Learn Chinese - Funds crunch in Malawi delays adoption check-up on Madonna

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Funds crunch in Malawi delays adoption check-up on Madonna


(AFP)
Updated: 2007-08-11 22:01



BLANTYRE - A government funds crunch is delaying a home visit to pop star
Madonna and her husband, which is part of the procedure to allow them to
adopt a one-year-old boy from Malawi, a welfare officer said Saturday.





Pop star Madonna holds David Banda during a visit to Mphandula village in
Malawi in April 2007. [AFP]

?

"There are no adequate financial resources for the inspection, but as
soon as the government has money, we will do it," Penston Kilembe,
director of Malawi's Ministry of Women and Child Development,told AFP.

Kilembe has been mandated by the country's high court to carry out the
inspection.

Malawi is being run on piecemeal funds as a national budget is yet to be
debated and passed following a rift between the minority government of
President Bingu wa Mutharika and the country's powerful opposition.

Under an 18-month interim order granted to Madonna to adopt the Malawian
toddler David Banda, the pop star should be visited at her home twice,
Kilembe said.

He said the first inspection was due last month, and the last one should
be done in April.

Kilembe said he was the only officer able to do the check-up,
contradicting his minister Kate Kainja who said another officer currently
studying in Britain should do the job to save funds.

Kainja, who is in Britain on a personal trip, told a local newspaper last
week that Madonna, who would be required to fund Kilembe's trip to
Britain, should not spend money on government officials.

"Let Madonna use that money on David (...). She should not spend more
money on us", Kainja was quoted as saying.

Baby David has been living with Madonna and her husband, film-maker Guy
Ritchie, since a court in Malawi granted them in October last year an
interim order for 18 months.

Under that order, the high court appointed Kilembe as Banda's temporary
guardian.








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Speak Chinese - Venture capital for green start-ups on the rise

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/ Page 15






Venture capital for green start-ups on the rise
By Chen Jialu
Updated: 2007-08-10 07:25




Venture capital funding for environmentally friendly start-ups is soaring
in China, nearly hitting the level for the whole of 2005 in just the
first quarter of this year, says a report released by Cleantech Group.

Venture capital investment in clean technology (cleantech) reached $154
million in the first three months of this year, compared with $170
million and $420 million for the whole of 2005 and 2006 respectively,
found the global research and investment institution committed to
promoting alternative energy and environmentally friendly technology.

The report anticipates the momentum will continue as Chinese cleantech
investment is expected to rise dramatically to reach $580 million this
year and surpass $720 million the next.

China's cleantech venture capital market in 2006 and the first quarter of
2007 covered four segments: energy generation, water and wastewater,
agriculture, and materials.

Solar energy made up over 70 percent of overall investment in energy
generation, a pattern similar to Europe and North America. Thirteen of
the 17 deals in energy generation were in solar, for a total of $403
million.

Wind power accounted for two deals totaling $22 million while there were
two deals in biomass amounting to $13.2 million.

After energy generation, water and wastewater saw the most activity, with
six deals totaling $90 million in 2006 and the first three months of 2007.

Agriculture and materials each had three deals totaling $9.9 million and
$2.9 million respectively. Each segment accounted for 9 percent of the
number of deals.

The water and wastewater sector, consisting of water resource management,
wastewater treatment and recycling, is predicted to show potential as the
next booming segment in China.

Cleantech said climate change will inevitably aggravate the scarcity of
water resources and China is already facing challenges in water quality,
especially in the north.

The Yangtze River Delta area in East China topped the list of regions in
the number of deals and amount of investments.

The top eight cleantech investments totaled $330 million in 2006 and in
the first quarter of 2007. The biggest recent deal was an $82 million
investment by Goldman Sachs in solar panel maker Jiangsu Shunda.

Cleantech was ranked the third-largest category for venture capital
investment in China, behind IT and media and communications. It captured
19 percent of total Chinese venture capital investment in 2006,
increasing from 8 percent in 2005.

The report held that veteran investors see opportunities similar to IT in
cleantech. And more and more venture capital funds that used to focus on
segments like IT, telecom and media technology, are switching to
cleantech.

In 2006, investors put $420 million on 26 cleantech deals. But the
investment is relatively small compared with $2.9 billion in North
America and $700 million in Europe.

The percentage of China's cleantech venture capital to its GDP is 0.016.
The same for North America is 0.022 and Europe is 0.005.

The market for cleantech products is new and investors see good growth
potential as conventional energy supplies dry up.

Policy is regarded as a crucial factor driving investor interest in
China's cleantech industries. The enforcement of the Renewable Energy Law
attracted a flood of venture capital investment in energy-related fields
in 2006. The 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) will continue to be a stimulus
for cleantech investment, the report said.

(China Daily 08/10/2007 page15)

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Speak Chinese - If you have the will, nothing can stop you

? ?



CITYLIFE / SLAM Made in NBA






If you have the will, nothing can stop you



Updated: 2007-08-08 17:30























Feature ?




Pilgrimage to Tibet If you want to get a detailed Travel Handbook to
Tibet and know more interesting tour routes leading to this divine place.
Please click here!

Yunnan New Film Project Ten female directors from China! Ten unique
sights from mysterious Yunnan Province!Yunnan New Film Project,Travel
with the film.Wanna know more? Please click here!




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* Teatime!





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Bars&Cafes: Catch underground bands
Weekend&Holiday: An Oasis at Shichahai
Shopping: Ice up your world
What's on: Smoke society





Shanghai Guide ?


