting challenge. So far, the company has provided 26 tablets and accompanying software to merchants in two markets in or near Seoul and plans to do the same in other venues later this year, said SKT spokeswoman Irene Kim. The mobile operator has also provided mini electronic kits that can scan credit cards -- addressing one of the main complaints of shoppers who seek to stay loyal to the old markets. “It’s much more convenient if I don’t have to carry wads of cash whenever I come here,” said Kwon Hyuk-Sung, a Seoul resident and regular shopper at Yoo’s store. Junggok Cheil is not the
only market where vendors have accepted that new technology can give them a fresh foothold in a rapidlychanging and increasingly-competitive environment. In the southern city of Busan, one traditional market teamed up with a local government office to create a mobile phone app that offers discount coupons, information about each of its 100 stores and directions to the nearest parking lots. Some have begun to offer a free WiFi service -- an important move in attracting younger customers to the cooked food stalls that complement the grocery stores. And in Suwon city, near Seoul, store owners have set up cameras capable of counting the number of people in any corner of their market at any given time. The merchants use the data to determine the best time and location to hold special cultural or sales events.
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LIFESTYLE China graft crackdown hits Hong Kong’s ‘Dried Seafood Street’ HONG KONG, August 25, 2013 – In a narrow Hong Kong street filled with the tang of dried sea creatures, shopkeepers are blaming China’s recent corruption crackdown for falling sales of expensive banquet foods such as shark fin and abalone. Such items have fallen off the menu since China’s new leadership came to power demanding austerity from Communist Party and military officials as a means of reigning in graft and dampening public anger over corruption. Suppliers, restaurants, and hotels in the trading hub of Hong Kong all say the loss of appetite from the mainland has thinned out sales in a market looking for a portion of China’s estimated annual 300 billion yuan (US$49 billion) expenditure on statefunded banquets. On Hong Kong’s “Dried Seafood Street”, the centre of trade in dried delicacies, said shopkeeper Leung Wing-chiu told sales were down 20 percent at a time when increased ethical awareness over shark fin and rising rents are pressuring business. “Beijing’s frugality campaign has driven money out of my pocket,” said the 94-year-old, who is also the Dried Sea Food & Grocery Merchants Association president. “Demand from mainland buyers, especially hotels and restaurants, has shrunk a lot. This is particularly true for high-end goods such as dried abalone, shark fins and bird’s nest.” Two catering companies listed on the southern Chinese city’s stock exchange even cited the government’s emphasis on frugality as they issued profit warnings to shareholders last month. Leung said China’s state-funded banquet culture was a key source of revenue, and while the economic
slowdown had affected business over the past few years, “the situation has got a lot worse since the new leadership ascended to power”. Chinese officials have long held lavish liquor-drenched receptions as a way of building business relationships, greasing the wheels of power, and showing off wealth and status. The Jiu San Society, one of China’s eight legally-recognized non-Communist political parties, last year called for a curb on government spending on such banquets, which it estimated at 300 billion yuan a year. Other scholars put the figure even higher. And in June, President Xi Jinping launched a “thorough cleanup” of the ruling Communist Party, vowing to target extravagance and waste.
local consumers, because orders from mainland hotels and restaurants have gone down dramatically,” he said.
The Central Military Commission had already banned lavish banquets for high-ranking officers at the end of last year, while party officials were handed similar new rules.
And Yeung Wai-sing, the chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Catering Services Management Ltd, also had reason to regret China’s newfound abstemiousness.
Former high-flying Chinese politician Bo Xilai is currently on trial for corruption and revelations about private jet flights and rare animal meats have held Chinese readers spellbound.
“For years, this traditional business has been fueled by orders from mainlanders, who consider dried seafood from Hong Kong to be premium in quality,” said Yeung.
Zhu Jiangnan, China Studies coordinator at the University of Hong Kong, said banquets were in a “grey area” of corruption.
“But things didn’t turn out well this year.”
