(IANS) Metrosexuals -- heterosexual urban males who pay attention to their personal appearance and lifestyle -- are slowly taking Chinese cities by storm. People say China has entered the "gender-neutral era" where men can now reveal their emotional side.
In college, now 28-year-old Ge Candong's classmates mocked him for being "unfashionable".
Since then, he has transformed into a metrosexual, a man who is sensitive, caring and not embarrassed about enjoying a stylish life. He takes care to coordinate his outfits and follows a rigorous skin-care regimen, reported Xinhua.
"Dressing well and using make-up is good for me and I'm happy to be a handsome gentleman," he said.
He was plagued by dark circles around his eyes while in college, and it was at that time he began to worry about his "facial issues".
A woman friend suggested he try eye-cream. Since then, he spends a lot of his free time flipping through fashion magazines and browsing websites focused on male beauty.
He spent $2,000 on skin-care products in Los Angeles, $1,575 on ties and suits in Hong Kong and used up his limit on two credits card in Dubai.
Cheng Gong, another of China's increasingly stylish young men, said he prefers an "appropriate" look rather than high fashion. He, however, believes men should be "masculine" and dress according to the occasion.
An art director Xiao Yaohui agrees. "A woman should dress like a woman, and a man like a man," he said, even though he agrees that "the mainland has entered the so-called 'gender-neutral era' in which men and women are interdependent and treated more equally".
"Two decades ago, no man would dare walk down the street in pink, but now one in every 10 men has a pink shirt or coat in his wardrobe," he said.
For a global skin-care product company, the year 2011 saw a 40 percent jump in the men's skin-care market in China -- five times that of the women's market.
The China Cosmetics Association says the L'Oreal company earned at least one billion yuan (around $157.5 million) from its men's skin-care products in China in 2010.
2011/11/4 9:47:55 (IANS) Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan Thursday snubbed an Indian journalist, asking him to "shut up" when he asked about the map of a Chinese company showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Chinese territory.
TBEA, a Chinese power company, inked a memorandum of understanding for investing around $400 million in manufacturing transformers in Gujarat.
However, it was noticed that the brochure of the company showed a map of India on its front page that depicted Arunachal Pradesh as part of Chinese territory, evoking consternation among journalists.
When an Indian journalist asked the Chinese ambassador for his reaction, the envoy first said it's "a technical issue." However, when he kept on pressing him, he lost his cool and said "shut up," triggering much outrage among media there.
TBEL is part of the business delegation that Nur Bekri, governor of Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region, has brought to India to explore two-way investment opportunities.
China claims India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory. The issue is part of boundary talks between India and China.
If you're a man looking to gain the attention of actress Neha Dhupia, here's a hint: Stay out of the salon, and get in the kitchen.
Dhupia says handsome or vain men don't interest her, and stresses that manicures should be left to women.
The 26-year-old former Miss India gained popularity as an actress in the 2004 film Julie, in which she played a call girl who reveals her true life on a live television broadcast.
She said she wasn't planning to marry yet, but "definitely in the near future".
The disclaimer: "There is very little space in my heart, as it is filled with love for my parents."
Dhupia has been romantically linked with the son of fashion designer Ritu Kumar, but she has said they are just friends.
"Industry men don't interest me that much. I can't discuss work after I pack up. I cannot handle good-looking men and I don't like metrosexual men, either," she said.
"I would definitely like to tell them one thing: Please leave the manicures and pedicures to the ladies," she adds.
Dhupia said apart from acting, her current main interest was cooking.
"I am improving my culinary skills. The way to my heart is through my stomach," she said.
All these years London city stands tall for it is rich culture, traditional values and for everything. But, now it was set ablaze by its own people especially its youth. Youth forming 20-50 member groups are looting the shops and the people on the roads. They turn violent and set ablaze the shops and vehicles in the city. This is the first time in Britain’s history to face such a disgraceful situation.
Earlier, it has faced racist clashes and riots in year 1980 but, it has a reason for it. But, now the youth who are engaged in looting the shopping malls and robbing the people have no specific reason. All the youth involved in this arson are around 20-25 years age. However, there was a statement that, a youngster who was brutally killed in the hands of the Scotland Yard police a week ago, has provokes the youth to go ransack.
Britain Prime Minister David Cameroon who was on a holiday to Italy has cuts short his tour and returned home on Tuesday. More than 16,000 police were pressed into action to control the riots. But, it is spreading to other cities like Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol etc. According to police, the youth are using social network sites like Tweeter, Face book and mobiles to co-ordinate their riots.