Eating out: An institution in the making
Bars&Cafes: The new money
Weekend&Holiday: Band of gypsies
Shopping: Chinese made delicacy
What's on: Teenage wasteland





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Chinese Speaking - Andy Lau attends Olympic countdown event

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Most Viewed Photos in 72 Hours






Andy Lau attends Olympic countdown event



Updated: 2007-08-07 14:39








Hong Kong singer Andy Lau writes some words of encouragement to the Hong
Kong athletes during a "One Year to Go" Olympic countdown event at a
shopping mall in Hong Kong August 6, 2007. [Reuters]




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Learn Mandarin online - Rihanna does Maxim magazine

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Music/Theater






Rihanna does Maxim magazine



Updated: 2007-08-06 10:59









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Learning Chinese - No slowing down for Jackie Chan

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






No slowing down for Jackie Chan


(AFP)
Updated: 2007-08-03 17:41



At 53-years-old, Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan is still doing his own
stunts. Retirement, he says, is the last thing on his mind.

His latest film, "Rush Hour 3," which opens at the North American box
office next week and in his native Hong Kong on August 16, sees him
climbing around on the Eiffel Tower without so much as a safety net.

"I did all my stunts, even the scene full of fighting and acrobatics on
top of the Eiffel Tower," he told reporters in Los Angeles this week.

"In that sequence there are no explosions, shooting, just one of the best
stunt teams in the world working at the height of its abilities," he said.

"The experience was something none of us would forget, least of all me,"
added the former stunt man, who has now been a leading figure in the Hong
Kong martial arts film scene since the early 1970s.

"I can tell my grandchildren, 'This is your grandfather. This is me.
That's not a double flying around the Eiffel Tower in 100 mile-per-hour
winds'," he said.

The first episode in the "Rush Hour" franchise marked a late start to
Chan's international career in 1998.

While he was well known before then to martial arts film fans, many of
whom consider him to be the natural heir to legend Bruce Lee, "Rush Hour"
set him on a course that has since led to a string of big budget
Hollywood movies.

The first two installments of the trilogy, in which Chan plays opposite
US comedian Chris Tucker, took 600 million dollars between them in
worldwide box office receipts.

The third part of the action-comedy series, directed by Brett Ratner with
a 140 million dollar budget, sees Chan and Tucker tracking down Chinese
gangsters working Paris' criminal underworld.

Famed movie director Roman Polanski plays an unpleasant police inspector,
while 2.36-meter (seven-foot-nine) -tall Chinese basketball star Sun Ming
Ming plays a triad.

While Ratner said that the hardest thing was to film in Paris and get
Tucker on board for the project, Chan said his biggest challenge during
filming was trying to understand Tucker's and Ratner's accents.

The stunts, however, were never an issue. "Sometimes I forget my age,"
Chan said. "You just keep moving."

"I'll do it until my body will tell me stop. I don't think about
retirement," he insisted.

Chan said he spent two weeks training with basketball star Sun, who
weighs more than 135 kilos (300 pounds), teaching him how to move like a
martial arts actor.

"He can knock you down right away. But he's clever, he's good. Twenty
some years old and twice my size, so the scene was great."

Chan, himself a director, seems to be showing no sign of slowing down.

"Now I'm so busy, I have lots of projects. One of them is a movie that
we're shooting in China: "The Forbidden Kingdom" with Jet Li.

He described the film, due out next year, as a movie about cops and
triads. It also features stunt choreographer Donnie Yen.

Li, the Beijing-born star of "Hero", last year vowed that his previous
film "Fearless" would be his last martial arts picture. "The Forbidden
Kingdom" is the first movie the two superstars have appeared in together.

?























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Speak Chinese - Lawyer: Kevin Federline focused on prenting after dvorce

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Lawyer: Kevin Federline focused on prenting after dvorce


(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-02 17:06



LOS ANGELES?- With his marriage to Britney Spears officially over, Kevin
Federline is focused on giving their two young sons a secure upbringing
outside the media glare so they can "pretend they're like everyone else,"
his lawyer said.

The couple's divorce was made official Monday. In an interview with The
Associated Press, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said Tuesday his
client will shun the spotlight when he cares for the children under a
custody agreement.

"When they are with him, he is going to shield his children from unwanted
media attention," Kaplan said. "You will not find a picture of Kevin
parading with the children out in a public place.

"He's focused right now on being the best parent that he can be," the
attorney added.

Kaplan, who specializes in celebrity family law cases, refused to
disclose the custody arrangement or other details in the divorce.

Since February, Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody
of their two sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden
James. Federline also has two children with former girlfriend Shar
Jackson.

However, Kaplan said Federline's life as a celebrity father comes with
different demands than many other fathers face, including huge expenses.
When they go out, Kaplan said, there must be a nanny and security guards.

"There are people you have to pay so your kids can pretend they're like
everyone else," said Kaplan. "When you are a celebrity parent, there are
financial dynamics that others not familiar with it can't understand. "

Spears and Federline wed in October 2004, eight months after her first
marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander was annulled. The pop star
cited irreconcilable differences when she filed for divorce from
Federline on Nov. 7, 2006.

Kaplan said Federline wouldn't comment on Spears' public behavior. Most
recently, she's been accused of threatening paparazzi outside a Las Vegas
spa.

"He doesn't want to do anything that would be perceived as taking her
down a peg," Kaplan said. "His goal is to keep things between him and
Britney private. There's a proper forum to discuss issues with a
co-parent. That place is not in the public eye."