“Actually, in China, the word ‘corruption’ (fubai) is linked not only with… graft, bribery, and embezzlement, but also unhealthy tendencies… such as extravagance and waste,” she told AFP in an email. Wong Hiu-wan, a shopkeeper selling bird’s nests, which have been used in Chinese cooking for centuries, blamed the directives from Beijing for a slowdown in business. “Now, we have to count more on
Two Hong Kong-listed catering giants, Tang Palace (China) Holdings and Xiao Nan Guo Restaurants Holdings Ltd, both issued profit warnings in July linked to the crackdown. Tang Palace largely blamed “the issuance of a set of regulations and restrictions to promote frugality and curb waste by the Chinese government, casting an impact on certain customer groups’ expenditure”. Xiao Nan Guo said its first-half profit was hit by “the prolonged austerity campaign launched by the
Chinese government to curb lavish spending and entertainment”. Others say traditional foods were already losing their attraction. “The Chinese are turning their eyes towards Western and environmentally-friendly food rather than traditional banquet favorites like abalone and shark fin,” said Ren Guoqiang of consultancy Roland Berger & Partner. Bruce Shou, a student and food enthusiast who routinely visits Hong Kong from Hangzhou to dine at highend restaurants, agreed. “Sashimi, beefsteaks and foie gras look fancier to me, whereas abalones remind me of something old-fashioned and bureaucratic,” he said. On top of environmental campaigning against products such as shark fin and Hong Kong’s eye-watering rents, the graft crackdown is adding to the pressure on businesses along “Dried Seafood Street”. “2013 is a tough year for us,” Leung said. - AFP
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SPORTS
‘Super Dan’ takes swipe at world body Indonesia hosts first sumo tournament outside Japan for 5 years JAKARTA, August 24, 2013 - Indonesia hosted the first official sumo tournament outside Japan for five years on Saturday, with Kisenosato causing a major upset by defeating the sport’s two grand champions.
Before the fighting, some of the wrestlers took part in a skit which involved buttock slapping and picking up young fighters by their loincloths and hurling them around, drawing much laughter from the crowds.
Thousands flocked to the opening day of the competition in Jakarta, paying up to $90 for prime seats, as the popularity of all things Japanese grows among Indonesians -- from learning the language to eating the cuisine to embracing the sports.
“This is the first time I’ve seen sumo live, so it’s very exciting,” said aikido instructor Sphinx Parlin Philips.
The two grand champions or “yokozuna”, Mongolians Hakuho and Harumafuji, had been expected to dominate -- but both suffered shock defeats to lower-ranked Kisenosato. Hakuho looked to be on impressive form as he made it through successive rounds, in one bout guiding 206-kilogrammes (454-pounds) Gagamaru of Georgia out of the ring in seconds. But he met his match in the semifinals against Kisenosato, who also went on to win Saturday’s final against Harumafuji. Kisenosato will now take part in the final of the two-day tournament on Sunday.
“This event is like an introduction to Japanese culture,” added Tukuji Yoshida, from local organiser Gotanda Denshi. However, the sport is no longer purely Japanese, with many foreign-born wrestlers and its top rank of “yokozuna” occupied by the two Mongolians. The last official sumo tournament outside Japan was held in Mongolia in 2008. Sumo is gradually emerging from a series of scandals that have tainted its centuries-old image. Match-fixing, drug use and bullying allegations have eroded its popularity, although it still has a huge following.
