Life Pulse

Chasing the flame

Soon after arriving in Beijing, American Gregory Groggel donned a false beard and mustache for his film debut, cast as the young Jesuit missionary, Matteo Ricci, who arrived in China in 1583 and later became the first Westerner granted access to the Forbidden City. Once shooting wrapped up, director Zhang Li told his young star the documentary was created for the Olympics, to promote China's history to a worldwide audience ahead of next year's Games.

Feeling hot and cold about beating back the heat in Beijing

It's been three years in Beijing now, but one thing that I am yet to get used to is the winter. While all my friends can't help gushing excitedly at the first sleet of every season, I plunge into deep depression. What's so beautiful about a striking landscaped being clothed in sepulchral white and sunrays struggling to break through gloomy skies, and dark, dark mornings and even darker evenings, I wonder.

Reviews

Movies

Sports

I'm cursed not a choker, grates Garcia

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland: Sergio Garcia insisted he would bounce back from the trauma of throwing away his chance to claim his first major title at the British Open he had led until the final hole.

WADA fears key players have doping problem

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland: Key players and officials believe a drugs-testing policy is urgently needed in golf, according to World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound.

Major blessing for part-time Padraig

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland: Padraig Harrington's goals when peer pressure made him turn pro in 1995 were simply to nut out an existence on the European Tour.

Zarate strikes late to land Argentina Under-20 cup

TORONTO: Mauro Zarate netted an 86th-minute winner to help post Argentina 's sixth Under-20 championship in a 2-1 come-from-behind win against the Czech Republic on Sunday.

IN BRIEF (Page 20)

Life Pulse

Steering up the perfect pig dish

In Shanghai, if a taxi driver were to ask you what is the meaning of life, you would be shocked, as Shanghai cabbies are quiet and professional as they go about their job.