Asked if things might have been better for their sons if they had made a
go of it together, Kaplan sighed.

"In a perfect world, maybe that would be true," he said. "I've seen so
many marriages end on that question. But in a perfect world, there are no
lawyers."























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Speak Chinese - Spears accused of threatening paparazzi

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Spears accused of threatening paparazzi


(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-01 09:27




?


Britney Spears shopping at antique store in short dress

Britney Spears threw a baby bottle and threatened two photographers after
they took pictures of her leaving a Las Vegas spa, the photographers said
in a statement Tuesday.

Spears yelled "I am going to kill you!" and cursed at Andrew Deetz, a
photographer who says he was beaten by Spears' bodyguard on Thursday,
according to a statement released by Deetz's lawyers.

Deetz, 24, is preparing to sue, his lawyers said. The other photographer
involved was Kyle Henderson, 23. They both work for a celebrity
photography company called Flynet Pictures, which sells to such
publications as People and US Weekly, according to Daniel Kogan, a
spokesman for Deetz's lawyers.

The men were taking pictures of Spears, 25, as she and her children 鈥�
22-month-old Sean Preston Federline and 10-month-old Jayden James
Federline 鈥� left the spa at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-hotel around
11:30 a.m., accompanied by two bodyguards.

One bodyguard, Cesar Julio Camera, 37, pushed Henderson against the wall
until Wynn security intervened and asked Henderson to leave, the
statement said.

As they were about 30 paces away and walking in the opposite direction,
Camera attacked Deetz from behind, threw him on the ground and punched
and kicked him until security pulled him off, it said.

Afterward, Spears ran toward Henderson but was stopped by security, and
then threw a baby bottle at him, it said.

Then, in front of several other hotel guests and bystanders, Spears
threatened to kill Deetz and said he should get a restraining order
against her because she was going to kill him or hire someone that would,
it said.

Camera also told Deetz on July 23 outside the Lisa Kline boutique in
Beverly Hills, "I have unfinished business with you," the statement
alleged.

Spears' lawyer Gary Stiffelman declined to comment.

Wynn Las Vegas released a statement confirming that Spears stayed at the
hotel and left on Thursday, but also declined to discuss the
confrontation.

"We respect the privacy and do our utmost to maintain the anonymity of
our guests," it said.

Las Vegas police issued a summons for a charge of battery to Camera, the
only person cited. He could face up to six months in county jail and a
$1,000 fine if convicted.

Stiffelman's office would not relay messages to Camera seeking comment,
and The Associated Press was unable to find a phone number for him.








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Learn mandarin - 'Simple Life' ends for Paris, Nicole

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Television






'Simple Life' ends for Paris, Nicole


(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-31 08:38





?

?

This undated photo, supplied by E Entertainment, shows Nicole Richie,
left,
and Paris Hilton during production of the finale of their 'The Simple
Life' series.[AP]

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are saying goodbye to "The Simple Life."

The series finale will air Sunday on E!, the channel announced Monday.
The program, which debuted on Fox in 2003, threw the privileged duo into
everyday situations.

This season, the reality show reunited Hilton, 26, and Richie, 25, as
drama camp counselors after they feuded and filmed their parts separately
for the previous season.

"In this last escapade, Paris and Nicole write their own play in tribute
to their decades-long friendship, enlisting the help of celebrity
counselor Sally Kirkland to lead the production," E! said in a release.

Kirkland leads the pair and their campers through a "crash course in
Acting 101" as they stage the play, which includes the actress playing
the role of Richie's father, pop star Lionel Richie, E! said.

The high-living Hilton and Richie have routinely made headlines with
their behavior and the legal repercussions that followed.

Last week, Richie, 25, was sentenced to nearly four days in jail after
pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of
drugs. Richie, who is rumored to be pregnant but has refused to comment,
must complete her jail time by Sept. 28.

Richie had a previous DUI conviction, in June 2003, involving alcohol.

Hotel heiress Hilton spent 23 days in jail for violating probation in an
alcohol-related reckless driving case. She was initially released after
three days for medical reasons but a judge intervened and she was sent
back to jail after one just one night out.








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Learn Mandarin online - French film star Jean-Paul Belmondo may soon make his comeback

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






French film star Jean-Paul Belmondo may soon make his comeback


(AFP)
Updated: 2007-07-29 16:52



PARIS - France's legendary film star Jean-Paul Belmondo may return to the
silver screen at the ripe age of 74, emerging after some six years of
recovery from a stroke.

Belmondo's return would be directed by Francis Huster who wants to
produce a new version of the film "Umberto D.", the 1951 master work of
Italian director Vittorio de Sica, Le Parisien newspaper said, citing
Ici-Paris magazine.

When contacted by AFP, the actor's wife, Natty Belmondo, confirmed the
project and the actor's "joy" about doing a new version, but added that
"nothing has been signed yet."

The film "Umberto D.", which would have the French title "A man and his
dog," tells the story of a retired teacher who lives in misery with a dog
as his only companion.

According to sources close to the production, the film's insurers have
not yet given their approval.

Belmondo's last film was "Amazones" with Arielle Dombasle in July 2001.

In August that year, Belmondo suffered a serious stroke while on vacation
in Corsica which left him partially paralyzed. Since then the actor has
undergone intensive therapy and has made consistent progress.

In December 2002, he married Natty, his companion of 13 years, and in
August 2003, he became a father for the fourth time with the birth of his
daughter Stella.