HONG KONG, August 20, 2013 - Chinese superstar Lin Dan took a swipe at badminton’s global governing body after his record fifth world title win was hit by controversy, just a year after a scandal at the London Olympics. In a rare interview, “Super Dan” questioned whether the Badminton World Federation (BWF) understood players’ needs after the body investigated the apparent failure of the air-conditioning during his victory over world number one Lee Chong Wei. And the 29-year-old great also took aim at the BWF over last year’s embarrassing episode at the Olympics, when eight players, including two from China, were disqualified for deliberately trying to lose matches. Witnesses at this month’s men’s world final in Guangzhou, southern China, said the stadium air-conditioning, which had been affecting players at one end of the court, went off at the start of the second game, when Lin switched to the breezy side. Lin, who lost the first game, won the second to level the match and, with temperatures soaring in the decider, took the title when Lee was stretchered off with cramp when facing match point. Lee’s coach, Tey Seu Bock, blamed the lack of air-conditioning for the cramp and retirement, adding that the player could hardly breathe in the
stifling conditions. Chinese officials denied turning off the cooling system, saying it was simply set too low. But Lin said conditions were the same for both players and he suggested that losing the air-con helped “bring out a higher level of competition”. “First, you don’t need to ask me about that because when I’m on the court, I’m not aware of anything,” said Lin via email. “Second, I think the conditions were equal. Third, and most important, if the air-conditioning is switched off, then I hope it was because it would bring out a higher level of competition from the players.” He added: “Many people, including those from the BWF, don’t really understand what the main problems in badminton are, and what it most needs, because many officials are not competitors. “The biggest problem for badminton is wind direction and lighting. If those problems are not solved, it seriously impacts players’ performances on the court. “If a high-level player’s performance is affected by these factors, they suffer setbacks and cannot be fully satisfied on the court. “The ones suffering are not just the players, but also the fans and audience, so we shouldn’t overlook these two fac-
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SPORTS Olympics: Singapore candidate says it’s Asia’s turn at IOC SINGAPORE, August 27, 2013 Would-be IOC boss Ng Ser Miang said the Olympic body would benefit from having an Asian leader and pledged a new era for the organisation as the race for the presidency enters the home straight. The Singaporean supermarket chief and diplomat told AFP that the 119year-old International Olympic Committee (IOC) needs a “different perspective” as it heads into an age where the world’s most populous region will play a far greater role. The 64-year-old Ng is considered a strong contender among the six candidates vying to replace Belgium’s Jacques Rogge as IOC president in a vote in Buenos Aires on September 10. The IOC, founded in 1894 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, has had seven European presidents and one American, with Rogge in charge since 2001. “The IOC has become very global and I think for the IOC it’s also important to have a different perspective, in this case coming from a very important part of the world,” the Chinese-born Ng said in an interview. He added: “I hope so!” when asked if it was time the IOC had an Asian leader. “But I think it’s important not just symbolically but for the values they can bring to the table as well, when we talk about universality, different value systems, different cultures, different ways of looking at issues and challenges,” said Ng. “Which also means that you have different solutions, coming from different angles and different perspectives. I believe that’s going to be very, very useful to the movement and very important to the movement in future.” Ng is one of two candidates from Asia, along with Taiwan’s C.K. Wu,
head of the International Boxing Federation. But he played down fears that the two were harming each other’s chances by competing for regional votes. “I’m happy that we have very strong candidates,” said Ng, Singapore’s nonresident ambassador to Norway. Germany’s Thomas Bach is touted as the front-runner, followed by Ng and Puerto Rican banker Richard Carrion. Ukrainian pole-vault great Sergey Bubka and Denis Oswald of Switzerland are the other hopefuls. Ng has strong credentials as an existing IOC vice-president with a successful business career, after starting out as a bus entrepreneur and now heading Singapore’s biggest supermarket chain. He also chaired the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, in Singapore in 2010, and was a driving force behind the citystate’s rise from sporting backwater to regional centre with Formula One in its portfolio of events. Wearing an electric blue tie and a humble manner, and sitting in his office near Singapore’s new Sports Hub, an under-construction complex including a 55,000-seat national stadium, Ng said he could bring similar acumen to bear on the IOC. He proposed containing the huge costs of putting on Summer and Winter Olympics, which currently rule out many cities, and better risk assessment to protect hosts from financial difficulties. Russia’s Sochi is estimated to be spending $50 billion on next year’s Winter Olympics, while Rio de Janeiro is already under pressure over its hosting of the 2016 Summer Games. “We have to review the Games bids process, despite scales and complexities of the Games. At the same time reviewing sports programmes as well.
We have to make sure they continue to be exciting, to be relevant,” said Ng. He added: “Organising the Games is very complex, it’s huge... but definitely it’s time that we have a major review of this and see how we can move forward.” Ng also pledged to work more closely with sports federations, national Olympic bodies and sponsors to try to tap their “huge resources” and raise partnerships to a more “strategic level”. He said he would hold half-day meetings with each of the 115 IOC members and then a group retreat to chart the way forward on “hot-button issues” such as the Games’ size and scale, which sports are contested, doping and illegal betting.
