Chinese Language Day

AWKA – Our foresight and projec­tion are to unlock the potentials of the next generation of Igbo chil­dren by teaching them basic sciences in Igbo Language. This is our journey to the moon”. That is the mission state­ment of Mr. Okoro Chinedum Bene­dict, Executive Director,OCHIE Igbo STEM School. An offshoot of Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation. OCHIE Igbo STEM School project is an effort of Mr. Okoro and his group to take Igbo language and culture a notch higher. At the turn of the century, the United Nations Education and Cul­tural Organisation (UNESCO) had classified Igbo language as a threat­ened language that stands the risk of possible extinction by the end of 21st century. According to the respected world body, Igbo…

SAN FRANCISCO — In late 2021, OpenAI faced a supply problem. The artificial intelligence lab had exhausted every reservoir of reputable English-language text on the internet as it developed its latest AI system. It needed more data to train the next version of its technology — lots more. So OpenAI researchers created a speech recognition tool called Whisper. It could transcribe the audio from YouTube videos, yielding new conversational text that would make an AI system smarter. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Some OpenAI employees discussed how such a move might go against YouTube’s rules, three people with knowledge of the conversations said. YouTube, which is owned by Google, prohibits use of its videos…

HANGZHOU — Amid the vibrant beat of drums, and dragon and lion dances, Yiwu China Commodity City, also known as the “world’s supermarket” in East China’s Zhejiang province, welcomed the start of a new business year on Feb 21 following the Spring Festival break. Merchants from around the world watched the performances with great interest. Among them was Bijoy George, an Indian businessman with two decades of experience in Yiwu, who eagerly captured the lively scenes on his phone. George, who runs a trading company in Yiwu specializing in tools and household items, expressed optimism for business prospects in the coming year. “Yiwu is full of opportunities for trade cooperation. Last year, I bought 200 containers of goods in Yiwu,…

Seollal 2024 (South Korea): Commemorating the first day of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, Seollal festivities commence on February 10 of this year. It is a three-day celebration commemorating the Korean New Year, which is significant from a cultural and traditional standpoint. Undoubtedly, this occasion presents itself as an ideal setting to partake in magnificent celebrations, strengthen familial bonds, and share smiles. Families visit one another, engage in traditional activities, and frequently distribute money to children during Seollal. Embedded with distinctive traditions and customs, this is a national holiday that all citizens of every nation are obligated to partake in. An auspicious occasion to don hanboks and ring in the new year has arrived. Seollal festivities have their roots in 57…

BEIJING, Feb — The 2024 Spring Festival is just around the corner, and people across China are embracing the festive atmosphere in the run-up to the most important occasion of family reunions. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited residents in Tianjin, including villagers affected by floods last summer, and talked with shop owners and employees at an ancient culture street during his inspection tour in the municipality from Feb 1 to 2. Since assuming the Party’s top post in November 2012, Xi has made it a tradition to spend time with members of the public ahead of the Spring Festival, especially those in disadvantaged…

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) — The Chinese dragon, also known as the “loong,” is prominent in Chinese mythology as a legendary and auspicious creature. Unlike their European counterparts, Chinese dragons don’t exhale fire. Instead, they are often linked with water, symbolizing traits associated with business prosperity, abundant harvests and good health. As the totem of the Chinese nation, the dragon is deemed strong, fearless and benevolent, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese. This year’s Chinese Spring Festival coincides with the Year of the Dragon, adding extra excitement to global celebrations. It also allows people to satisfy their curiosity about Chinese culture and get acquainted with China’s customs and history. VIBRANT WORLDWIDE CELEBRATIONS People…

BEIJING (AP) — At the start of the Lunar Year of the Dragon, China is seeking to assert its own interpretation of the cultural icon that dates back centuries in both Eastern and Western cultures. The Lunar New Year holiday that began on Feb. 10 is celebrated in countries across Asia and among communities abroad, although China continues to insist that it be called Chinese New Year. × Already a Subscriber? Sign in You are logged in Switch accounts Each year is named after an animal in the Chinese zodiac, with this year being that of the dragon. Chinese state media this year have pushed for the use of “loong,” a version of the anglicization of “dragon,” as part of…

BEIJING (AP) – At the start of the Lunar Year of the Dragon, China is seeking to assert its own interpretation of the cultural icon that dates back centuries in both Eastern and Western cultures. The Lunar New Year holiday that began on Feb. 10 is celebrated in countries across Asia and among communities abroad, although China continues to insist that it be called Chinese New Year. Each year is named after an animal in the Chinese zodiac, with this year being that of the dragon. Chinese state media this year have pushed for the use of “loong,” a version of the anglicization of “dragon,” as part of an effort to emphasize the distinction between the traditional Chinese view of…