The situation in London and its neighboring cities is very critical and police leaves no stone unturned to control the riots. So far they have arrested 450-600 youth in this regard.
Bollywood movies becoming a major attraction in China
2007/4/16 3:54:09
Bollywood movies are becoming a major attraction for Chinese film buffs.
Pirated versions of Bollywood blockbusters like Dhoom 2 have hit major Chinese cities in a big way, allowing people to enjoy action-packed and foot-tapping movies at cheap prices.
A street hawker surnamed Wang in the southern city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, bordering Hong Kong, said that he sells up to 10 pirated discs of ‘Dhoom 2’ on a "good day" and customers are asking for more popular titles. The DVD of ‘Dhoom 2’ is being sold for five yuan (Rs 28).
However, if one engaged in deft bargaining, the price could be brought down to four yuan (Rs 22) for the "excellent print".
Many other Hindi titles and selections of Bollywood songs are also being sold by hawkers at open markets.
Though many of the pirated Bollywood movies have no subtitles in Chinese, the younger generation of Chinese like the romance and music of Indian movies as they rediscover India through films.
However, piracy is a major problem in China, which is accused by major trading partners, especially the United States of lacklustre Chinese efforts to contain rampant piracy and trademark violations.
In an effort to counter the bad "image" arising out of rampant piracy, China's publicity czars Saturday organised a major campaign where 1.06 million pirated discs were destroyed.
2012/4/14 11:44:09 The McLaren is the team to conquer in Saturday's qualifying for the F1 Chinese Grand Prix soon after the drivers set the two fastest times in the final practice session,Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button showed that. Hamilton was one-tenth of a 2nd quicker than his teammate. They were followed on the timesheets by the Mercedes team, with Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher setting the third- and fourth-fastest times. Red Bull's Mark Webber was fifth fastest, more than a half-second behind Hamilton.
2011/11/4 9:00:06 (IANS) Stating that his behaviour was "insulting and unacceptable", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday asked Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan to apologise over wrong map of India and for using "bad street language" against a member of the Indian media fraternity.
BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said in a statement that the Chinese envoy used "undiplomatic and undemocratic language at a public function, trying to 'shut up' an Indian media person who was raising a very legitimate and valid query" about the brochure of a Chinese company that showed a map of India minus Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vijay said the government should also warn the ambassador "not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future".
"Obviously, Chinese ambassador forgot that he is posted in a vibrant democracy where Tin En Mein (Tiananmen) episodes are not allowed and media is free and not a state run apparatus taking orders from party bosses who can 'shut up' a journalist," Vijay said.
He said while the BJP welcomes friendship and growing bilateral trade with China, it would be living in self deception if "increasing level of Chinese arrogance" is not taken note of and appropriately responded to.
"The Chinese arrogance and intransigence showed its another low yesterday," Vijay said and pointed to incidents of China calling then envoy in Beijing Nirupama Rao in the early hours of the morning to lodge a protest, its statements concerning Arunachal Pradesh, and its stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vijay said behaviour of the Chinese ambassador was totally "unacceptable and insulting" to the democracy of India.
"We demand an unqualified apology from the ambassador to the people of India for presenting a wrong map of India while trying to get trade and economic benefits from us, and (for) using undemocratic and bad street language against a respectable member of Indian media fraternity."
"They want our market but not the heart, it's quite obvious, but they shouldn't be allowed to walk away with such brazen acts of undiplomatic behaviour. We hope this government will take note of the ambassador's foul mouthing yesterday and warn him officially not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future," he said.
A Chinese company Thursday signed an accord for investing $400 million in Gujarat, but a row erupted when Zhang asked an Indian journalist to "shut up" when questioned about the company's brochure that showed a map of India minus Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
India was prompt to take up the issue, and the Chinese envoy assured that the mistake would be looked into.
2011/11/14 12:43:29 Paris, Nov 14 (IANS) Newly crowned table tennis world champion Zhang Jike won the World Cup title for the first time, beating fellow Chinese Wang Hao 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 here Sunday.
Zhang, 23, winner of the men's singles at Rotterdam, became only the third player to win both the men's singles title at the World Championships and the World Cup in the same year.
The others are Swede Jorgen Persson in 1991 and Chinese Kong Linghui in 1995.
