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Taiwan's Ma presses on with efforts to stabilise cross-strait ties

Culture — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:16:32 +0800

TAIPEI : In another sign that the Asia Pacific region is recovering from the global financial crisis, Taiwan said its economic rescue efforts have shown results, and the worst is over.In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia, President Ma Ying-jeou also stressed that his administration will continue efforts, to stabilise cross-strait relations for the interests of the island's people.President Ma rode to victory in 2008 carrying high expectations from the Taiwanese electorate.After tackling record-high oil prices, his administration was hit by the financial crisis, which pushed unemployment to new highs.The government swung into action, granting bank guarantees, and boosting domestic consumption."We also distributed shopping vouchers to the people, particularly just before the Chinese New Year period... We also took the opportunity to gradually expand our domestic demand, by focusing on many infrastructure projects. I think our project to rescue the economy h...

Ching's spicy bacon crispy haddock

Culture — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:03:00 +0800

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Spicy bacon crispy haddock

Ready to eat in 13 minutes

Prep time: 5 minutes, cook in: 8 minutes

This is my favourite fish recipe. I love using haddock but you could use cod, monkfish or even mackerel. The wok-cooked smoky bacon (laced in Sichuan peppercorns) chilli oil gives your taste buds a delicious punch!

function slideshowPopUp(url){pictureGalleryPopupPic(url);return false;} Char siu pork on steamed pak choy and sweet orange sauce Ching adapts a friend's dish and gives it a honey citrus bite

Ken Hom's Top 10 authentic Chinese dishes Ching-He Huang: the new Chinese takeaway Pork and bamboo shoot stir fryTV chef Ching-He Huang cooks the first of six easy-to-make authentic Chinese dishes using healthy ingredients

UK's top 20 Chinese restaurantsCelebrate the Chinese new year with Squa...

Wiser to steer a steady course

Culture — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:11:42 +0800

Restoran Al Da’fah, PJ.MOHAN: So it’s muktamad?Azman: What is muktamad?Mohan: The reversal of the policy of English for the teaching of mathematics and science, or ETeMS, or PPSMI, the abbreviation of the policy in Bahasa Malaysia.Azman: But why shouldn’t it be final?Mohan: You see after the reversal was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, on July 8 some people thought the government could still reverse the reversal before it is implemented in 2012. And that’s why the government had to come out to say that the decision is final, muktamad. Azman: I never thought the policy would be reversed. After six years one should think it is a done thing, fait accompli. And from the way then Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was talking about it throughout last year, I thought the policy would stay.

Mohan: That’s right. Many people thought so, too. And because of that the language nationalists – those who...

How social kissing is changing

Culture — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:04:20 +0800

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Is there a new remote style of minimal-contact air-kissing in vogue, as recently demonstrated by Kylie Minogue and her designer friend Jean Paul Gaultier at his Paris couture show? Look at the picture of gay man and gay icon very carefully.

It is a critical snapshot of our times that may well prove to be every bit as evocative as that famous Robert Doisneau photo of a loved-up Parisian couple stealing a snog on the pavement.

Gaultier respects the fact that 40-year-old Kylie’s make-up is now an artfully meticulous and delicate affair, so he keeps his distance, kissing the hi-octane celebrity air in Kylie’s incandescent vicinity; he is aura-snogging her.

Is this the way forward? As a former newspaper party columnist, veteran socialiser and the current social editor of GQ, I am still something of a clueless party tart. I kiss women without bei...

Jews prepare for Passover in Israel, USA and worldwide

Culture — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:47:04 +0800

JERUSALEM — Jews around the world made last-minute preparations Wednesday ahead of the spring festival of Passover, cleaning houses, cars and offices, cooking furiously and getting ready for a week without leavened bread.The holiday, which marks the Hebrews' exodus from slavery in Egypt as recounted in the Bible, begins Wednesday night with a special meal known as the seder.

FAITH & REASON: Passover Haggadah spoof on Facebook

Beyond being an opportunity for extended families to get together, the seder is focused on recounting the story of the exodus, especially to children, so the tradition is preserved from generation to generation.

"The history of the Jewish people begins with the exodus from Egypt," said Rabbi David Rosen, interfaith director at the American Jewish Committee.

