Latest news with #MandarinChinese
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Blind date: ‘I studied Mandarin Chinese in college. He smiled and immediately responded in Chinese.'
GRETCHEN F.: 26 / data scientist What makes her a catch: She thinks about others a lot and values relationships. Her interests: Reading, running 7 P.M. KRASI, BOSTON Lots of Laughs Aldis I arrived early. I reviewed the wine list awkwardly and tried not to look expectant. Gretchen He was sitting in the restaurant as I walked in. He was very handsome and well dressed in a baby-blue pinstripe button-down and khakis. Aldis I remember thinking she was beautiful even before it was clear that she was actually my date. She was wearing a blue dress and had a beautiful smile. I botched the greeting and did this weird handshake-hug-handshake movement that she gracefully turned into a hug. Advertisement Gretchen I mistakenly reached out for a handshake then converted it to a hug, which made us both laugh. Aldis asked if I had been to Krasi before. We laughed when we realized that both of us had requested it — he had been there before, and my friends had recommended it — for our dinner. Greek to Mandarin Aldis From the first moment, there was not a single lull in conversation. Gretchen We talked about his residency program, which launched us into conversations about our ties to the medical world. At some point, we moved on to running. I found it particularly interesting that we both run as a way to release energy and are not very interested in racing, unique in the distance running world. Advertisement Aldis We were there for two hours and talked nonstop. We shared a lot of interests. We both run, are early birds, and carry a book wherever we go. Gretchen I mentioned that I studied Mandarin Chinese in college. He smiled and immediately responded in Chinese. I tried to keep up, but he definitely has a better command of the language than I do. I was shocked we had this in common. Aldis She was a great listener and there was a lot of laughter. I realized I had a crush on her pretty early on. Gretchen What was surprisingly most attractive was how he lit up when he talked about his family and friends. He seemed to really care about other people, something I really value. Aldis We had the Robola white wine. Appetizers included charred eggplant, asparagus, and chickpea fritters. We had a delicious fish dish, as well as souvla — probably my favorite. Gretchen I had never before tasted anything like any of the dishes [we had] and was so impressed. We wrapped up with the rice pudding. In Agreement Aldis The waiter floated the idea of going to a speakeasy nearby, but we are both early birds and had work the next day. Gretchen The time passed so quickly, I couldn't believe that it had been over two hours. Aldis We exchanged numbers. I did ask if she would want to meet up for another date and she said yes. Gretchen We hugged and parted ways. Second Date? Aldis That's the plan! Gretchen I would love to continue our conversations and see what else we may have in common. Grading the Date Aldis / A Gretchen / B+ Advertisement Go on a blind date. We'll pick up the tab. Fill out an application at . Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @dinnerwithcupid.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kari Lake brought back a skeleton crew to Voice of America. They're ‘angry most of the time'
While a federal appeals court appears to have given its blessing to the Trump administration's efforts to completely gut Voice of America, the bare-bones staff that Kari Lake brought back earlier this month has been wracked with low morale and confusion. 'I am angry most of the time I'm in there,' one staffer told Poynter this week. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA and its sister outlets, to reduce staffing down to the 'statutory minimum.' Lake, the failed Arizona politician who now serves as senior adviser overseeing the agency, subsequently laid off hundreds of contracted employees and placed the rest of VOA's staff on indefinite leave. Following a series of lawsuits from VOA employees and executives, Lake was ordered by a district court judge last month to restore Voice of America and bring back its workforce. Additionally, the judge ruled that the administration needed to reinstate Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. 'Not only is there an absence of 'reasoned analysis' from the defendants; there is an absence of any analysis whatsoever,' Judge Royce C. Lamberth wrote. Earlier this month, however, a three-judge appellate court panel decided to freeze the lower court's injunction, saying it needed more time to consider the merits of the case. On Thursday, the full appellate court said it would not intervene at this time. 