And to raise efficiency he plans to delegate projects to IOC vice-presidents and members, and review the body’s staff and internal operations. “To me empowerment is going to be very critical. It’s going to be one of the factors that will determine our future success,” Ng said. Ng has also placed youth at the heart of his strategy, with ambitious plans to roll out 80 “Olympic youth development centres”, many in poor countries, over the next eight years. “We really have to make sure that the Olympic Movement becomes part of everyone’s daily life and starting with the youth is very important,” he said. - AFP
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HEALTH
Gut bacteria link to obesity illnesses: study cells
PARIS, August 28, 2013 - Individuals who lack key species of so-called “good” bacteria in their intestines are more prone to obesity and associated diseases such as diabetes, heart and cholesterol problems, according to research published Wednesday. The findings may hold new clues to help tackle the world’s obesity epidemic, which is predicted to affect more than 700 million people in 2015, a rise of 300 million in a decade, its authors said. An international team of researchers compared the intestinal germs found in 169 obese Danes and 123 non-obese counterparts. “We were able to distinguish between two groups based on their intestinal flora -- people with a large richness of bacterial species in their intestines and people with a few less bacterial species,” said Jeroen Raes of the Flemish Biotechnology Institute (VIB) in Brussels. Twenty-three percent of the sample had “low bacterial richness.” They turned out to be more likely to be obese -- but not exclusively so -- and to develop obesity-linked diseases. The snapshot showed that the “high richness” group had on average 580,000 different genes in their intestinal bacteria. Among the “low richness” group, there were just 360,000 different genes. Six bacterial species appear to play the key role in promoting this diversity. Further research is needed to develop these early-stage discoveries and see if they apply to other races and populations. The hope is to develop “specific bacterial markers” to identify people at risk and even bacterial treatments to prevent weight gain, said Stanislas
Bat linked to mysterious MERS virus WASHINGTON, August 22, 2013 - A bat has been linked to the mysterious and at times fatal MERS coronavirus plaguing the Middle East, according to a new study. Researchers said they detected a 100 percent genetic match in an insect-eating bat close to the home of the first known victim of the disease in Saudi Arabia. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome has killed 47 people worldwide, 39 of them in Saudi Arabia. “There have been several reports of finding MERS-like viruses in animals. None were a genetic match,” said Ian Lipkin, a co-author of the study and head of Columbia University’s Center for Infection and Immunity. “In this case we have a virus in an animal that is identical in sequence to the virus found in the first human
case,” he said in a statement. “Importantly, it’s coming from the vicinity of that first case.” The findings of the study, which also involved researchers from the EcoHealth Alliance and Saudi Arabia’s health ministry, were published online late Wednesday in the “Emerging Infectious Diseases” journal of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
species in regions of Saudi Arabia where MERS cases were identified. After a series of analyses, a fecal sample taken from an Egyptian Tom Bat collected within several kilometers of the home of the first known MERS victim “contained sequences of a virus identical to those recovered” from that person.
MERS is considered a cousin of the SARS virus that erupted in Asia in 2003.
But “there is no evidence of direct exposure to bats in the majority of human cases of MERS,” said Ziad Memish, Saudi Arabia’s deputy health minister and the study’s lead author.
Like SARS, it is thought to have jumped from animals to humans, and shares the former’s flu-like symptoms -- but differs by causing kidney failure.
“Given that human-to-human transmission is inefficient, we speculate that an as-yet-to-be determined intermediate host plays a critical role in human disease.”
Between October 2012 and April 2013, researchers collected more than a thousand samples from seven bat
- AFP
Experimental drug ‘cures’ hepatitis C in small trials WASHINGTON, August 27, 2013 - An experimental drug combination cured 70 percent of patients with hepatitis C in early trials, offering hope of a simpler remedy for the chronic liver disease, US researchers said Tuesday.
All nine who completed the regimen had no virus detectable 12 weeks after therapy ended. No hepatitis C was found even 24 weeks after finishing therapy.
The phase II trial described in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) studied the effectiveness and safety of an experimental drug, sofosbuvir, taken with the licensed antiviral drug ribavirin.
According to study co-author Shyamasundaran Kottilil of the National Institutes of Health, a patient is considered cured of hepatitis C if no virus is detectable for 12 weeks after the therapy ends.
The drugs were administered orally, an improvement over the current treatment which involves weekly injections with interferon-alpha and can cause depression, flu-like symptoms and anemia.
A second study group of 50 people were divided into two groups to test weight-based versus low fixed doses of the experimental drug, sofosbuvir, manufactured by Gilead Sciences in California.