Beijing, Feb 16 (AP) At the start of the Lunar Year of the Dragon, China is seeking to assert its own interpretation of the cultural icon that dates back centuries in both Eastern and Western cultures. The Lunar New Year holiday that began on February 10 is celebrated in countries across Asia and among communities abroad, although China continues to insist that it be called Chinese New Year. Also Read | Alexei Navalny Dies: Imprisoned Opposition Leader Has Died in Jail, Says Russia’s Prison Service. Each year is named after an animal in the Chinese zodiac, with this year being that of the dragon. Chinese state media this year have pushed for the use of “loong,” a version of the…

BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) — The Chinese character for “zhen,” meaning “self-inspire,” and “high-quality development” have been respectively chosen as the Character and Word of the Year 2023 in China, according to a survey released Wednesday. As part of the annual event “Chinese Language Review 2023,” the character and the word were chosen from the recommendations of netizens and experts. An algorithm based on a corpus of Chinese characters was also used in the selection process. The character of “zhen” applies when one is able to stay true to his or her ideals in the face of challenges, continue to march despite wind and rain, and feel the joy for making every inch of progress, the experts said. The survey…

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday the European Parliament’s attacks and smears against boarding schools in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region are actually a kind of violation of the children’s right to education, which is damage to the human rights conditions in the region. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to the query that the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticizing the Chinese government’s forced assimilation of Tibetan children through boarding schools in Xizang, and called on the European Union and its member states to take actions. “What’s said in the relevant resolution of the European Parliament is disinformation,” Wang said. “It smears China’s image and interferes…

Bangkok (VNA) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Phuket office will continue promoting the province as a year-round destination with no official low season, according to director of the office Lertchai Wangtrakuldee. The strategy follows the success seen in 2023 when the resort province in southern Thailand met its arrival and revenue targets before the year concluded. By the end of November, the province had attracted more than 10 million tourists and got 330 billion baht (over 9.5 billion USD) from them. Lertchai said that his office will continue the strategy to make the province free of a ‘low season’ which usually falls from May to September. He said the province is targeting tourists from Taiwan (China), Hong Kong…

SHANGHAI, Dec. 27, 2023 /CNW/ — As the sun sets on 2023, Trip.com Group, a global leader in online travel services, reflects on the dynamic landscape of travel over the past year, offering insights into the trends set to shape the journey in 2024. China’s border reopening sparks global travel surge With the opening of China’s borders, travel was greatly boosted by a wave of Chinese travellers with a pent-up demand for overseas travel. Trip.com data unveils a significant rise in outbound travel bookings, showcasing a six-fold increase compared to 2022. This trend is especially prominent during holiday periods, such as the 8-day Golden Week in October which witnessed an eightfold surge in outbound travel. This is a compelling prelude…

SHANGHAI, Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — As the sun sets on 2023, Trip.com Group, a global leader in online travel services, reflects on the dynamic landscape of travel over the past year, offering insights into the trends set to shape the journey in 2024. China’s border reopening sparks global travel surge With the opening of China’s borders, travel was greatly boosted by a wave of Chinese travellers with a pent-up demand for overseas travel. Trip.com data unveils a significant rise in outbound travel bookings, showcasing a six-fold increase compared to 2022. This trend is especially prominent during holiday periods, such as the 8-day Golden Week in October which witnessed an eightfold surge in outbound travel. This is a compelling prelude…

THE state of Pakistan had a rough birth in 1947. Displacement, religious violence, and a massive exchange of populations between India and Pakistan with the partition of British India left indelible wounds on the psyches of the two countries. Pakistan’s survival and unity was made even harder by geography, economic disparities, and cultural differences between its two wings that came together under a single banner, as a last-minute arrangement of a united Pakistan because of the Muslim Bengali elite in Dhaka at that time who had played a key role in the freedom movement, and the British decision to partition Bengal. It did not take too long before internal tensions between the two wings laid the ground for the demise…

China’s credit outlook was downgraded. Credit rating agency Moody’s said a slowing economy — along with the ongoing property crisis — was behind the decision to give its outlook for Chinese sovereign bonds a negative rating. ExxonMobil’s $60 billion deal to buy a Texas oil company faces regulatory scrutiny. The US Federal Trade Commission is investigating the oil giant’s proposed acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, which would be one of the biggest energy mergers in 20 years. Tesla’s cheapest EV is getting more expensive in the US in 2024. The Model 3 will lose half its federal tax credit, thanks to stricter battery sourcing rules. This year’s COP has 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists. That figure, calculated by Kick Big Polluters…

Hi, China Watchers. Today we decode the outcome of the meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s meeting in San Francisco yesterday and explore the controversy over Xi’s top dollar business banquet. We’ll also check in on Beijing’s “socialist modernization” of Tibet and profile a book that warns that the U.S. government is ignoring Chinese-backed hacker penetration of “thousands of American computing systems.” Let’s get to it. — Phelim Programming note! China Watcher won’t publish next Thursday, Nov. 23 due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Biden and Xi — A day of diplomacy and a few seconds of honesty President Joe Biden walked out of a four-hour meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping yesterday afternoon and labeled…