'We are devastated and concerned that this ruling might lead to further adverse reactions from the administration,' Patsy Widakuswara, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit and VOA's White House bureau chief for Voice of America, told The Independent about the appeals court decision. 'But our day in court is not over yet, and we are committed to fighting until we can return to our congressionally mandated right to broadcast factual, balanced, and comprehensive new.' After Lamberth's initial order to return Voice of America to the air and staff it back up, a small group of 30 employees – from a staff of 1300 workers on leave – was brought back by Lake earlier this month. In an article for Poynter, Liam Scott – VOA's press freedom reporter until he was placed on leave in March and informed he would be terminated this month – spoke to several of the staffers who returned this month and described the 'grim and confusing' atmosphere in VOA headquarters. 'People who are in there do not see this as some kind of hopeful return,' one employee told Scott. 'I am angry most of the time I'm in there… They can't credibly say that they haven't shut us down when zero people are working,' Prior to the president's executive order, VOA broadcast in 49 languages around the world to a weekly measured audience of roughly 360 million people, some of whom live in highly censored authoritarian states. Now, according to those at the pared-down network, Voice of America's content is only translated into Dari, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto and Persian. 'The amount of programming that's being produced is not a credible replacement for what was on air before,' a staffer said. 'We were a 24/7 news operation. Now we're a five-minutes-a-day, five-days-a-week operation,' another source added. 'We all know that this is not what this place is meant to be doing.' Voice of America's primary English-language newsroom, meanwhile, produces just one television segment and a handful of articles a day, which are then translated into four different languages and published, according to Poynter. Notably, with press freedom experts expressing concern about Kremlin propaganda filling the airspace left vacant by VOA's absence, the network is not publishing in Russian in its current depleted state. At the same time, the small cohort that is currently working to produce what little VOA content they can is still following the network's charter, noting that they haven't received any editorial requests from the agency since returning. Interestingly, despite Lake's recent announcement that VOA had partnered up with MAGA cable channel One America News to provide a news feed, Voice of America has yet to air any OAN content. 'No one's really in charge,' a staffer told Poynter, noting the lack of clear leadership at VOA right now. Mike Abramowitz, the network's director, remains on administrative leave. The Independent has reached out to Lake and the USAGM for comment. While fewer than three dozen employees man the ship, hundreds of other full-time VOA staffers remain on the sidelines and in limbo as they wait to hear from the administration about their fate. All the while, Lake has cut other 'frivolous expenditures' from VOA and its sister broadcasters. In March, for instance, she canceled the agency's contracts to carry reporting from wire services such as Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The media agency also reneged on a 15-year lease for new office headquarters – even though it actually saved the government more than $150 million. Though much of the network's full-time staff remains on administrative leave, such as Widakuswara, hundreds of others have already been told they are gone. Last week, Lake announced that 584 total employees were terminated across the agency, the majority of whom came from VOA. 'We will continue to scale back the bloat at [the agency] and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans,' she told The Washington Post of the terminations before adding: 'Buckle up. There's more to come.' Widakuswara, meanwhile, bluntly described how she feels that Lake and the administration are treating the VOA staff at the moment. 'My assessment of the situation is that this is just more emotional terror that they're applying to us,' she told The Independent. 'There's no rhyme or reason why they're bringing people back and then kicking them out. To me, it feels like emotional terror to ensure obedience.'