Ten patients with early to moderate liver disease were treated with 400 milligrams daily of sofosbuvir and weight-based doses of ribavirin for six months.
“We saw an overall cure rate of about 70 percent using regimens that did not include interferon,” said Dr. Kottilil. “This is an encouraging result.”
The 60 patients studied all had genotype-1 HCV, with varying levels of liver disease. Fifty of the 60 were AfricanAmerican men. The combination regimen was deemed safe and well tolerated, with side effects including mild to moderate headache, anemia, fatigue and nausea. Chronic hepatitis C, which is passed through contact with contaminated blood affects more than three million Americans. It is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, killing about 15,000 people every year in the United States. “There is a pressing need for hepatitis C virus treatments that are less burdensome to the patient, have fewer side effects and take less time to complete,” said study co-author Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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Misc Asia
Japan police ‘solve riddle of missing bike saddles’
Shanghai ‘roasts’ the giant Rubber Duck SHANGHAI, August 27, 2013 - Shanghai has served up a “roasted” version of a Dutch artist’s giant yellow duck, complete with drumsticks and crispy brown skin. Florentijn Hofman’s Rubber Duck installation gained rave reviews when a 16.5 metre-tall (54-feet) version arrived in Hong Kong this summer. Hundreds of thousands of people viewed it against the backdrop of the skyscrapers that line the city’s Victoria Harbor. Not to be outdone, Shanghai -- which is vying with Hong Kong to be China’s financial capital -- has unveiled its own version on the Huangpu River, which forms its waterfront Bund district. “The design process took place during Shanghai’s scorching hot summer days, so we just thought: ‘Let’s roast it’,” said designer Han Beishi. “Other inspiration came from an ancient Chinese poem: ‘The duck knows first when the river becomes warm in spring’,” he added. Shanghai’s duck is actually a working ferry boat which state media reported
Tuesday will carry passengers and host cultural performances including poetry reading. The duck’s head, at the bow, is yellow, but reversed and looking back towards its body which is made of papier mache, with jutting drumsticks and cooked wings.
TOKYO, August 27, 2013 - Japanese police have got to the bottom of a mysterious crime wave that saw 200 leather bicycle saddles vanish in a matter of months, reports say.
Police in Yokohama, near Tokyo, had been receiving regular reports since January that bicycle seats were going missing, the paper and other media said.
Joji Kondo, 35, confessed to police that he would steal the saddles and then sniff and lick them when he got home, the Sports Hochi reported on Sunday.
Kondo told police that he knew by the aroma whether the bike he was targeting belonged to a man or a woman, the paper said.
He told officers that he liked the texture and smell of leather and that he particularly “likes saddles sat on by women”, the newspaper said.
Sri Lanka police in doghouse over canine ‘wedding’
Several Chinese cities rushed to display versions of Hofman’s Rubber Duck -- which has been making appearances around the world since 2007 -- leading the official People’s Daily newspaper to criticize the flock of copycats.
COLOMBO, August 27, 2013 - Sri Lanka’s cultural affairs ministry has taken strong exception to a mass “wedding” of police dogs, which used symbols of traditional Buddhist nuptials on the Indian Ocean island.
But the Huangpu river has made more headlines this year for a pollution scandal which saw more than 10,000 dead pigs drift down it in March, discarded by farmers upstream.
Culture Minister T.B. Ekanayake demanded an explanation for Monday’s ceremony in central Sri Lanka, which was intended to promote a programme to breed more sniffer dogs.
Han said he floated the idea of making a pig but city fathers were not amused.
Police “married” nine pairs of dogs on a platform decked with white cloth and flowers symbolic of a traditional marriage ceremony. The brides were decked in mittens, shawls and hats while the grooms wore fancy neckties and shawls.
“It was my first choice, but the organizers had some concerns and the idea was dropped,” he said. - AFP
The Kanagawa prefectural police declined to confirm the reports.