Passover, he said, is the root of Jewish "understanding of marginalization and vulnerability, and the emphasis on sensitivity to the widow, the stranger, those who are diffe...

Jews in Israel and worldwide prepare for Passover

Culture — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:48:39 +0800

JERUSALEM —

Jews around the world made last-minute preparations Wednesday ahead of the spring festival of Passover, cleaning houses, cars and offices, cooking furiously and getting ready for a week without leavened bread.

The holiday, which marks the Hebrews' exodus from slavery in Egypt as recounted in the Bible, begins Wednesday night with a special meal known as the seder.

"The history of the Jewish people begins with the exodus from Egypt," said Rabbi David Rosen, interfaith director at the American Jewish Committee.

Passover, he said, is the root of Jewish "understanding of marginalization and vulnerability, and the emphasis on sensitivity to the widow, the stranger, those who are different from you."

"You have to know opp...

PNSB supported Balkis' 'repentance programme' in Cambodia

Culture — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:41:54 +0800

Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) sponsored part of a "repentance programme" in Cambodia organised by Balkis -- the wives of Selangor elected representatives' charity and welfare organisation -- in August 2002, the Selangor State Assembly's Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) heard today.

Teng Chang Khim

PNSB CEO Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan said PNSB paid RM82,227 for that trip, including more than RM19,000 for library books, RM25,000 for accommodation and transportation for four people, inclusive of RM3,000 allowance for reporters and crew, and RM10,000 for the production of a video clip on Balkis.

Testifying before the Selcat on the second day of a public hearing probing into excesses of Balkis which obtained its funding from the state government and several state owned companies, she said the "repentance programme" involved the repair of a library, purchase of books and cash contributions to orphanages and f...

Passenger loads fall off on Singapore Airlines

Culture — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:02:05 +0800

IN another worrying sign for the Asia-Pacific aviation industry, passenger loads on regional powerhouse Singapore Airlines recorded their worst-ever monthly fall in February to tumble below the level at which the airline makes money.

Planes on some routes flew less than two-thirds full as the number of passengers on what was once one of the world's most profitable airlines fell 20.2 per cent, the equivalent of 298,000 customers, on the previous February.

The latest result comes after Singapore reported a 43 per cent drop in third-quarter profit to $S337 million ($332 million).

The airline reduced capacity in February by 8.5 per cent compared to a year ago but this was not fast enough to keep pace with a 17 per cent fall in traffic as measured in revenue-passenger kilometres.

The result was a 7.1 percentage point fall in passenger loads to 69.7 per cent -- well below the airline's publicly stated third-quarter break-even load factor of 72....

Khir: My wife never used Range Rover

Culture — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:41:01 +0800

Former Selangor Mentri Besar and Sungai Panjang state assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was visibly upset over Saari Sungib’s (PAS- Hulu Kelang) allegations in the Selangor State Assembly today, on the purchase of a Range Rover by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) which the latter said was for the personal use of Khir’s wife Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik.When contacted, Khir said this was a blatant lie.“I am 110% sure that my wife had never used this car,” he said, adding that there was no need for KDEB to buy the car for his wife as she had her own Proton Perdana.“I confronted him (Saari) outside the Dewan and told him ‘you are old, you should not lie, get your facts right!"said Khir Toyo.“Why must he (Saari) attack my wife, attack a woman? He is a coward for doing this.” he added.Mohd Khir said he had ridden in the Range Rover once during a site visit but it was never used for personal reasons.“I do not know what happened to the car after that,” he said....

Kung Fu daughter

Culture — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:13:40 +0800

In Chris Yen's earliest memory, she's playing on the floor of her mother's martial arts school in Chinatown.

The floor is sealed concrete, and painted with the Yin-Yang. Her mother, Bow Sim Mark, is teaching the meaning of the symbol to her students. Yen is about 4 years old.

The yin and the yang are opposites - hard and soft, black and white - but they're not separate. They need each other to form that circle, Yen's mother explained to her students. They need each other to create that balance.

As an adult, Yen's path has taken her far from Boston. Now in her 30s (she declines to give her exact age), she's an actress, writer, and kung fu artist in her own right, with a new movie coming out.