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Learn mandarin - 911 call in Lohan arrest released

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






911 call in Lohan arrest released


(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-27 07:57




Actress Lindsay Lohan is pictured in this police booking photograph
released July 24, 2007.[AP]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - In the minutes before Lindsay Lohan's arrest, the
mother of her former personal assistant called 911 and pleaded
frantically for help because a mysterious car was following her 鈥�
unaware that Lohan was behind the wheel, according to an audio copy
released Thursday.

Lohan's personal assistant had quit hours before the event, according to
police.

The woman apparently didn't realize that Lohan was in the vehicle
following her when she contacted a Santa Monica police dispatcher shortly
after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday while driving on Wilshire Boulevard.

"We were just about to park our car. We are turning home and out of
nowhere a huge white GMC came up," the woman said to the dispatcher. The
recording included unintelligible remarks apparently to the woman's
passenger.

"We're being followed by a GMC ... the gentleman jumped out of the car,"
she added a few seconds later. "Oh my God, sir, they're following us. We
need help."

During the nearly three-minute 911 call, the dispatcher repeatedly asked
the woman where she is. The woman eventually said she was heading for the
police station.

Police said the woman, accompanied by a passenger, drove her black
Cadillac Escalade into the parking lot of Santa Monica's Civic
Auditorium, about a block away from the police department, followed by
Lohan driving a Yukon sport utility vehicle.

"There he is, that white GMC pickup," the dispatcher said to someone as
the car appeared.

During the call, the woman could be heard saying "Oh my God, what is he
doing?" Near the end, hysterical but muffled yelling and screaming is
heard.

"They're in front of HQ now. Roll somebody code. Ma'am, what's going on
there? Hello? Hello? Ma'am? Hello?" the dispatcher said.

A few moments later, a police unit showed up and the woman could be heard
in the background, apparently pointing out people to the officers.

"That's him, that's him right there," she said. "And him, stop them."

Authorities who arrived saw Lohan and the woman in what police have
called a "heated debate." They also said two men were with Lohan in the
car.

Lohan was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the
influence and with a suspended license, and felony cocaine possession.























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Chinese Tutor - Zeta-Jones insists she ain't no 'diva'

? ?



ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






Zeta-Jones insists she ain't no 'diva'


(ANI)
Updated: 2007-07-25 14:25




?


?

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones insists that people are mistaken when they make up
their minds that she is a 'diva'.

The Chicago star has earned a reputation for being a demanding star, but
Zeta-Jones is adamant that the belief is wrong.

Instead of being a diva, she says, what she really happens to be is shy
and reserved.

"There is a much shyer quality to me that people don't usually see,"
Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.

"I get perceived as 'Here comes the showgirl', when in fact I have my
insecurities. I'm a lot more reserved than I let on," she added.

She will now be seen on the big screen in the romantic comedy 'No
Reservations'.

And one person who is really glad that she's taken on this role is hubby
Michael Douglas, as he strongly believes that the film will illustrate
his spouse's softer side.

The characters of strong-headed, tough women that Zeta-Jones is known for
playing in films like 'Traffic', 'Ocean's Twelve' and 'The Mask Of Zorro'
have always kept Douglas worried that the world will never get to know
what a lovely person his wife is.























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HSK Exam - Organic Farm Visit

? ?



CITYLIFE / Weekend & Holiday






Organic Farm Visit


(thatsbj)
Updated: 2007-07-23 16:37





Are you curious about organic farming? How do we really know it's
chemical-free, and sustainably grown in harmony with nature? Want to ask
questions, learn more, or see for yourself?

Find out more about organic farming and have the opportunity to ask
questions and see the process for yourself through a trip to De Run Wu
(Buddhist Farm), organized by the Beijing Organic Consumers Yahoo Forum.

The method is simple, the yields are beautiful. Visitors may choose their
own vegetables from the garden, and kids are welcome.

Travel time is about 45-60 minutes from Lido area. Meet first at De Run
Wu's store at 10 am on Wednesday, then drive, caravan style, out to the
farm.

Please contact Liora 139-1030-6022 to RSVP as space is limited or for
map/driving directions to De Run Wu's store.

De Run Wu (Buddhist Farm) Visit
Location: Meet at De Run Wu's store. Farm is past Danshui Town.
Date/Time: 10am, July 25Tel: 139-1030-6022Fee: none

De Run Wu Organic & Natural Foods Store
Location: 813, DanShui Town, No.Jia 3 ShunHuang Road, ChaoYang District
Tel: 010-8459-0809, 139-1189-3712























Feature ?




Pilgrimage to Tibet If you want to get a detailed Travel Handbook to
Tibet and know more interesting tour routes leading to this divine place.
Please click here!

Yunnan New Film Project Ten female directors from China! Ten unique
sights from mysterious Yunnan Province!Yunnan New Film Project,Travel
with the film.Wanna know more? Please click here!




Editors' Picks ?




* Master storyteller has something to say
* Lookng after your skin naturally
* Evocative scents in a glass of wine
* Go on a shopping spree to discount stores
* Teatime!





Beijing Guide ?


Eating out: Mouth-watering magic
Bars&Cafes: Catch underground bands
Weekend&Holiday: An Oasis at Shichahai
Shopping: Ice up your world
What's on: Smoke society





Shanghai Guide ?


