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[Metro & Sports]

• A stamp that was pulled from circulation the day it was issued because it failed to show Taiwan as part of China has fetched a record price at auction in Hong Kong.
• A famous technology university in Beijing is allegedly ridding its campus of homeless cats because of fears the animals will pass A(H1N1) to students.
• Made-in-China light rail train has tapped into the European market, its manufacturer has announced.
• Officials in the city of Jining, in Shandong Province, have been lauded for releasing a spending report for the first time, however, they were criticized for spending 6.7 million yuan ($980,000 US dollars) on meetings and receptions in 2008.
• Alex Rodriguez smacked the greatest hit of his superstar career to drive in the winning run yesterday and put the New York Yankees on the brink of their 27th World Series title.
• AC Milan confirmed on Monday that England midfielder David Beckham would be returning to them on loan in January.

[China's Champion]  Brunei Architect

If you ask anyone about the authentic lifestyle of Beijing, they will point you to the "Siheyuan", or the courtyards. In the trend of reconstruction and renovation, some courtyards were demolished while others have been preserved. The preserved courtyards are not only a relief for Chinese architects, but also to the great pleasure of foreigners who love this traditional architecture. Robin Foo from Brunei is among those who are obsessed with the unique architecture.
Foo enjoys his life in Beijing traveling around the hutongs and discovering the beauty of the courtyards. Moreover, Foo is well-known in Beijing for his specialty to convert courtyards into modern and convenient homes.

[Cultural Voyage] Bang on a Can makes Shanghai audiences go wild

The Bang on a Can All-Stars finished their first-ever tour in China. Based in New York City, Bang on a Can is a multi-faceted contemporary music organization. Bang on a Can All-Stars, an ensemble of the organization, has recently finished its first-ever tour in China. On their concerts in Beijing and Shanghai, the ensemble presented music by Chinese composer Tan Dun.

[Showbiz News]

• Pop singer Chen Lin, who committed suicide by jumping off a residential building on Saturday, is said to have been afflicted by her unhappy marriage for a long time, according to latest media reports.
• David Hasselhoff has compared himself to Amy Winehouse - insisting their drink problems are "a universal problem."
• Outlandish U.S. rocker Adam Lambert has split from his boyfriend - just four months after telling the world he is gay.
• The Spice Girls are set to performe at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London, according to U.K. reports.

[Strange News]

• A company behind plans to open the first hotel in space says it is on target to accept its first paying guests in 2012 despite critics questioning the investment and time frame for the multi-billion dollar project.
• Dogs in the taiwan city of Taipei are living it up at hotels, complete with VIP suites and pools, in an attempt to ease the problem of strays that has plagued the city for decades.
• A passenger in an air force display team shot himself 100 metres into the sky when he accidentally activated the ejector seat.
• An Italian motorcyclist is appealing after he lost his licence when speed cameras clocked him at an impossible 383 mph.

Everybody wants to look attractive, especially when it comes to hair, particularly the ladies.
But in this world there are 3 types of hair. There is curly African hair. Asian hair which is straight, thick and hard and European hair, which is often thin, easily styled, but very delicate and easily damaged.

[Hangout] Chinese Shadow Figures Culture City

Known as the magic of the East, the Chinese shadow play, or Piying, is one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese drama. It is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment that originated during the Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. The plays use subtransparent figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images. Julianne Page paid a visit to the Chinese Shadow Figures Culture City in Beijing.