Yet a few weeks ago, she found herself back where she started: in her mother's school, sitting across from Mark. She felt - not nervous, she said later, but cautious. Her mother was so private. How could Yen ask what she wanted to know?

Yen grew up in two worlds...

Visitor drought hits home

Culture — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:55:49 +0800

A SLUMP in business travellers, tourists and overseas workers threatens to deliver a new shock to Australia's economy, already facing sharply lower commodities exports and the international credit crunch.

New figures reveal a sharp drop in international visitors coming to Australia, with business travellers, tourists and temporary skilled migrants staying away as corporations cut costs and tourists stay closer to home.

Immigration Department figures obtained by The Weekend Australian show the number of business visas fell 30 per cent in January compared with the same period last year, and that temporary skilled migrant visas have dropped by 33per cent since September.

The slump in inbound visitors came as the latest national accounts figures showed gross domestic product fell 0.5per cent in the December quarter as sharp declines in the financial position of Australia's trading partners put the economy into reverse.

Australian Chamber of C...

January fiscal revenue down 17.1% as economic growth slows

Culture — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:27:03 +0800

The ministry attributed the decline to slowing economic growth,which affected business profitability, and wide-ranging tax cuts to boost the economy.

Another reason for the steep decrease was that the number of working days was 5 less than the same month last year because of the Spring Festival holiday, the MOF said.

The country's tax revenue dropped by 16.7 percent from January 2008 to 563.9 billion yuan last month.

Duty revenue declined 19.3 percent while takings from stock stamp tax shrank 95.7 percent.

In an effort to boost the equities market, the government cut the share trading stamp tax from 0.3 percent to 0.1 percent in April last year and scrapped the stamp tax on stock purchases in September.

China's fiscal revenue reached 6.13 trillion yuan for the wholeof 2008, up 19.5 percent from the previous year, according to preliminary statistics released by the MOF.

Fireworks blamed for Beijing blaze

Culture — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:29:04 +0800

A fire that swept through part of Central China Television's hypermodern complex in Beijing was caused by powerful but unapproved fireworks, state media said.

A fireman died after inhaling toxic gases when fighting the fire at the still unopened 30-storey building, Xinhua news agency said. Seven people were injured, including six firefighters.

The blaze started on Monday evening and put out at 2am yesterday.

Flames 10m high shot out of the building, just north of the spectacular, gravity-defying CCTV tower designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The flames were reflected in the tower, which itself appeared to be untouched.

"CCTV hired staff from a fireworks company to ignite several hundred large festive firecrackers" in an open space outside the near-completed Mandarin Oriental Hotel, part of the CCTV tower complex, Xinhua said, quoting a fire brigade spokesman.

He said these fireworks, set off to celebrate the Lantern Festival, were "much more p...

Lantern Festival celebrated around China

Culture — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:06:54 +0800

A full moon is seen beside red lanterns on the night of the Lantern Festival in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province February 9, 2009.

Perak gets its by-election in Bukit Gantang

Culture — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:42:33 +0800

Those clamouring for a by-election in Perak have got their wish. One is to be held within 60 days following the death today of Bukit Gantang MP Roslan Shaharum(pix), 51, from a heart attack.

This caps a tumultuous week which saw the Barisan Nasional (BN) seize power from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) triggered last Wednesday by the defection of four assemblymen and followed swiftly by the sultan's refusal to dissolve the state assembly, the sacking of the former mentri besar and state executive council and culminating in the swearing-in of a new MB last Thursday.

And in Kedah, another PR-controlled state, trouble is brewing with the resignation of state executive councillor V. Arumugam. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak confirmed that the Bukit Selambau assemblyman had resigned from his post but remained as assemblyman.

At a Chinese New Year open house today hosted by Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong in Petaling Jaya, MARIA J. DASS reports tha...

Lanterns, rice balls made for Lantern Festival

Culture — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:39:25 +0800

A worker makes glutinous rice balls, a typical food for the Lantern Festival, at a workshop in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province February 5, 2009. The Lantern Festival is the last day of the Chinese New Year and falls on February 9 this year.

