13865183_348397.jpg ¡¡¡¡"Lu Da Gong" (a Beijing-style dessert), is translated into "rolling donkey" on the menu of some restaurants. ¡¡¡¡ 13865183_200701090951578465700.jpg ¡¡¡¡"Ma Po Dou Fu" (one of the most famous Sichuan dishes) is translated into "beancurd made by a pockmarked woman" on the menu of some restaurants. ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡BEIJING, Jan. 8 -- Many foreigners complain that they are often puzzled and even startled by the menu when they dine in Chinese restaurants, saying the awfu...

BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Want to see a 60-year-old actor beat the hell out of a world heavyweight boxing champion 40 years his junior? 11020310_1166583780603_1.jpg Sylvester Stallone, star of the film "Rocky Balboa," poses with actress Talia Shire (center) who plays his wife in the Rocky movies, and his wife Jennifer Flavin at the premiere of the film in Hollywood section of Los Angeles Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006. Photo Gallery >>> Sure you do. And moviegoers and crit...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Fifty-two percent Americans think the United States is losing the war in Iraq, up from 34 percent last year, according to a poll published on Wednesday. Only three in 10 Americans polled in the Washington Post-ABC News survey said the United States was making significant progress in restoring civil order in Iraq, while nearly half thought so in June. The survey found that 41 percent of those canvassed said Iraq was now in a civil war, up from 34...

The outlook for home builders is miserable, so it's time to buy these beaten-down issues before others sniff a recovery. Here are five of the best stocks . . . in an industry that actually has a lot going for it. By Jon Markman Just when it appears the outlook for real estate could not possibly get worse, out comes a report showing that it is. Last week, we learned home prices are sinking in hot spots like Florida at the greatest rate in 25 years. On Monday, we learned pending home sale...

13798832_2006120810354629659300.jpg A staff demonstrates "Digital Home" for visitors at the World Telecom 2006 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Hong Kong, south China, on Dec. 5, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) 13798832_2006120810354684209800.jpg People try 3G cell phones during a visit to the World Telecom 2006 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Hong Kong, south China, on Dec. 5, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Dec. 5 -- China could "very soon" award domestic telecom operators licences to build 3G (third generation) mobile phone networks, the country's top telecom official said yesterday. "I cannot provide a specific timetable, but it could happen very soon," Wang Xudong, minister of information industry, told reporters at the ITU Telecom World 2006 being held in Hong Kong. Wang reiterated a commitment to enable operators to offer 3G services during the 2008 Olympic Games in B...

BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday issued a five-year program (2006-2010) on international cooperation of science and technology, promising to open wider to foreign partners. The program said except those concerning national security or with special requests, China's key national scientific and technological projects and funds will be open to overseas partners. Scientific institutions, universities and key national laboratories are required to expand cooperation and exc...

PARIS, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) foresees a 2.6-percent increase in the 12-nation eurozone economy in 2006 and a 2.2-percent increase in 2007. OECD upgraded the previous forecasts of 2.2 percent in 2006 and 2.1 percent in 2007 to 2.6 percent and 2.2 percent respectively, according to the organization's biannual report released on Tuesday. "In the euro area, activity has finally taken off, following a series of ab...

Chinese car makers surprised visitors to this year¡®s Beijing auto show by rolling out the sort of sportscars and concept models that usually bear a foreign nameplate. ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡ Domestic auto companies exhibiting at Auto China 2006 in Beijing over the weekend were clearly trying to say to the world that they¡®re ready to compete with the sexy, high-tech stuff and will not be satisfied simply turning out boxy family models. ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡For instance, Chery Automobile Co Ltd, the nation¡®s fift...

13760385_2006112211522987281000.jpg Three members of a nonprofit organization "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA) from Britain, U.S. and the Philippines protest in front of a KFC fast food restaurant, Hong Kong, Monday, Nov. 20, 2006. They accused KFC slaughtering chickens inhumanly.

13744794_2006111509423884402500.jpg ¡¡¡¡Delegates at the conclusion of the senior officials meeting of the Apec in Hanoi, Vietnam November 13, 2006. [Xinhua] ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡Nov.15 - China is seeking to work closely with members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) to push forward liberalization of trade and investment and tackle security concerns, according to officials and experts. ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡Leaders of the 21 economies of APEC members will gather in Hanoi, Viet Nam this weekend t...

13735303_336133.jpg ¡¡¡¡BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Microsoft Corp has struck a deal with Universal Music to pay Universal Music Group a fee for each new Zune digital music player it sells when the iPod rival launches next week, the companies said on Thursday. ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡Under the deal, Universal will receive a payment for every Zune player sold, in exchange for which Universal will provide more access to artists and rights to music. ¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡Chris Stephenson, general manager for glob...

13732590_2006110909273896313100.jpg Models present golden creations at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 8, 2006. Models displayed golden creations, vanity bags and adornments during a promotional event named House of Gold·House of Clothes on Wednesday in Hong Kong.

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher on Tuesday said the United States did not have any involvement in the attack on a religious school in Pakistan's tribal region. "The Pakistani government has said they carried out initiative to deal with serious threats from fighters who were in that location," Boucher told reporters at U.S. embassy. "The Pakistani government says it has carried out this action. And it was necessary beca...

11020307_1162857604716_1.jpg Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2006. Mamadou Tandja attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Nov. 4-5. (Xinhua Photo) ¡¡¡¡Photo Gallery >>> ¡¡¡¡ BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- In recent years, the cooperation between China and Niger in infrastructure, telecommunications, human resources and other fields has ...