Zhang recovered from a two games-to-nil deficit to beat Wang Hao. The Paris World Cup was held from Nov 11 to 13.
Shilpa Shetty has shot a steamy scene for her upcoming film, ‘The Desire: A Journey of a woman’. She will be seen getting cozy with her Chinese co-star Xia Yu in the movie. Shilpa said that it is the demand of the script and she has no qualms in shooting the intimate scene. The scene was shot aesthetically.
The story is about an Odissi dancer and her journey. In the movie, she falls for a Chinese man. "I had no qualms in doing these scenes as these sequences are an integral part of the film, and have been aesthetically shot," says Shilpa.
Says a source, "In the film, a world famous Chinese painter is madly in love with Shilpa's character Gautami, but she does not really respond to him. These sequences are a part of the story building up to how far their friendship goes."
She portrays the character of Gautami. "The film traces Gautami's journey through a number of years. The love story is beautiful and the passion between the two characters is almost like a painting. I would say that it's my character Gautami, who is bold, and not the scenes per say," explains Shilpa.
2011/9/23 11:49:09 Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Friday said the issue of reincarnation is his personal right.
"My reincarnation is to be decided by myself, nobody has the right to decide about that," the Nobel Peace laureate said, referring to China's interference with issues of his reincarnation.
"The institution of the Dalai Lama is being followed for centuries. This is my personal right (to follow it or not)," the 14th Dalai Lama added.
He was speaking on the second day of a three-day Buddhist conference here.
A new Chinese law says the government has to approve all reincarnations of living Buddhas or senior religious figures in Tibetan Buddhism.
The government-in-exile based here believes the Chinese are trying to finish two major Tibetan religious institutions - the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.
Heads and representatives of four major traditions and sub-traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and ancient Bon tradition are taking part in the conference being organised by the Central Tibetan Administration.
An official said the Dalai Lama's office had distributed a draft on the issue of reincarnation among the participants for discussion.
"Today communist China considers religion a poison and they consider me a demon. So, I would be a demon reincarnation. This is nonsense," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying in Toulouse in France in August. "So the Chinese communists should accept rebirth."
The Buddhists, both in exile and in Tibet, believe once the Dalai Lama dies, China will appoint its own successor. At that time, there might be two Dalai Lamas -- one recognised by China and the other chosen by the exiles -- like in the case of the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama.
Born July 6, 1935, at Taktser hamlet in northeastern Tibet, the Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso.
He fled Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959, basing his Tibetan government-in-exile here that never won recognition from any country.
Can you identify who is this woman in the image given above? Perhaps, you may find it difficult. She is none other than Bollywood hot beauty Shilpa Shetty who ruled the industry with her glamour. This is the still from her Hindi film ‘The Desire.’ This film which was selected for screening in several international filmy events is again selected for screening at New York City International Film Festival to be held on 24th August in this year.
Although, she appears to be tonsured, she has covered her hair with the help of prosthetic make-up. Anupam Kher, Jaya Pradha, and Chinese actor Jiya U have played lead roles in this Indo-Chinese collaboration film. This film may release in India before this year end.
2011/10/12 4:57:30 Concerned over the presence of Chinese military personnel in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, India Wednesday said it had conveyed its objections to Beijing in this regard.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters after opening the four-day navy commanders conference here that India was aware of the presence of Chinese People's Liberation Army troops in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"We are aware of their presence there. We have conveyed our concern to China in this regard," Antony said in reply to questions regarding the presence of some combat engineers among the 3,000 odd Chinese in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"Over the last many years, we are consistently developing our own military capabilities so that we can meet any challenge to protect our territory and our sovereignty," he said.
To a question on China's objections to India exploring oil in parts of the South China Sea off Vietnam that Beijing claims to be its own territory, Antony refused comment as Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang is in the capital for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"There is no question of India going there (South China Sea) in large scale. We will go there for exercises and other things. We will go there uninterrupted for passage of ships and trade. There is no question of any naval presence...that is not our intention. Our main concern is to protect our core area," he said.
However, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, ahead of the talks, told reporters that all bilateral issues will be on the table for discussion between the two sides. Krishna was answering a question if the South China Sea issue will be part of discussions with the Vietnamese delegation.
To another question, Antony said the Admiral Goshkov aircraft carrier that India has bought from Russia, where it is presently undergoing a refit, will definitely be delivered in December 2012. (IANS)
Vigorous training to youth under Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu: Minister
2011/8/21 6:10:49 Tribal Welfare Minister Pasupuleti Balraju on Sunday stated that the government would be providing vigorous training to youth under 'Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu', a scheme aimed at providing 15 lakh jobs in the next three years.