Growing employment in Taiwan leads to record crowds at job centres

Culture — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:49:48 +0800

TAIPEI : The ranks of the unemployed are growing in Taiwan. The island's jobless rate hit 5 per cent last December and officials said a record 60,000 people are claiming unemployment benefits.Job seekers flocked to employment service centres across Taiwan after the nine-day long New Year holiday. Many of them had been laid off on Lunar New Year's Eve.Labour officials said they have never seen anything like this in a while."After spring festival break, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits is three times more than usual. This is the worst scenario I've ever seen in 10 years," said Liu Chia-Hong, deputy director of Employment Service Centre, Department of Labour, Taipei City Government.Official data showed the average unemployment benefit applicant is younger and better educated these days. This is because the global recession has mostly hit Taiwan's white-collar workers in high-tech companies.To lower the soaring unemployment rate, the Taiwanese gov...

Red blessings for the year

Culture — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:12:51 +0800

Farmers display a giant Chinese character "Fu" (luck and blessings) for the New Year by stretching several large pieces of red cloth on a field in a village in Yangqu county of Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi province February 4, 2009.

Chinese celebrate 'beginning of spring'

Culture — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:50:25 +0800

A waitress serves spring pancakes at a restaurant in the capital city of Beijing Wednesday February 4, 2009, a day when the Spring begins.

Questions grow about China

Culture — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:50:08 +0800

PAUL Keating believes that a return to global economic confidence "can't be done by the Americans" - but questions are also growing about whether the Chinese can drive a recovery.

Chen Xiwen, the director of the office responsible for the rural workforce, revealed on Monday that a new government survey showed that 20 million of China's 130 million migrant workers had lost their factory jobs and returned to their homes in the countryside even before Chinese New Year began 10 days ago.

Many more millions have since returned, for holidays that have no end in sight. Chinese economic growth slumped from 13 per cent in 2007 to 6.8 per cent in the last quarter of 2008.

Mr Keating told ABC TV's Lateline on Monday night that China must play a central role in recovery from the present "catastrophe (which is) way worse than it appears". He said it was essential for "great states like China and India with their big economies" to be brought...

State-owned, private airlines see mixed results

Culture — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:44:36 +0800

JPMorgan Chase & Co has predicted the Chinese aviation industry will register a RMB5.9 billion loss for 2008 as the top three airlines, China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA, SHA: 600115, HKG: 0670), China Southern Airlines (NYSE: ZNH, SHA: 600029, HKG: 1055) and Air China (SHA: 601111, HKG: 0753) have been tipped to report a combined loss upward of RMB10 billion. In comparison, private carriers, such as Shanghai-based Spring & Autumn Airlines and Juneyao Airlines, posted RMB21 million and RMB11.5 million in net profit respectively. The number of flights during the weeklong Chinese New Year holiday was up 8.7% and passenger throughput was up 19.4% year-on-year to 4 million.

$1 = RMB6.8

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-02/03/content_10753707.htm

Strong sales figures for Lunar New Year holidays

Culture — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:15:00 +0800

Retail turnover during the weeklong Chinese New Year break climbed 13.7% year-on-year to RMB290 billion, commerce ministry figures show. Spending on food was up 23%, beverages up 17.5%, liquor and tobacco up 14.7%, jewelry up 17.2%, home appliances up 17.8% and telecoms gadgets up 18.1%.

$1 = RMB6.8

Source: http://www.cs.com.cn/xwzx/03/200902/t20090202_1735584.htm

Driver killed, 23 hurt in school bus crash

Culture — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:05:07 +0800

A group of children returning to school after the Chinese New Year holidays had the shock of their lives when the bus they were in plunged into a river this morning, killing the driver.Koe Joon Huat, 48, lost his life after apparently losing control of the vehicle when he swerved to avoid a car on Grove Road near the state mosque here in the 7.20am incident.The bus plunged into the Sungai Air Itam, sending the 23 children aboard screaming in terror.The students, all from SJK(C) Chung Hwa Confucian, sustained minor injuries and received outpatient treatment at the Penang Hospital. Two students were admitted to the hospital with eye and hand injuries.OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abdul Hamid said Koe, who sustained head injuries, died at the hospital. He said a post-mortem indicated that he had suffered an epileptic seizure.Year 6 student Lee Tzu Jun, 12, who was sitting behind Koe said she had noticed that he appeared ill and was coughing.“He almost knocked into the vehicles in fro...