“Using hallowed national traditions at a dog show must be condemned with contempt,” the minister told the state-run Dinamina daily. “They have devalued the (traditional) poruwa
(wedding) ritual.” Police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena said the police department regretted any offence caused to the cultural sensibilities of the population, which is 75 percent ethnic Sinhalese and Buddhist. “The department wishes to express its deep regret over this matter,” he said. Constables served milk rice and cake to some 2,000 invitees and 20 police dogs attended the ceremony in the town of Kandy. The dog couples were driven off in a police van to the hill resort of Nuwara Eliya for their “honeymoon”. - AFP
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Misc Asia
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Words of Wisdom Do not start your worldly life too late; do not start your religious life too early. Bhutanese proverb Silence is worth a thousand pieces of silver. Burmese Proverb
Haunted houses give Japan chills in hot summer TOKYO, August 31, 2013 - A shiver down the spine is one way of keeping cool during summer in Japan -- traditionally viewed as a time when the spirit world makes its presence felt. August sees millions of Japanese return to their home towns for the Obon season, in which relatives gather to temporarily welcome back the spirits of their dead forebears. Despite its association with the deceased, Obon is a cheerful period that frequently involves fireworks and dancing in “yukata”, a light summer kimono. But it’s also a time for ghost stories, with dozens of temporary haunted houses opening up across the country to mark the season. “Goosebumps can be very refreshing,” said Sayaka Makabe, a schoolgirl who came to witness “The Cursed Tooth” at Tokyo Dome, which tells the story of a woman driven to madness after sacrificing her once pearly white teeth for her child and has been condemned to pull them out one-by-one. To allow her to rest in peace, visitors must pluck a black tooth from her mouth and take it to the exit. As her screams echo around the building, a loudspeaker relays the public’s fearful cries to those queuing up to get in. Three small children cling to their father, Ryuta Sato, in terror as they stand in front of an old woman with a knife stuck in her throat, surrounded
by pools of fake blood. “I used to visit these kinds of things when I was a kid,” said 42-year-old Sato, who admitted he was more scared than he was letting on. “The dead come back to the human world in August. This is a period in which all kinds of terrifying things are supposed to happen,” said Hirofumi Gomi, the creator of “The Cursed Tooth”, who is credited with setting up dozens of other haunted houses around the country. The tradition goes back to the Edo period (1603-1868), when people packed Kabuki theatres in August to see ghost stories. Obon religious ceremonies are based on the popular belief that ancestral spirits spend a few days on Earth in the month of August.
If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will spare yourself one hundred days of tears. Cambodian Proverb If you are doing wrong, make sure you don’t get fat from it. Cambodian Proverb A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books. Chinese Proverb Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own. Chinese Proverb Pearls are worthless in the desert. Indian Proverb Bachelors want to get married, while married men regret that they did. Indian Proverb It takes a long time sitting on a stone before it becomes warm. Expect to work at something for three years before you see results. Japanese Proverb A bad wife is a shipwreck of the house. Japanese Proverb
Families craft small “horses” from cucumbers and toothpicks, symbolizing a form of transport for spirits to come from the netherworld. As the festival ends, small boats with lanterns are set adrift, taking souls back to heaven. “I have always practiced this tradition because I think my parents really come back, I sometimes feel their presence with me,” said Yumiko Tominaga, visiting a cemetery in Hitachiota, north of Tokyo, with her husband to sweep the graves of his ancestors.
“When I die, if I go back to Earth, I will certainly be happy if my children greet me the same way.”
The person who knows himself and his opponent will be invincible. Korean Proverb To be prepared is to have no anxiety. Korean Proverb If you speak in the daytime, look around; if you speak at night, listen carefully. Malay Proverb The lot of a coconut hust is to float; the lot of a stone is to sink. Malay Proverb The more you listen the more you give yourself room for doubt. Mongolian Proverb Dogs fight with each other, but unite when they hear the voice of a jackal. Pakistan Proverb When you follow the old man, the dog will not bite. Thai Proverb If you want to know your future, look at what you are doing in this moment. Tibetan Proverb Never forget benefits done you, regardless how small. Vietnamese Proverb Eats as strongly as elephant Vietnamese Proverb
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TECH Wet noses to the touchscreen, iPads go to the dogs
NEW YORK CITY, August 25, 2013 – You may or may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but you can certainly try to get Fido to use an iPad. New York dog trainer Anna Jane Grossman has done just that, with success — although a lack of apps limits the possibilities. “It’s a novelty. It’s just sort of a fun thing to do,” said Grossman at School for the Dogs, the canine classroom she runs with partner Kate Senisi near Manhattan’s Union Square. “There’s not a huge amount of purpose to it — but the way I see it, we’re playing games all the time on our iPads anyway, so why not play games with our dogs?”