Talking to media persons, Pasupuleti Balraju said the government would establish training centres at ITDA Centres across the mandal headquarters in the state to provide training for youth. The training would be based on youth's interest, which helps to hone their skills.
As lot of employment opportunities exist in the driving, he said the selected candidates would be given training in driving. After the completion of training in driving, the government would issue certificates to youth, he stated.
He said the government has also decided to give permits for establishing new industries in Visakhapatnam to a tune of Rs 1600 crores. If the proposals are cleared, the new industries would provide employment to nearly 45,000 unemployed youth. (INN)
What’s more interesting – playing a metrosexual chef in ‘SalaamNamaste’ or a car racer in ‘Ta Ra Rum Pum’?
I hate that word – metrosexual. I would not have a manicure and pedicure, but would cut my nails. It’s quite close to my nature – I can play the ‘Salaam Namaste’ part because it’s very much like me. They are actually both very similar character spaces. If you meet NASCAR drivers it’s not like they are all Clint Eastwood. They all seem like regular guys. They have boring haircuts and moustaches; they don’t look like daredevils at all. But they are.
Are you a sporty person? What kind of sports do you enjoy?
cricket. I love watching football but playing-wise, it’s more squash, cricket and hockey.
Any whacky incident you remember during the shoot of the film? Can’t think of anything during the shoot, but yes, the hotel that I was checked into was on Highway 1 and was in the middle of nowhere, opposite the cemetery, and it didn’t have any windows in the rooms. I was smoking cigarettes those days and after shooting in that kind of claustrophobic heat, I just couldn’t handle the rooms so I got them to make me a window which was quite sweet of them to do so. I had to go to Kmart which was the only shop down the road and buy a window and install it, which was quite starry, so now they call it the ‘presidential suite’ because it’s got a window that opens.
What was it like working with Rani again after ‘HumTum’?
I think chemistry has got nothing to do with either your intentions or how you feel.
Like there are many real life lovers who don’t have chemistry on screen, then there are people who don’t even know each other that set the screen on fire. I agree I have great screen chemistry with Rani. I was watching ‘Hum Tum’ the other day and I just think it’s a magical movie in parts. I think she’s a phenomenal actor and she brings something really special to the screen, for which I respect her a lot. It is competitive for me to be working with her because I actually want to be better than her because she is so very good.
2010/12/21 17:22:44 The AICC general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, is all set to address several youth rallies in the state to prevent young leaders in the Congress from joining the party to be started by the former Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He will also make efforts to rejuvenate the NSUI and the Youth Congress, the student and youth wings of the party, by fresh enrolment and organisational polls at various levels. The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was in Delhi to attend the Congress plenary session, interacted with Mr Rahul Gandhi on the sidelines and aired his concerns. Following this, the Nehru family scion agreed to address youth rallies in January and also promised to visit the state at regular intervals to energise the youth.
The Chief Minister has sought Mr Rahul Gandhi’s help to prevent youth leaders from coming under the influence of Mr Jagan. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy also wants to revamp the schemes for the youth and channelise them properly.
“Unless the party youth wings highlight these programmes and schemes it is not possible to get credit for what the government has been doing,” he reportedly told Mr Rahul Gandhi. The AICC secretary and MLC, Mr P. Sudhakara Reddy, confirmed that Mr Rahul Gandhi would visit to state to attend youth rallies. “He is very particular about AP state party affairs especially on overhauling both NSUI and Youth Congress wings,” he said. “He is much concerned about the happenings here, and has promised to dedicate some of his time in setting things right.”
'Dasavataram' is making news everyday even though the date of release of the film is not announced.
'Dasavataram' will have the most prints ever taken for any Tamil film. The Kannada rights for the film is sold for Rs.1.85 crores.
How about Kamal's ten roles?
They will be: Ramanujar, 95 year old woman, 8 feet tall man, scientist, George Bush, trade union leader, European villain, C.B.I officer, Sardarji and a Chinese.
In all, the role of Ramanuja is very important. They say that the 8 feet tall man Kalibulla's role will also be fascinating. The roles of self defence Chinese expert and trade union leader will also be very impressive.
But the 'Dasavataram' unit has kept the details of the 95 year old woman's role under the wraps.