Eating out: An institution in the making
Bars&Cafes: The new money
Weekend&Holiday: Band of gypsies
Shopping: Chinese made delicacy
What's on: Teenage wasteland





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Chinese Pinyin - Vegetarianism now a popular diet

CITYLIFE / Hip & New








Vegetarianism now a popular diet
(CRI)
Updated: 2006-05-17 09:27


Recently, vegetarianism has become more and more popular in China,
especially amongst white-collar workers who prefer food that keeps their
body in shape.

Coinciding with this trend, has been the appearance of numerous
restaurants in Beijing catering to those on a vegetarian diet.

According to the Beijing Morning Post, as a result of the increasing
number of people with adiposis and hypertension, vegetarianism becomes
one of the most favorable diets in China.

A nutritionist from the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Hong Zhongxin, says
that vegetables and fruits are generally good for peoples' health, in
addition to helping fight diseases. But he adds that meat is similarly
necessary and that a balanced diet is the basis of human health and
beauty.

















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wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
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Chinese Pinyin - No hurry in paradise: Take it easy in the Seychelles

/ Feature








No hurry in paradise: Take it easy in the Seychelles
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-01 06:33




MAHE, The Seychelles: There's no need to rush in paradise. That might not
be the best recipe for good customer service, but everyone usually does
benefit from taking things down a notch while on vacation.

And on the Seychelles, it's almost a rule. Even churches respect the
sleepy nature of their congregations. Thus, the clock tower of the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception does not simply chime on the hour,
but also two minutes after every hour, to help those who missed the first
bells.

During services, locals rush to the square outside the cathedral in
Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles on the main island of Mahe.
Victoria has about 30,000 residents, making it a pleasant island capital
for this Indian Ocean archipelago of 100 islands.

Anyone who flies to the Seychelles is looking for a dream vacation. Such
expectations make it the second most expensive travel destination in the
world behind Polynesia. The islands are popular for honeymoons, but also
for anniversaries and other special occasions that demand celebration.

Celebrities who want to escape prying eyes make up another major group of
island visitors. Many of them head to private islands, such as the North
Island. Just two kilometres long and one kilometre wide, the island hosts
a small utopia of 11 guest villas designed by architect Silvio Reich and
designer Lesley Carstens to protect privacy.

This compound on an island 25 kilometres northwest of Mahe, is for people
who can afford the big city, but want some time away from the glitz and
glamour. An overnight for two to four people costs 1,000 euros (US$1,200).

For that price, there are luxury extras, but also the chance to be
oneself. The women of North Island do not have to worry about flaunting
their jewels or their smart black dresses. They are too busy surrounding
themselves in comfort.

It seems logical to combine a Seychelles visit with a trip to the spa.
Even if your hotel comes unequipped, there are options, like the Banyan
Tree Hotel, where many tourists head to be pampered.

The Lemuria Resort on Praslin, the second biggest island of the
Seychelles, also offers a spa area. Its offerings include hot stone
massages and facial treatments.

For the more active, there is also an 18-hole golf course on Praslin that
wins high praise, even from non-golfers. The 15th hole is almost
legendary. The tee is high on top of a mountain, from which one can see
the turquoise-coloured sea frothing in Georgette Bay. The green is just
to the right of the bay.

The main island of Mahe meanwhile offers more than incredible beaches and
magical palm-lined lanes. For example, there is the herb garden Le Jardin
du Roi on the southeast of the island, in Royale Bay, which smells like
cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

One can also just stroll along the beach and enjoy the wonder of life,
marvel at the clear skies and wait until it is time to eat. People in the
Seychelles describe their relaxed pace of life as "peu a peu." Some 1,000
kilometres away in Kenya, bumper stickers proclaim that there is "No
Hurry in Africa." It's the same idea here. Just take it easy.


















China Daily PDF Edition











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Chinese Character - Producer: 'Lohan movie is not cancelled'

ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






Producer: 'Lohan movie is not cancelled'

(WENN)
Updated: 2007-07-22 10:32





Lindsay Lohan

Studio bosses have denied reports Lindsay Lohan's next film role has been
cancelled because producers are concerned about the star's post-rehab
partying.

Lohan was released from Promises rehab center in Malibu, California, on
July 13 and was spotted out with pals in Las Vegas just days later.

But producer Robert Hickman insists speculation that the movie Poor
Things has been cancelled is false.

He says, "The film has not been cancelled. Any rumors saying differently
are just that--rumors."








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Learn Mandarin online - Tax only raises cost of housing

/ Page 10








Tax only raises cost of housing

Updated: 2007-07-20 07:22




The burden of the new tax on sales of previously owned houses will only
be shifted to buyers while continuing to push up housing prices, says an
article in Guangzhou Daily. The following is an excerpt:

Starting from the middle of this month, Shanghai began to impose a land
appreciation tax on the trade of previously owned houses that are less
than five years.

The move represents the Shanghai municipal government's latest attempt to
cool down the red-hot real estate market. It follows last year's
collection of a business tax and individual income tax. Combined, these
taxes account for nearly 10 percent of the cost of a secondhand home in
Shanghai.

The government's intentions are clear enough: It is looking to rein in
speculative activities in the property market by raising the costs of
making property deals.

The trouble is that housing prices will continue to go up since demand
exceeds supply. Further taxing sales of previously owned houses will do
little to cool the market because the extra costs will only be shifted to
buyers.

According to reports, the demand to supply ratio in Shanghai is 0.7:1,
which puts the seller in a relatively strong negotiating position. The
sellers of previously owned houses in Shanghai usually shift the burden
of higher taxes directly to buyers.