Bank card spending up 32% in Spring Festival holiday

Culture — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:08:53 +0800

China's bank card transactions rose 32 percent in the Spring Festival holiday from the same period a year ago, buoyed by robust consumption despite the global financial crisis, China Unionpay, a national bank card association, announced Sunday.

This undated file photo shows a piece of China Unionpay card. China's bank card transactions rose 32 percent in the Spring Festival holiday from the same period a year ago, China Unionpay announced Sunday. (Xinhua Photo)

China slump sparks street protests

Culture — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:01:06 +0800

BANKRUPTCIES, unemployment and social unrest are spreading more widely in China than officially reported, according to independent research that paints an ominous picture for the world economy.

The research was conducted for The Sunday Times over the past two months in three provinces vital to Chinese trade - Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. It finds the global economic crisis has scythed through exports and set off dozens of protests that are never mentioned by the state media.

While troubling for the Chinese Government, this should strengthen the argument of Premier Wen Jiabao, who will say on a visit to London this week that his country faces enormous problems and cannot let its currency rise in response to US demands.

The new US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, has alarmed Beijing and raised fears of a trade war by stating that China manipulates the yuan to promote exports.

However, a growing number of economists say the unrest p...

Global economic downturn hitting Asia's Sin City hard

Culture — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:36:21 +0800

MACAU, CHINA — The man in the white turtleneck slides a pile of five chips forward on the burgundy baccarat table and leans in intently as the dealer snaps out a fresh round of cards. It's not the player's night, however. He bets again and loses, and the chips, each of them worth 10,000 Hong Kong dollars, are briskly swept away by the dealer. Disgusted, the silent gambler stands and strides out of the casino's VIP room, leaving his drink unfinished on the table.

“That man lost 800,000 [about $135,000] tonight,” the VIP room's pit boss confides, his soft voice betraying neither glee nor sympathy.

There's little to celebrate: Although 800,000 Hong Kong dollars is a nice haul for the private casino, the overall picture is increasingly ominous for those who make a living off the gambling industry in this form...

Free games and lower IDD rates

Culture — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:49:14 +0800

This is to ensure that they are entertained, able to keep in touch with loved ones and kept informed while travelling home, Maxis chief marketing officer Matthew Willsher said.

"Customers today are more able than ever to enjoy Maxis mobile data services because of more sophisticated handsets that have improved browsers and mobile screens, and also higher network speeds," he said.

"Customers will find it a breeze to play entertaining mobile games, call loved ones who are out of the country at very affordable rates, update their social networking sites or get the latest news alerts while on the go," Willsher said.

In addition, more than 500 specially selected Chinese New Year songs are available for download from the Maxis and Hotlink websites (www.maxis.com.my or www.hotlink.com.my ), Wap site or by dialling *100# and selecting "Music" on their mobile phones.

Under a promotion which runs until Feb 18, the 8,888th person to download a Chinese Ne...

Trainees confined to hostels as NS camp flooded

Culture — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:03:32 +0800

A national service training camp near Sungai Rait, 23 km from here, was flooded causing the trainees to be confined to their hostels located on higher ground. Camp commandant Major Zulkahar Ahmad said the flooding which began at 5am had submerged the camp office, dining hall and instructor quarters. He said the camp entrance was under 1.5 metres of water and was impassable to vehicles. "We have instructed the trainees not to leave their hostels which are not affected as they are on higher ground. The camp operator is making arrangements to send food to the hostels. Parents should not be unduly worried as their children are safe and the situation is under control," he told Bernama. The camp has 291 trainees but 100 of them were away on Chinese New Year holiday. Meanwhile, about 500 residents of four longhouses in Suai and Saeh in the Niah sub-district, about 100km from here were cut off as the access road from their area was under 1.2 metres of water sin...

