Master storyteller has something to say

How many parents tell folk stories to their children before bedtime? Certainly not as many as decades ago. One possible reason may be that parents today know fewer folk tales than their fathers and grandfathers. Many also think these tales are superstitious and want to keep their children away from such "silly talk".

Life Expat

Chinese etiquette tips for business and socializing

Be on time.

Mind your manners

There's an old Chinese saying: Lishang Wanglai (Courtesy demands reciprocity). This is a basic rule for expats living anywhere in the world and is a sound way to build friendships. However "being nice" is only one of the myriad customs used in China's complex society, according to the International Business Center (IBC), a US-based non-profit organization.

Special Supplement: Spanish royal couple inaugurate art exhibition of "la Caixa"

King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofa of Spain, along with Isidro Fain, president of Spanish banking giant "la Caixa" and its Foundation, and the general director of its Welfare Projects, Jos F. de Conrado, inaugurated an exhibition of works from the "la Caixa" Foundation Collection of Contemporary Art yesterday, at the Beijing Imperial City Art Museum in China.

Special Supplement: Artworks propose symbolic perception of reality

"la Caixa" Welfare Projects launched the "la Caixa" Foundation Collection of Contemporary Art in 1985 and to date has assembled a wealth of key national and international artworks of the past three decades.

Sports

Shorts-dropping pranks no more, say Brazil pair

PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela: Brazilian pair Diego and Robinho promised on Tuesday that pranks such as their notorious shorts-dropping episode are now over.

NZ win thrilling America's Cup race to go 2-1 up

VALENCIA: Team New Zealand beat Alinghi by 25 seconds in a classic America's Cup race on Tuesday, recovering from a poor spinnaker drop which nearly ended their race, to take a 2-1 lead over the Swiss defender in the best-of-nine series.

Prost sympathy for Alonso over Hamilton onslaught

LE CASTELLET, France: Four-times world champion Alain Prost said on Tuesday that he was "absolutely surprised and impressed" by Lewis Hamilton's stunning arrival in Formula One this year.

Mauresmo comfortable in role as champion

LONDON: Amelie Mauresmo performed her duties as defending champion with a minimum of fuss at Wimbledon on Tuesday, opening Center Court proceedings on the traditional "Ladies' Day" with an assured defeat of American Jamea Jackson.

Klim hangs up his goggles

SYDNEY: Australia's former Olympic and world swimming champion Michael Klim announced his retirement from competitive swimming yesterday.