In fact, the failure of this attempt at macro control is exemplary of the
country's disorderly property market. The property market is now staging
a drama: "The more controls, the higher housing prices."

We should not only be thinking about tax policy, but also about macro
controlling measures in general. Though the government's intentions are
good, the direct result of the previous two rounds of new macro control
measures has been a decrease in the overall supply of housing, which has
exacerbated the gap between supply and demand. Housing prices will
definitely rise.


















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Chinese Speaking - Hollywood film about Iraq war to begin filming

ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






Hollywood film about Iraq war to begin filming

(AFP)
Updated: 2007-07-18 09:10





Filming was set to begin next week on "The Hurt Locker," a Hollywood
drama starring
Jeremy Renner, seen here in February 2007, Anthony Mackie and Brian
Geraghty,
about the travails of a US army unit beset by bombers and snipers in
Iraq.[AFP]

Filming was set to begin next week on "The Hurt Locker," a Hollywood
drama about the travails of a US army unit beset by bombers and snipers
in Iraq, US entertainment media reported Tuesday.

The movie, starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty and
directed by Katherine Bigelow, follows an elite army explosive ordinance
disposal team in present-day Baghdad.

Filming will take place in Jordan and Kuwait on the movie, which is
inspired by actual events as well as recently declassified information,
according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"It's the first movie about the Iraq War that purports to show the
experience of the soldiers," script writer Mark Boal told the Hollywood
Reporter from Jordan.

"We wanted to show the kinds of things that soldiers go through that you
can't see on CNN, and I don't mean that in a censorship-conspiracy way. I
just mean the news doesn't actually put photographers in with units that
are this elite."

Boal added: "Most war movies don't come out until the war was over."

"It's really exciting for me, coming out of the world of journalism, to
have a movie come out about a conflict while the conflict is still going
on," he told the Hollywood Reporter.

























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Learn Mandarin online - Time for beer!

CITYLIFE / Odds & Ends






Time for beer!

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-07-17 08:53



Summer is the perfect season to crack open some beer. This bubbling
alcoholic beverage doesn't just help people cool down from the heat, but
is also good for the body. Nutritionists say beer is rich in silicon
which is good for healthy bones, and it can protect people against heart
disease. For all the benefits beer brings, here we bring you some nice
places in Beijing and Shanghai to get a cold one or two.


Beijing

Beer Mania

Located in Sanlitun, a famous bar zone in Beijing, Beer Mania is a
down-to-earth Belgian pub with a wide selection of light-colored beers
and authentic Belgian waffles made according to the bar owner's own
recipe. Beer Mania's European style is also appealing with the Rin Tin
Tin posters hanging on the walls as well as some European imported beers
hiding in the fridge. Perfect for having a romantic date with homesick
Belgians.

Location: 103, Taiyue Hotel, 16 Sanlitun Nanjie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65850786
Open: 2pm-2am
Cost: 99 yuan per person

Beer and Girl

Located in Wudaokou area, one of Beijing's famous spots where foreigners
hang out, as well as Beijing's prestigious universities like Tsinghua and
Peking University, Beer and Girl features a variety of beers as well as
many cute waitresses as implied by the bar name.

Boasting a spacious area, Beer and Girl is a Korean bar featuring soju,
neon and lots of tasty, deep-fried pub food. And it has pink booths for a
candy sweet time.

Location: 3 Zhongguancun Donglu, Wudaokou, Haidian District
Tel: 010-62550676
Open: 6pm-3am

Beijing Okhotsk Beer

Despite its German sounding name, Beijing Okhotsk Beer is a genuine
spin-off of a popular Japanese pub called OKB. But the German decor is
recreated pretty well with three giant red copper beer steins behind the
bar that say "Munich" on them.

Beijing Okhotsk Beer offers four beers including weizen, pilsner, ale and
mild stout. They are served in 300ml glasses up to liter tankards (28-72
yuan). Besides, ice cream here is delicious and totally unique. It's
worth a try for 20 yuan per scoop.

Location: 7 Business Street, Phoenix City, A5, Shuguang Xili
Tel: 010-58668552


1 2






















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Tibet and know more interesting tour routes leading to this divine place.
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with the film.Wanna know more? Please click here!




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� Time for beer!

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Beijing Guide




Eating out: A little sum-thing tasty
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Shanghai Guide


Eating out: Time for the lanes
Bars&Cafes: A town to have fun
Weekend&Holiday: More changes like this
Shopping: Think print
What's on: Sticking it to the man





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Learning Mandarin - Ford can still fit into Indy's trousers

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Ford can still fit into Indy's trousers

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-14 14:54









Harrison Ford arrives at the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival Tributes
held at the Shrine Auditorium on October 6, 2006 in Los Angeles,Ca.[AP]



HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Harrison Ford, who turned 65 Friday, still fits into
Indiana Jones' tight trousers.

Many fans are curious to see if, 18 years after "Indiana Jones and the
Last Crusade," Ford can live up to the physical rigors of the
globe-trotting archaeologist in the long-awaited fourth installment of
the epic series.

Producers of the adventure, currently being filmed on Hawaii's Big
Island, say there's no need to worry. Ford is as fit as ever.

"I have to say, he looks amazing," said Kathleen Kennedy, the film's
co-executive producer, along with George Lucas. "He looks fantastic in
the outfit."

Actually, Ford knew the hat would still fit but wondered if he could
still squeeze into the pants. He did.