Muhyiddin aye for anti-hop law

Culture — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:03:09 +0800

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed support for the proposal to introduce the Anti-Hop Law to ensure political stability in the country. "It needs to be looked into again. It is not that we fear more will leave the Barisan Nasional (BN) but what is important is the question of principle," he said. Speaking to reporters after attending a Chinese New Year open house at the residence of his deputy and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk V.K Liew, Muhyiddin who is also Minister of International Trade and Industry, said there was a need to look at it seriously, taking into consideration the current political scenario. "Personally, I do agree to that a re-look be made at the earlier provisions of the Federal constitution. But, of course, it's entirely up to BN leaders to see the rationale in amending the constitution (to enable the enaction of the proposed Anti-Hop Law) and find out what the people think about it," he said. He was...

Ox Dance Performed at Spring Festival in Wuhan Parks

Culture — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:03:41 +0800

Three generations of a family perform a dance with huge ox plush toys fastened around their waists to celebrate the Spring Festival in a park in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.

China's ox moos in the lunar new year

Culture — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:50:18 +0800

A girl looks at a statue of the ox assembled by China bowls,plates and glasses in Jingdezhen City,home of china,in east China's Jiangxi province January 26,2009.

Pakatan Rakyat report card roadshow

Culture — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:27:20 +0800

The public in Selangor will get a chance to evaluate the performance of the local authorities and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government during a road show in March.The road show will be held at every local council and will be open to the public, said state executive councillor in charge of local government, research and development Ronnie Liu.“All local council presidents, councillors, officers and I will attend the hearings,” he told theSun recently.“This is how we will be evaluating our performance since Pakatan Rakyat took over last year.“It is the people who will be giving us our report cards,” Liu added.This will be a good avenue for the public to voice out their problems and grouses and to give suggestions on how to improve the administration.“We have to be bold enough to face criticisms hurled at us,” Liu said.He said the state will also conduct a survey on the quality of services delivered by the local authorities to determine areas that need improvement.The P...

China's challenging New Year

Culture — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:52:06 +0800

BEIJING -- A tableau of fireworks lit the skies over the world's most populous country last night, celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Ox. But despite the Chinese New Year festivities, many expect the next 12 months could be as difficult to manage as the famously stubborn beast for which the year is named.

If the 2008 Summer Olympics were China's coming-out celebration, 2009 could well be the year the new China is forced to fully define itself and confront corners of its recent past where light is rarely shone.

Three dates loom large on the calendar: the 50th anniversary in March of the Tibetan uprising and the Dalai Lama's flight into exile; the 20th anniversary of the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre, and the October celebration marking 60 years since the Chinese Revolution and the founding of the People's Republic.

Chinese authorities plan to celebrate the latter in spectacular style, with a massive military parade and a show directed by Zhang Yim...

China's challenging New Year As the country prepares to celebrate the founding of the ...

Culture — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:51:41 +0800

BEIJING — A tableau of fireworks lit the skies over the world's most populous country Sunday night, celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Ox. But despite the Chinese New Year festivities, many expect the next 12 months could be as difficult to manage as the famously stubborn beast for which the year is named.

Chinese New Year ushers in Year of the Ox

Culture — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:51:25 +0800

China greeted the arrival Monday of the Year of the Ox with fireworks and celebrations, bidding farewell to a tumultuous 2008 marked by a massive earthquake, the Olympics, and a global economic crisis.

Colorful pyrotechnic displays lit up the midnight sky over Beijing, as firecrackers exploded deep into the early morning hours in the capital.

Officials reported that 46 people were injured from fireworks-related accidents, a 48 percent drop from the previous year, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.

A fleet of 70 ambulances roamed the city overnight on the lookout for emergencies, it said. The Lunar New Year is China's most important holiday. It is generally the time of the year for lavish spending on elaborate meals with friends and family and exchanges of "hong bao," or red envelopes stuffed with money.

But the country's economic outlook this year has been dampened by the deepening global financial crisis, with China's 2008 ann...

China ushers in Year of Ox with celebration

Culture — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:59:44 +0800

BEIJING —

Colorful pyrotechnic displays lit up the midnight sky over Beijing, as firecrackers exploded deep into the early morning hours in the capital.