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First Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How India can counter China's sinister renaming of Tibetan places
The time has come for India to study the issue deeper, in particular the geography and the ethnic history of the area which has close civilisational ties with India, and bring up this issue with China read more One can consider the step as part of China's information warfare against India. Representational image: PTI Beijing has done it again. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has so-called 'standardised' the names of 27 places in Zangnan, an abbreviation of (Xi)Zang and 'Nan' (south in Mandarin), ie, Southern Tibet. In recent years, Beijing has started using this term for the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. For Beijing, Zangnan is itself part of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Xizang being the Chinese name for 'Tibet'. Is this name changing not confusing? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is probably Beijing's main purpose to bring confusion. The renamed 27 places (released 'in accordance with regulations on geographical names issued by the State Council – China's Cabinet') cover geographical features: 15 mountains, five residential areas, four mountain passes, two rivers and one lake. As earlier, each location is given in Chinese characters, Tibetan, and pinyin – the romanised spelling of Mandarin Chinese – with latitude and longitude coordinates and a high-resolution map. But what is Beijing's ultimate purpose? It was probably an indirect way to show sympathy with Pakistan when it was facing a near-war situation with India. India's Reaction On May 14, 2025, in response to media queries on the renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh by China, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said, 'We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.' Renaming is Not New Renaming places is not new. It has been done by all colonisers; India still remembers the British days. China has done it in a more systematic manner. After it invaded Tibet in 1950-51, Shigaste became Rìkazé or Xigatse, Sakya was Sa'gya, Metok, north of Arunachal's Upper Siang district, Mutao or Medog. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Apart from the cases of pure pinyinisation like the ones just mentioned, in many cases, names have been completely changed. Ngari province is now called Ali Prefecture (perhaps due Chinese faulty pronunciation who can't pronounce 'Ng' and 'r'); Kyirong at the border with Nepal is now Jilong, and worse, Barahoti in today's Uttarakhand is called Wuje, while Demchok in Ladakh is termed Parigas. First Renaming in Arunachal Pradesh In 2017 already, the Chinese Cabinet had announced the 'standardised names' for six places in Arunachal Pradesh. At that time, it looked like a childish reaction to the Dalai Lama's visit to the state a month earlier. The official names of the six places (transcribed in the Roman alphabet) were Wo'gyainling, Mila Ri, Qoidengarbo Ri, Mainquka, Bumo La and Namkapub Ri. Let us have a look at a couple of them. Wo'gyainling is the new spelling for Urgyeling, the birthplace of Tsangyang Gyaltso, the Sixth Dalai Lama, a few kilometres south of Tawang town. One understands the political reasons why China would be so attached to the place. Beijing was not ready to accept that a Dalai Lama could be born outside Tibet. The situation has become more acute today with the recent announcement by the Dalai Lama that he will be reborn in the 'free world'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another place was Qoidengarbo Ri, for 'Chorten Karpo' or 'White Stupa'. It refers to Gorsam Chorten, the only large white stupa in the area (and the largest in Arunachal). It is not far from Zimithang, the tactical headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division during the 1962 war. The name 'Ri' or ridge in Tibetan, may refer to one of the ridges around the stupa. China knows that the Indian media will jump on this type of 'scoop'. This is fine; one can consider it as part of the Information Warfare (IW) against India, but the Indian media should just be aware of it. The Case of Sakteng in Bhutan In the map recently released with the 27 new names, China seems to have relinquished a claim on Sakteng, a Bhutanese area adjacent to the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. Does it signal that Sakteng has now been accepted as part of Bhutan by China and that Beijing does not claim the place anymore? In itself it is good, but if it is part of a 'package deal' between China and Bhutan sometimes mentioned in the Indian press, it has other implications. Has a deal been arrived at or is such a deal in the pipeline? Only the future will show. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reaction from Arunachal MP In the meantime, Tapir Gao, the BJP Member of Parliament (MP) of Arunachal East constituency, slammed China for changing the names and urged Delhi to take steps to 'correct historical wrongs' by reclaiming areas inhabited by Lhoba Tani and Mishmi communities beyond the McMahon Line. He said that these communities living north of the Line share 'deep civilisational roots with Bharat', and it's time for India to reclaim the regions 'that are rightfully part of our country'. Gao further stated, 'China can rename mountains and rivers as much as it wants, but it cannot rewrite history…it is a deliberate and politically motivated attempt to distort geographical and cultural facts.' Gao has a point. India Could Claim More In this context, it is interesting to look at the discussions held in London, Delhi and Lhasa to fix the Red Line between India and Tibet in 1912-1914 and the different arguments used to arrive at a final decision in March 1914 (ie, the McMahon Line duly reported on a map and signed). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By June 1912, the Indian General Staff in London had decided it was necessary to fix a boundary between Tibet and India, notwithstanding the terms of the 1907 British pact with Russia in which London and St Petersburg agreed to settle their colonial disputes in Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet by delineating their respective spheres of influence in Persia, recognising Britain's influence over Afghanistan and stipulating that neither country would interfere in Tibet's internal affairs. The General Staff, however, thought that it was necessary to immediately do something in the Tawang sector; a note says, 'The demarcation of the frontier line about Tawang requires careful consideration. The present boundary (demarcated) is south of Tawang, running westwards along the foothills from near Udalgiri to the southern Bhutan border, and thus a dangerous wedge is thrust between the Miri country and Bhutan.' This referred to the Inner Line, which had another purpose; it was to protect the tea gardens in Assam from tribal raids; it was therefore not a boundary line, which was required. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The note of the General Staff continues: 'A comparatively easy and much-used trade route traverses this wedge from north to south, by which the Chinese would be able to exert influence or pressure on Bhutan, while we have no approach to this salient from a flank, as we have in the case of the Chumbi salient. A rectification of the boundary here is therefore imperative, and an ideal line would appear to be one from the knot of mountains to the Bhutan border north of Chona Dzong [Tsona] in a direct east and west line with the northern frontier of Bhutan. There appears to be a convenient watershed for it to follow.' It means that the border would have been located at Tsona, some 40 km north of the present one. It was also the proper 'ethnic' border since the entire Monyul (inhabited by the Monpa tribe) would have come under India's administration. Let us not forget that the Chinese (and the Russians) were nowhere in the picture; however, the proposal was unfortunately not accepted by the authorities in Delhi. This would have changed history …and the 1962 war would perhaps not have taken place; who knows. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD British historian Alistair Lamb commented, 'The Indian government, while becoming convinced of the need to take over some of the Tawang Tract, evidently concluded that a more southerly alignment would meet its requirements.' But the time has come to study the issue deeper, in particular the geography and the ethnic history of the area which has close civilisational ties with India, and bring up this issue with Beijing. Incidentally, it would be more correct that the line agreed upon by British India and the Government of Tibet under the 13th Dalai Lama in 1914 be called the 'McMahon-Shatra Line', since the map bears the signatures of both Sir Henry McMahon, India's Foreign Secretary, and Lonchen Shatra, the Tibetan Prime Minister. The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LingoAce Launches Full Upgrade to its Chinese Program, Leading in a New Era of Precision Learning
SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LingoAce, a global leader in online education renowned for its award-winning Mandarin Chinese, English, and math programs, today unveiled a major upgrade to its Advanced Chinese Program. This enhanced curriculum, powered by cutting-edge technology, delivers an unprecedented level of precision, efficiency, and personalization to the Mandarin Chinese learning journey. The integration of industry-first innovative Stage Tests, fueled by AI diagnostics and big data analytics, revolutionizes the "Teach, Learn, Practice, Test, Assess" cycle. Learners now benefit from clear, customized learning pathways, while teachers and parents gain invaluable insights to provide targeted and effective support. Precision: The Key to Unlocking Language Mastery In response to the surging global interest in Mandarin Chinese as a second language, LingoAce has strategically reimagined its Advanced Chinese Program to cater to the diverse needs of its international learners. Drawing upon extensive user feedback and rich classroom experience, this upgrade introduces comprehensive enhancements designed to empower learners to advance with both clarity and unwavering confidence. At the heart of this transformation are the Stage Tests, strategically designed checkpoint assessments that meticulously evaluate learning outcomes, pinpoint specific areas for growth, and guide targeted remediation. Leveraging AI-driven insights, these tests generate individualized learning blueprints, ensuring learners progress with focus and clarity. Furthermore, these results equip teachers with the data needed to fine-tune their instruction and provide parents with a transparent window into their child's progress. Recognizing the vital role of family