China Daily
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All eyes on the new year
Young women wear eye glasses, made out of recyclable materials and in the shape of a dragon, at a New Year celebration yesterday in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province. Photo by Meng Delong / for China Daily
His entry on stage is always dramatic. He strolls down the red-carpeted stairs on stage and drawls: "Erhhhh ... Welcome to the Avenue of Stars!" That is Bi Fujian's cue for enthusiastic applause among the audience, some of whom have followed his wildly popular grassroots talent quest for all of its seven years. Xingguang Dadao, or Star Way, is one of China national television CCTV's most popular programs, with sky-high ratings that have kept it on air since its debut in 2005. It offers a channel for grassroots talent to showcase their songs, dances and other unusual skills and it also provides a platform where foreign contestants get a fighting chance at fame.
Holiday Nation
BEIJING - A controversial draft amendment that proposes to outlaw forced confession and permits secret detention will be discussed at the plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in March, an additional agenda item of the meeting this year apart from its routine schedule.
Holiday International
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon announced on Friday that it had reached a deal to sell $3.48 billion worth of missiles and related technology to the United Arab Emirates, a close Middle East ally, as part of a massive military buildup in the Middle East to counter Iran's growing arsenal of ballistic missiles.
Holiday People
SHENYANG - Gong Pifa has been dealing with bombs for 35 years and gets excited when talking about them.
Holiday Image
Winter has turned parts of the country into a wonderland of excitement, where a host of snow festivals are providing locals and tourists unforgettable moments of invigorating fun. Top among the many vibrant events is the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival that will be officially launched on Jan 5 in Heilongjiang province - when temperatures can plummet to -38C - with numerous heart-warming experiences available to visitors.
Holiday Trend
BEIJING - Wang Yubing, a marketing manager at a Fortune 500 multinational company in Shanghai, recently began thinking about quitting his respectable and secure job to start a business.
Business Life
BEIJING - On a recent brisk afternoon, Meghan Cochran swung by one of China's few remaining hutong areas in Beijing's Beixinqiao district. Huddled around a large kitchen table with a handful of other foreigners, the medical intern set out to master the art of making dumplings.
Vasaloppet Special
The Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival underway in Changchun marks the 10th anniversary since the Swedish cross-country event was first introduced to China.
Holiday Sports
PARIS - Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday he was highly motivated by the challenge of making French Ligue 1 giant Paris Saint Germain a major force, not just domestically but also in Europe.