Officials reported that 46 people were injured from fireworks-related accidents, a 48 percent drop from the previous year, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday. A fleet of 70 ambulances roamed the city overnight on the lookout for emergencies, it said.

The Lunar New Year is China's most important holiday. It is generally the time of the year for lavish spending on elaborate meals with friends and family and exchanges of "hong bao," or red envelopes stuffed with money.

But the country's economic outlook this year has been dampened by the deepening global financial crisis, with China's 20...

13,000 to become citizens

Culture — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:00:09 +0800

MORE than 13,000 people from 120 countries will mark their first day as Australian citizens at picnics and cricket matches across the country this Australia Day, the Federal Government said.

There will be 318 citizenship ceremonies across Australia on Monday ranging from small events in remote communities to a massive ceremony in Western Australia, where 1900 people from 90 nations will be conferred.

In South Australia, 40 people will become citizens during Australia's one-day cricket match against South Africa at Adelaide Oval.

Singer Leo Sayer will be one of 60 people to become citizens during a ceremony in Canberra presided over by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

In NSW, 2800 new Australians will be welcomed at a picnic in Sydney's Hyde Park.

"Australia Day is a chance for all Australians to enjoy our nation's special day, and celebrate being part of such a wonderful country," federal Citizenship Minister Chris Evans said...

Global crisis dampens China New Year celebrations

Culture — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:53:48 +0800

BEIJING (AFP) - - Tens of millions of people across China were set to usher in the Lunar New Year Sunday with fireworks and big family reunions, but the global economic crisis put a dampener on celebrations.

Railways and planes worked full tilt over the weekend as people made last-minute dashes home to welcome the Year of the Ox, which begins on Monday.

A record 188 million people were expected to travel by train and another 24 million to fly over the 40 days before and after the New Year, in what is regarded as the biggest annual movement of people in the world.

And while bad weather failed to disrupt the transport network like it did last year in China, the economic crisis loomed large.

In a New Year speech, China's Premier Wen Jiabao warned of challenges in the year ahead, the official People's Daily newspaper reported Sunday, as financial woes continued to impact the country.

"Taking a broad view of the situation abroad and domestically, challenges an...

Spring Festival Celebrated in Quake Zone

Culture — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:20:44 +0800

Baby Gao Zhen smiles in his father' s arms in Shuicaogou Village in Wenxian County of Longnan City, northwest China's Gansu Province, on Jan. 24, 2009.

Taiwanese go on shopping spree with vouchers

Culture — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:41:25 +0800

TAIPEI: The Taiwan government's aim of boosting spending with shopping vouchers for its people appears to be working, as Taiwanese have been using the extra money ahead of the Lunar New Year.Taiwanese have been on a shopping spree since the government handed out shopping vouchers last week. Some 23 million people received US$109 worth of vouchers each.And it could not have come at a better time - just ahead of the Lunar New Year.A member of the public said: "As a girl, I'll get some clothes and skincare products."Another said: "I want to buy an MP3 player or computer." The economic stimulus package is based on a similar scheme undertaken by Japan in 1999. It is set to pump about US$2.6 billion into the economy.The government hopes that by encouraging people to spend, it can help boost the island's GDP by 0.64 per cent in 2009. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou said: "I want to remind you, please spend more than the amount of vouchers. You can shop a...

Murugiah: AG classified Kuhan's death as murder

Culture — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:21:27 +0800

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 23, 2009) : Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has classified the case of A. Kuhan who died in police custody on Tuesday as murder, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Deparment T. Murugiah said today.

He said Abdul Gani has instructed the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of the 22-year old suspected car thief and has given an assurance that the culprits will be prosecuted, possibly next week.

"He has also assured me that Kuhan’s family can get their lawyers when the case is being tried and the investigation process will be carried out smoothly. Most likely, those involved will be charged in court next week.

"There will be no cover-up by anyone," he told reporters at the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) here today.

Murugiah thanked Abdul Gani for his quick action and being sensitive towards the situation faced by the deceased’s family members.

Murugiah who was in Sabah earlier today said...

Chinese New Year: To kick off the Year of the Ox, eat like one

Culture — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:38:47 +0800

Food has always been important to my family. I grew up with 22 aunts and uncles, and my parents gave a particular significance to the time we all spent together during holidays and festivities. With 13 siblings on my mother's side and nine on my father's, there was never a dull moment. Especially when celebrating the Chinese New Year in Mauritius.