The action star, who first introduced Indiana Jones, sporting his fedora
and cracking his bullwhip, in the 1981 classic "Raiders of the Lost Ark,"
is actually doing many of his own stunts in the latest film.

"He's doing them, he just has a few more ice packs and a few more
massages," Kennedy said.

"And a lot of Celebrex," producer Frank Marshall added.

The movie just completed the first of three weeks of filming in Hawaii,
after spending a week each in New Mexico and Connecticut. The lush areas
surrounding Hilo are filling in as a South American rain forest.

Lucas and director Steven Spielberg have not released the title of the
film, scheduled for release May 22, 2008.

The filming has created a buzz on this normally sleepy island, known for
macadamia nuts and premium Kona coffee. It's the most action since nearby
Kilauea volcano rumbled to life in 1983. Like Indiana Jones, the
still-erupting volcano has been an attraction ever since.

In the privately owned jungles of Keaau, one of the movie locations, two
colorful signs that were drawn in crayon and decorated with balloons were
displayed at Liberty Christian School.

One welcomed the cast and crew of the film. The other read: "Happy
Birthday, Harrison Ford."

Janae Pacheco helped draw the sign, even though the 8-year-old student
admitted not knowing Ford or seeing his movies.

"Not exactly," she said, when asked if she knew Ford. "But my teacher
does."

The film's biggest action sequences are being filmed in Hawaii. Marshall
compared one scene to the thrilling, white-knuckled truck chase in the
desert in "Raiders."

"It's that level," he said.

Hawaii will be featured in about 20 percent of the film. About half will
be from sets in Los Angeles. The Aloha State was also the backdrop for
portions of "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Ford, Lucas, Spielberg, Kennedy and Marshall all worked together on what
till now has been the trilogy. So, it was a homecoming of sorts.

"We're having a great time. It's so much fun being together," said
Marshall, who has produced more than 50 films, including "Poltergeist,"
"Gremlins," "The Goonies," "The Color Purple," "Back to the Future"
trilogy, "The Sixth Sense" and the "Bourne" trilogy.

"Nobody's worried about their careers any more," he said.

The latest Indy adventure is set in the 1950s and, in addition to Ford,
stars Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent. One
popular character not in the line-up is Sean Connery, who played Indy's
father.

"We would've loved to have Sean do a cameo-type part in this but he's
very much enjoying retirement," Kennedy said.

She promised movie fans, who have patiently waited since the 1989
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," would get the same level of
excitement as the previous three films.

"The cleverness, the humor and the tone of Indiana Jones is very much
alive and well in this movie," Kennedy said.

The producers are being very tightlipped about the movie, and the remote
sets are well guarded, leading to rampant rumors on blogs and chat sites.

It took some time to get to the fourth film, partly because of the
schedules of Spielberg, Lucas and Ford. Plus, they knew they had to
deliver another hit.

"The bar was pretty high," Kennedy said.
























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Chinese language - Pageant rules Miss N.J. can keep crown

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Pageant rules Miss N.J. can keep crown

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-13 08:19









Miss New Jersey, Amy Polumbo, listens as pageant officials announce that
they ruled she will be able to keep her crown despite photos she admits
show her acting 'not in a ladylike manner,' Thursday, July 12, 2007.[AP]



OCEAN CITY, N.J. - Miss New Jersey can keep her crown despite photos that
show her acting "not in a ladylike manner."

Hours after a nervous Amy Polumbo went public Thursday with photos of
herself that had been sent anonymously to pageant officials, those
officials decided the pictures did not merit stripping her of the title.

"I'm very happy about this decision, and I look forward to resuming my
agenda as Miss New Jersey," said a smiling Polumbo, who blew kisses to
audience members during the announcement.

The beauty pageant winner apologized for the trouble the pictures had
caused and thanked the pageant board for its support.

"I want to thank the public," Polumbo said. "I also want to thank God for
getting me through this."

The pictures include one showing what Polumbo said was her boyfriend
apparently biting her breast through her shirt, another of Polumbo in a
limousine wearing jeans with her legs spread in the air and another of
her in what appears to be a Halloween costume dress holding two small
pumpkins up to her breasts.

"It's not in a ladylike manner. I'm not a robot. I'm a human being,"
Polumbo said.

There were also photos of Polumbo drinking, but the 22-year-old college
student said she was of legal age when they were taken.

Polumbo earlier said she didn't think the pictures should lead to the
loss of her crown but said other people might interpret them differently.

"What I think is OK, someone else's eyebrows could be raised," she said.

Polumbo's lawyer, Anthony Caruso, said that a person or persons claiming
to be The Committee to Save Miss America threatened to make the photos
public unless she resigned her title.

Polumbo will represent the Garden State in the next Miss America pageant,
which has yet to be scheduled.
























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HSK Exam - Katherine Heigl's photo album

ENTERTAINMENT / Movies/TV






Katherine Heigl's photo album


Updated: 2007-07-11 15:35








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Speak Chinese - Cartoonist Doug Marlette killed in crash

ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






Cartoonist Doug Marlette killed in crash

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-11 08:49





This undated photo provided by North Carolina Festival of the Book shows
Doug Marlette.[AP]

Doug Marlette, the North Carolina-born cartoonist who won a Pulitzer
Prize and created the popular strip "Kudzu," was killed in a car accident
Tuesday morning in Mississippi, authorities said. He was 57.

Marlette, who joined the Tulsa (Okla.) World last year, was the passenger
in the car, which struck a tree after skidding on a rain-slicked road,
said John Garrison, the coroner in Mississippi's Marshall County.


