Music roared and slowly I went deaf

The audiologist didn't mince her words. "You've got the hearing of someone 30 years older than you." The results on the audiogram showed that I have "severe" hearing loss with high-frequency sounds, she says. It's not what a 44-year-old expects or wants to hear.

IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Life Culture

Festival celebrating world culture

In a circular letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dated April 2, 1906, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games invited members to an advisory conference to determine "to what extent and in what form the arts and literature can participate in the celebration of the modern Olympiads".

Leap of faith onto the international stage

Three Chinese dancers spearhead California's Ballet San Jose tour of China this month and the young men are jumping for joy. "I am very excited about being back in China to perform with an American dance company for a Chinese audience," says Qingdao-born Chen Shuai. "When we dance, I feel I am representing China whenever I perform."

Life Expat

Joyee to the world

Refat Reza Joyee, 23, from Bangladesh sent an application to Microsoft in Beijing believing that her chances of getting the job were slim to none. About to finish her Information Technology course at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Joyee decided to go out on a limb and submit her resume via the Microsoft webpage.

Your say

Visa-a-vis

Land of mysterious stone jars

Like a young child looking up to an older sibling, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, better known as Laos, sits at China's southern border basking in the influence of its northern neighbor.

Denmark Special

Charm of Copenhagen history, lifestyle

Visitors to the ancient country of Denmark usually start their journey in Copenhagen, the gateway to the Baltic. Evolving over centuries on the coast as a trading city, it has reaped many rich rewards from its business dealings.

SAS using 'green' flights to cut emissions

International media gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, earlier this month to watch the landing of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) "green" flight, one of 2,000 the airline has made since 2005.