Then came the iPhone and iPad — no doubt Android devices work just as well — with their touch screens reacting instantly to the gentlest pressure from a wet canine nose. “We go through a lot of screen cleaner here,” Grossman confessed. Within an hour, Bandit could take a self-portrait on command, using an app called Big Camera Button that triggers an iPhone camera shutter just by touching the screen. (The resulting image was an extreme close-up of his eyes and forehead.) “What’s nice about the iPad or iPhone or whatever you’re using is that it registers that moment that (the dog) touches it,” Grossman explained.
Grossman, a native New Yorker and lifelong dog lover who’s also a freelance writer, was inspired by a fictional news article about a college grad who instructs dogs on correct tablet technique.
With an app called YesNo, with a green yes button and red no button, Grossman can get Amos to answer the most profound questions (“Does two plus two equal five?” No! “Is print media dead?” No!.
The original real-life iPad dog was Grossman’s eight-year-old poodleYorkie mix Amos, whose rich repetoir of silly tricks such as rolling over dead upon hearing the words “bang bang.”
Designed to help nonverbal youngsters communicate with others, YesNo is one of the few reactive touchscreen apps that Grossman has come across
In the interests of objectivity, AFP brought its own dog, a three-year-old dachshund mix, down to Grossman’s place to see if she could turn him into a genuine geek on four legs. Starting off simply, Grossman got Bandit to touch her hand with his nose on command, in return for a tasty treat as a reward for correct behavior. From there she got the dog nudging a fly swatter, then a pad of Post It notes, occasionally using a smear of peanut butter to focus its attention.
with crossover potential. “The problem isn’t so much what dogs are capable of doing,” said Grossman, author of a book on obsolete technology.
Along the same lines, Pavlov Dog Monitor, an app released earlier this year, uses a smartphone’s audio sensor technology to send a Facebook message every time it hears a home-alone dog barking.
“It’s that there aren’t a lot of apps out there that are both big enough for a dog to touch with his nose and synched up for practical purposes,” such as switching on a light or opening a door.
“A lot of service dogs are trained to touch buttons in case of an emergency,” so it shouldn’t be too much of a leap for them to do same via a smartphone or tablet screen, Grossman said.
That said, Grossman has been experimenting on getting a seeing-eye dog to differentiate between dark and light pairs of socks so it can help its owner get dressed, using an audio-enabled app.
But while more and more people hear about dogs using iPads, not everyone is impressed.
Another client is a pilot who wants his dog, on command, to nose-touch his iPad in just the right spot in order to summon the latest in-flight weather report. Having rigged a litter box with a motion sensor to send a text message every time her cat does its business, Grossman is tinkering with synchronizing an iPad with a doggie treat dispenser.
“In the dog training community, people have been, like, ‘That’s so cool’,” said Grossman, whose school now is offering “iDog” seminars. “But I’ve also gotten a lot of angry emails from people saying, like, ‘Steve Jobs must be rolling over in his grave’.”
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September 1-15, 2013 Georgia Asian Times
September Horoscope Snake (2013 2001 1989 1977 1965 1953 1941 1929 1917 1905) Few things annoy you more than those who spend hours gathering facts and debating the pros and cons of various options when they should be getting things done. Exciting as recent ideas or offers were, by no means is this end of promising discussions. Actually, what you have already talked over was breaking ground for what emerges during the month. Knowing that, you should make plans in such a manner you can easily alter them or adopt a flexible environment rather than being confined. Horse (2002 1990 1978 1966 1954 1942 1930 1918 1906) Every once in a while, ideas and conversation or discussions should be turned into a single, lasting decision. Treasure such moment for there is no time to waste. Having talked over every possibility, avoid debating situations that are fruitless or unnecessary. It is time for action. However do not underestimate certain hidden agendas that could spring surprises at some stage. With careful and concerted efforts, you should be able to sail through successfully without much fuss. Sheep (2003 1991 1979 1967 1955 1943 1931 1919 1907) If you were being cautious and not rushing things around, you would demand guarantees that new or sudden developments are as good as they seem. However, ideas are new and events progressing swiftly. Not only do you have limited choice but also to take things one day at a time; at least it ensures you remain updated on developments around the group. Do not stop here but continue to take corrective measures or steps to follow through. The latter part is most vital for a successful plan or development. Monkey (2004 1992 1980 1968 1956 1944 1932 1920 1908) The fact that family members, business partners or close friends are making decisions on your behalf is not a problem. When you trust those in charge, you feel a sense of relief. But now you are not only uncertain about what is involved, you have serious questions about their capability to make the right decisions. Instead of worrying, work closely with these individuals. Challenging as this may be, eventually you will manage to achieve a very real positive agreement. Rooster (2005 1993 1981 1969 1957 1945 1933 1921 1909) The ideas or concepts coming your way may be exciting and the potential offers you are hearing are persuasive. Still bear in mind that minor errors could lead to certain confusion. Hence explore whatever intrigues you and remember there are likely to be some surprises no matter how thorough you are. It does not necessarily mean the offers are not positive, but only you should know what are the likely risks and rewards worth taking.