"Evidently, it hydroplaned, left the highway and struck the tree,"
Garrison said.

Marlette's editorial cartoons and his strip, "Kudzu," are syndicated
worldwide. The "Kudzu" strip deals humorously with rural Southern life,
featuring characters such as the Rev. Will B. Dunn.

Born in Greensboro, Marlette began drawing political cartoons for The
Charlotte Observer in 1972.

He won the Pulitzer in 1988 for his editorial cartooning in both
Charlotte and at the Atlanta Constitution, which he had joined the year
before.

He said at the time that his biting approach could be traced in part to
"a grandmother bayoneted by a guardsman during a mill strike in the
Carolinas. There are some rebellious genes floating around in me."

He also had worked at New York Newsday and the Tallahassee (Fla.)
Democrat.

"Cartoons are windows into the human condition," he said when he joined
the Tulsa World last year. "It's about life."

Robert E. Lorton III, the World's publisher and president, said on the
newspaper's Web site that Marlette's death was "a great tragedy, not only
for the Tulsa World family, but for all who knew Doug."

"He was more than a great cartoonist and author, he was a tremendous
human being," Lorton said.

Katharine Walton, his North Carolina-based publicist, said Marlette was
working in Oxford, Miss., with a high school group that was doing a
musical version of "Kudzu."

She recalled how he "would just give me really good advice all the time.
He had a huge capacity for information, an enormous capacity for
information, and everything was relevant."

Among his books were "Shred This Book: The Scandalous Cartoons of Doug
Marlette," "In Your Face: A Cartoonist at Work" and "The Bridge," his
first novel, published in 2001.

The World said Marlette is survived by his wife, Melinda, and an adult
son, Jackson. He divided his time between homes in Tulsa and in
Hillsborough, N.C.
























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Chinese Class - Beckham insists she's just a normal girl

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Beckham insists she's just a normal girl

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-10 08:32





Victoria Beckham, wife of soccer star David Beckham and former Spice
Girl, known as Posh, is filmed during batting practice before a Dodgers
baseball game in Los Angeles, Monday, June 11, 2007.[AP]

LOS ANGELES - Victoria Beckham insisted Monday that she's "just a normal
girl from London" who happens to be "living quite a surreal life" with
her soccer star husband David and their three young boys.

Americans can judge for themselves when the newest British import is seen
in a one-hour NBC special, "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America," airing
July 16 at 8 p.m.

As if Posh and Becks aren't besieged enough by cameras, the special
follows Victoria Beckham as she prepares to move from Europe to the
United States for her husband's July 21 debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy
of Major League Soccer.

"It's funny. People really get to see what I'm really like. I have quite
a dry sense of humor, which I hope is going to translate to Americans,"
Beckham said by phone from her London home where boxes were piled up
ahead of the family's move Wednesday.

"I'm incredibly blessed and I wanted to show that to everybody."

Beckham called herself "a working mum" who is focused on developing her
signature line of clothing, sunglasses and perfume.

"That's my passion and that's what I'm good at," she said.

Beckham said her family was "so excited" about relocating that her boys
"actually think they're moving to Disneyland."

The family will make do in a reported $22 million, 13,000-square foot
villa in Beverly Hills, where neighbors include Tom Cruise and Katie
Holmes.

Beckham described her family life as almost quaint, hanging out at home
and watching DVDs.

David Beckham appears briefly in the special, but viewers won't see the
couple's three sons — Brooklyn, 9; Romeo, 4; and Cruz, 2 — or their
BFFs, Cruise and Holmes.

"We don't ever allow the children to be photographed or filmed. We like
them to be normal kids," she said. "I didn't want any of my friends in
there, either."

Why not?

"This isn't a reality show, it's a documentary about me," Beckham said.
"Anything we do professionally, we try to keep the children out of it. We
don't sort of traipse them up and down the red carpet."

Initially, NBC had announced a six-episode series in February that would
air during the summer. However, Beckham's shooting time was limited by
her spending time in Europe as her husband wound down his playing career
there.

So NBC decided it had enough footage to air a one-hour special. Among the
executive producers is "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller, who managed
the Spice Girls pop group that launched Victoria Beckham to fame.

Beckham did a similar documentary, "Being Victoria Beckham," that aired
in Britain in 2002.

If ratings for the special are good, it's possible she could be offered
more television work.

"I wouldn't say I'm going to be the next TV star," she said. "We'll see
what people make of this."

Other than the recently announced Spice Girls reunion tour, Beckham
denied she's planning to resurrect her showbiz career in Los Angeles.

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Chinese language - Megan Fox: 'Everyone in Hollywood does drugs'

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Megan Fox: 'Everyone in Hollywood does drugs'

(WENN)
Updated: 2007-07-09 08:58





Megan Fox



Transformers actress Megan Fox insists Hollywood is so awash with drugs,
she is one of only five people she knows who doesn't indulge in illegal
substances.

Fox admits to trying various drugs but didn't like her experiences under
the influence.

She tells Maxim magazine, "I've done drugs, and that's how I know I don't
like them.

"I wanted to try several things and make an informed decision, but I
didn't enjoy anything other than marijuana. I don't even think of it as a
drug--it should be legalized.

"Cocaine is back with a vengeance--everyone in every club is doing drugs.
Celebrities aren't trying to hide it, except when people have camera
phones.

"I know about five people who aren't on drugs today, and I'm one of them."









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