China
Chinese dream 2012: new year dragon symbolises 'change'
新年快乐! 23 January sees the Chinese people officially welcoming in the lunar new year. The dragon, the fifth out of the twelve zodiac signs, is the guiding patron according to the Chinese calendar. People born in the year of the dragon are characterised by their wit, brightness of mind and braveness - all of the above are exactly what crisis-stricken Europe would expect of its politicians! According to the Chinese calendar, luck will accompany the political moves of the Portugese prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho as well as his Czech counterpart Petr Nečas, both born in 1964. As the Europeans wait for what 2012 will bring, some will be able to come face to face with the Chinese culture in cities such as London or Paris, when the celebrations are moved to a Sunday, 29 January this year (Image: © Kristof)
Ireland’s ‘accidental emigrants’
While thousands of young people are fleeing Ireland as the depression deepens, others who planned to return are stranded overseas. One writer tells of how the doors 'closed behind him' after moving to Brussels and Beijing
china, ireland, belgium, expatriates, financiële crisis, economy, economical crisis
Economy lesson from young Europeans: move to China and start saving now
EU officials are brainstorming the programme of Denmark's six-month presidency of the EU, as young, ambitious Europeans give us their financial lessons from the 'crisis year' 2011
Student duelling clubs in Europe: no Harry Potter magic in Germany
In mid-June the Alte Breslauer duelling club in Bonn petitioned its national umbrella organisation to stipulate German descent as a criterium for accepting the currently 1, 300 students into these legendary student societies. In June, a society in Mannheim allowed a German of Chinese descent to join. The case drags the just over 100 German duelling clubs, which are accused of harbouring extreme right-wing ideologies, into a negative rather than magical light
china, racism, austria, immigration, students, society, traditions
Li Kequiang's in Europe, and Europe knows it
The Chinese vice-premier is in Europe. He has signed billion-dollar business agreements and promised to purchase the government bonds of ailing EU countries like Portugal. Does this cheque book politics conceal the dictatorship's true motives? The Iberian and Austro-German press have raised the alert
china, piigs, global europe, world affairs, economical crisis, globalisation, politics
Liu Xiaobo: Chinese prisoner and Nobel peace prize winner
The detained Chinese civil rights activist Liu Xiaobo was awarded the nobel peace prize in absentia in Oslo on 10 November; the Serb, Russian and Ukrainian governments were three of 19 world countries absent too. The Chinese government fears social change and is only harming its own interests with Liu's detention, write the Danish, Austrian, Belgian and Lativa press
Five questions about the Korean conflict
On 23 November North Korea turned the heat up with the first attack on South Korea civilians since the end of the war in 1953. There were four casualties on Yeonpyeong Island. Spanish journalist Alberto Lebrón explains why diplomacy is working with the weapons loaded
china, cold war, japan, north korea, nuclear plant, kim jong-il, russian federation
What's going on with China as guest of honour at the Frankfurt book fair?
At the opening ceremony on 13 October, in the presence of Chinese vice president Xi Jinping, German chancellor Angela Merkel said there would be 'no taboos'. The Italian, Swiss, Spanish and German press react
china, tibet, frankfurter buchmesse, xi jinping, censorship, dissident, culture calendar
I quit Facebook - even Bill Gates did
More than 250 million people have registered themselves on Facebook. This spectacular number will soon be surpassed; the social network is growing at a rate of 5 million users a week. Nonetheless, the giant is not unstoppable. Its critics are also multiplying, and some are choosing to log off the network for the final time
china, internet, blogs, erasmus, communication , network, facebook
Notes: mid-twenties crisis of a journalist going round the world
The day that I turned 25, I decided to just leave everything - work, my family, the flat I rented with some friends. I bought a round the world ticket and embarked on a year-long journey. Summary of a blog recognised by as 'the best non-English language blog' at the 'Lonely Planet travel bloggers’ awards
china, travel writing, blogs, journalism, citizen journalism, south corea, japan
China reacts to the Guantanamo proposal
On 11 February the Lithuanian government announced that they were ready to take up to 10 Guantanamo prisoners. US president Barack Obama has said the Cuba-based prison will be closed within a year
china, independence, guantánamo, barack obama, terrorism, european elections 2009, euweek
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