Dog (2006 1994 1982 1970 1958 1946 1934 1922 1910) Usually good fortune is recognizable for what it is immediately, but during this month, it is a little more complicated, mostly because what has arisen is so different from anything you have had in mind. Still, at least explore what is potentially available. At the bare minimum you will discover something new which may become handy in the future. One should not necessarily only think of immediate gains at the possible shortest time. Some people could be born lucky and avoid making comparison with them. Progress at your own pace and effort and more importantly one should continue to think positive.
Pig (2007 1995 1983 1971 1959 1947 1935 1923 1911) There are many types of loss. This is not about a single element of your life but rather ideas, habits and arrangements to which you could be termed addicted. If you need, rather than enjoy these, it is the time for them to be examined. Challenging as this process might seem initially, you will soon discover how much it frees you from obligations. The more freedom you have to respond, the more you will benefit from opportunities of the variety that appear once in a lifetime. Rat (2008 1996 1984 1972 1960 1948 1936 1924 1912) Your perception is acute during this period, enough so that you probably already sense the glorious events coming your way. While some developments are the result of your past efforts, others will appear from nowhere and all are amazing. No doubt you are feeling uneasy, wondering how you can shift some of those financial benefits in the direction of others, since your tendency is to share the profits. In fact, you need not for it is your turn to enjoy life and the fruits of your industrious efforts and endless sleepless nights.
Ox (2009 1997 1985 1973 1961 1949 1937 1925 1913) This is not just a month of change, it is about breakthroughs. You could discover yourself making statements that involve an extreme stance. You may even insist there are certain things you would never do or say. That is tempting fate, since events could soon find you doing just that. Few things are more uncomfortable than reviewing difficult or unresolved issues from the past. Perhaps it is time to face up to and tackle them. Better yet, what you learn from dealing with these will offer unexpected understanding. Tiger (2010 1998 1986 1974 1962 1950 1938 1926 1914) Usually, however promising events or offers may be, you would gather solid facts before investing serious time, effort or heart in plans. However during this month’s sudden developments, involving you and those closest to you, are tricky, as information or facts are unreliable or the pace demands fast action or response. Respond promptly, confident each day’s experiences will add to your knowledge and you should end up wiser and react cautiously when handling financial matters. Rabbit (2011 1999 1987 1975 1963 1951 1939 1927 1915 1903) You learned or discovered that it is better to make your own opportunities than wait for somebody to do it for you. Yet eager as you are to take certain plans forward, you are urged to bide your time until you see what and how the markets perform or behave. No doubt there has been talk of exciting offers, but little has come of those discussions. Tempting as it is to force issues, you are better off being patient. At least wait until the end of the month, when stunning aspects turn those promising ideas into something extraordinary. Dragon (2012 2000 1988 1976 1964 1952 1940 1928 1916 1904) Balancing practical obligations involving everything from your time to your money with life’s pleasures is always a challenge, but rarely have you had so much to deal with at once. Overwhelming, as this seems, what you are juggling with is so exciting, you would not wish to have any less to deal with. The trick is to regard each day’s plans as exactly that, good for that day. That way you will organize things expecting changes and so will easily accommodate them as the situation arises or flows with the changes.