Born in England, I moved to Mauritius at age 6 and lived there until I was 10. Some of my most meaningful memories of that time are of the entire family sitting down for the big New Year's meal.

Unlike the Western calendar, the Chinese lunar calendar begins in late January or early February. This time, the lunar new year starts on Jan. 26.

The holiday involves much ceremony and celebration, culminating in a large feast of eight dishes (a lucky number) to send off the old yea...

Insight into the Ox year

Culture — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:37:07 +0800

we were warned of the Rat’s bite, many were not prepared for the upheavals and misfortunes that hit the world in 2008.

Officially, the Rat only departs on Jan 26 – the day the Ox arrives – so technically, we still have about five days of the Rat year to live out.

Divination specialist Clarice Georgia Victoria Chan (right) has not only prepared some predictions as to the year ahead but also some useful feng shui tips for auspicious direction to welcome the God of Prosperity in the third volume of her Your Fortune in 2009, Zodiac Predictions, Feng Shui & Lunar New Year Traditions (MPH; RM39).

Chan, a Singaporean, was an executive manager in the travel industry for more than nine years before she made the switch to the world of metaphysics of feng shui and divinations in 2001.

"After working in the travel trade for so many years, I felt that it was time to take a leap of faith to try something that’s close to my heart," said Chan.

"I...

ACCCIM: Financial tsunami has hit Chinese entrepreneurs hard

Culture — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:57:14 +0800

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) says the financial tsunami has hit Chinese entrepreneurs hard.Figures contained in its Survey Report on Economic Situation of Malaysia for the 2nd Half of Year 2008 show that orders from overseas buyers received by Chinese manufacturers for the survey period have dropped more than 40% compared with the previous half year.The situation was so bad some manufacturers did not receive any order at all, the report said.ACCCIM deputy president Datuk Lim Kok Cheng told Nanyang Siang Pau the sharp drop in orders has forced manufacturers to reduce the number of work days or suspend production to reduce costs to save themselves.He said given the slowdown in exports, manufacturers have no choice but to extend their Chinese New Year break to two to three weeks or longer, if the situation does not improve in the near term.Lim disclosed that the drop in orders from overseas became evident last October and the situation was...

The Spring Festival is Coming

Culture — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:12:15 +0800

A man hangs up red lanterns on a downtown office building in Lanzhou, capital city of northwest China's Gansu province on Monday, January 19, 2009.

Chinese artists perform at Chinese Spring Festival show in Valletta

Culture — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:18:51 +0800

Chen Ting, a Beijing Opera artiste of the Jiangsu Art Group of China, performs during the Spring Festival show at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta Jan 19, 2009.

Clipped CNY do edges closer to debate dare

Culture — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:32:02 +0800

PENANG (Jan 20, 2009) : A controversy over the Penang Chinese Town Hall's (PCTH) request for state funds to hold a Chinese New Year open house took on a new dimension on Monday when Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) president Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping challenged PCTH chief Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong and his deputy Datuk Lam Wu Chong to a public debate to determine who should apologise to the Chinese over their mud-slinging regarding the hot issue.The controversy was given prominent coverage in the Chinese press and Tan's dare to the PCTH duo for the debate was the story of the day for two of the four national Chinese dailies today.Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's refusal to grant PCTH its request for RM15,000 for the open house more over a week ago set a few tongues wagging.But while Guan Eng refused to be dragged into a war of words with PCTH after refuting its insinuation that he was anti-Chinese and its accusation that he was practising double standards, Tan picked a bone with the PC...

Housemaids Flied into Beijing amid Railway Tickets Shortage

Culture — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:43:00 +0800

Scalpers exploit Chinese Spring Festival rush

Culture — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:37:27 +0800

The Chinese public blamed scalpers for travel misery as record numbers of travelers took to the rails to struggle home in time for the imminent Spring Festival.

High on Holiday Spirit

Culture — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:48:57 +0800

A foreign visitor gets into the holiday mood at Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden on Sunday, January 18, 2009.