engagement, LingoAce is proud to introduce a dedicated Parent-Teacher Conference module. Through one-on-one meetings, teachers will leverage Stage Test results and daily classroom observations to collaborate with parents, ensuring aligned learning strategies and a shared commitment to each learner's success. Four Pillars of Precision Learning: This significant upgrade is built upon three fundamental pillars: precision, efficiency, and personalization, culminating in a dramatically improved learning experience: A Fully Integrated "Teach, Learn, Practice, Test, Assess" Learning Loop: With years of leadership in Mandarin Chinese education, LingoAce now seamlessly integrates the Stage Test into its already robust curriculum framework, creating a closed-loop system that provides families with clear visibility into progress and equips teachers with actionable data. Industry-first Targeted Stage Tests: Addressing Learning Gaps with Precision: Carefully aligned with learners' individual profiles, the course structure, and their study rhythm, each Stage Test effectively reinforces key concepts, precisely identifies areas needing attention, and provides learners with a tailored roadmap for continuous improvement. AI-Powered Insights and Data-Driven Plannings: Leveraging sophisticated AI tools, the program generates personalized reports following each Stage Test. These reports offer clear guidance and dynamic learning plans meticulously tailored to individual progress, making the learning journey both smarter and more efficient. Enhanced Collaboration Through Parent-Teacher Conferences: In direct response to valuable parent feedback, the upgraded program now features regular Parent-Teacher Conferences. During these meetings, teachers provide detailed progress updates and collaborate with parents to co-develop effective growth strategies, ensuring comprehensive support for every learner from both school and home. Shaping Global Citizens Through Precision Education "Building on a strong 2024 marked by positive cash flow and sustained profitability across our core business, we are making strategic investments in pedagogical innovation," affirmed Hugh Yao, Founder and CEO of LingoAce. "This upgraded Advanced Chinese Program offers learners a more intelligent and accelerated path to fluency, while providing parents with a clearer understanding of their child's educational journey. It's a pivotal step towards fostering stronger home-school partnerships and achieving superior learning outcomes. And this is just the beginning, we plan to roll out Stage Tests across all of our Mandarin Chinese programs within the year." Yao further emphasized, "At LingoAce, we are deeply committed to harnessing the power of technology to personalize learning experiences and unlock the full potential of every learner. By making education more precise, we are empowering today's learners to cultivate meaningful skills and develop the global confidence necessary for tomorrow's world." As a trailblazer in Mandarin Chinese education, LingoAce remains dedicated to driving continuous innovation across its diverse range of products and courses. The company is committed to pushing the boundaries of intelligent, personalized education, empowering learners worldwide to develop into confident, open-minded, and globally competitive individuals. About LingoAce LingoAce is a global education technology company on a mission to make learning for kids more engaging, effective, and accessible through technology. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Singapore and has global operations throughout the United States, Southeast Asia, Europe, and China. Backed by the world's top investors including Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India & Southeast Asia), Owl Ventures, Tiger Global, and Shunwei Capital, LingoAce has a roster of more than 5,000 professionally certified teachers and has taught more than 20 million classes to PreK-12 learners in more than 100 countries. In 2023, LingoAce was named to Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies list and the GSV EdTech 150 list of the world's most transformative edtech companies for the second year in a row. Learn more about LingoAce: View original content: SOURCE LingoAce Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
30th Millsaps student awarded Fulbright Scholarship
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A Millsaps College student won a prestigious Fulbright award to teachEnglish abroad. Abby Henry is the 30th Millsaps student to earn the honor. According to the college, Henry will teach in Taiwan next fall. USM recognized for supporting military-affiliated students The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, provides unparalleled opportunities for recent college graduates, graduate students and early career professionals to pursue graduate study, conduct research or teachEnglish in schools across the globe. Henry, a recent graduate with a degree in psychology and a minor in government and politics, was inspired to return to Taiwan after studying abroad there in the summer of 2023. 'I loved everything about it—the language, the culture, the food, the rich political history, the people,' she said. 'When I found out there was an opportunity to be there again through Fulbright, I jumped at it.'While in Taiwan, Henry hopes to improve her Mandarin Chinese and gain more experience as a language teacher. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