2011/8/2 4:06:21 KCR’s statement of committing suicide by consuming poison draws criticism from all sections of society. He said, “In case if the agitations stop due to some reason and we fails to get statehood for Telangana, the thought itself makes me very afraid. If, Telangana won’t form with these agitations, then the people’s lives will turn miserable in the hands of Seemandhra leaders and they may offer only sweeper posts to us in our own land. The thought itself horrifies me not to think about that situation. In such case, I rather prefer to commit suicide by consuming poison than living as a slave.”
While, TRS describes it as a reflection of 4 crore Telangana peoples’ feelings, all others have criticized him for indirectly encouraging the youth to commit suicides. All the political parties in the state asked him, when he don’t have faith in his agitations then why did he run the agitation for years and why did he made students commit suicide for Telangana cause,?
He was blamed for trying to create law and order problem with his controversial statement. If, his statement provokes the youth especially TRS cadres to create law and order problem then who is responsible? asks the political parties.
Especially parents of youth were quite afraid of his statement which may provoke their children to commit suicides to become the Telangana martyrs. Even, TJAC Chairman Prof.Kodhandaram has opined that, KCR should not speak like that.
2011/7/11 12:07:01 Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan on Monday demanded that the government, industry and NGOs to address the problem of growing unemployment on the one hand and the scarcity of skilled personnel on the other.
The country has to provide livelihood opportunities to 1.5 crore to 2 crore youth every year.
Talking to media at a career expo organized by the Student Islamic Organization of India, he said that about 60 lakh of youth in Andhra Pradesh would have to be provided employment avenues in the next five years.
Dr Narayan wanted the Government and voluntary organizations to impart training and skills to the youth so that they could meet the industry’s growing demand for skilled personnel.
He recalled that Lok Satta activists in Kukatpally constituency, which he represents in the Assembly, had enabled 1500 youth to find employment opportunities in the last six months by organizing training and providing counselling.
He congratulated SIO on its initiative to guide the minority youth on livelihood skills and employment avenues, and said the Government has to extend its support to such organizations.(INN)
2010/10/26 12:06:50 Ever since Allu Arjun’s ‘Arya’ and ‘Arya-2’ were released in Malayalam in Kerala, they both drive Malayali youth crazy for his films. He becomes youth icon in Mollywood. Therefore, Mollywood distributors are eagerly enquiring for his other films too. They plan to dub all his movies into Malayalam. Right now, they are planning to dub his latest movie Vedam into Malayalam as ‘Kiladi.’ Already, this film was remade in Tamil as Vanam.
Genelia store the hearts of the youth with her role in Bommarillu. Her role as Haasini with her innocent face and looks floored the youth completely. So much so that, even now, the youth have not completely come out of her spell.
The youth guys want to have a girlfriend exactly like her. After winning over the hearts of cinegoers, she has now gone ahead and bagged the best actress award. The Film Fare award has been given o her for her role in Bommarillu.
Genelia was born on August 5, 1987 in London. Her parents then moved to Mumbai where she did her schooling and then studied at St. Andrews College. She started her career by entering into modeling and later came into films more by accident than by choice. She is now the most sought after actress in both Tollywood as well as Kollywood.
2006/9/18 9:33:05 Here is the scoop of the month. So we talk about Indian’s going international in the film world. Well, now the tables have turned and how much they have turned.
Francis Ford Coppola, director the probably the best gangster film of all time The Godfather needed some outsourcing to be done for his latest film Youth without Youth. Apparently some scenes had to be shot in India but Coppola could not make it here and so he asked none other than Vishal ‘Omkara’ Bharadwaj to shoot certain scenes for him. Bharadwaj along with his team as well as Coppola’s second unit shot the film in Mumbai from September 6 to 8.
Bharadway was very happy with this development and when Coppola had asked him how much remuneration he would charge, Bharadwaj politely declined and said it was an honour to serve you.
Three cheers to you Vishal!
Youth without Youth is a pre-WWII drama where a major incident turns a professor into a fugitive.
(IANS) Metrosexuals -- heterosexual urban males who pay attention to their personal appearance and lifestyle -- are slowly taking Chinese cities by storm. People say China has entered the "gender-neutral era" where men can now reveal their emotional side.
(IANS) Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan Thursday snubbed an Indian journalist, asking him to "shut up" when he asked about the map of a Chinese company showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Chinese territory.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Friday said the issue of reincarnation is his personal right.
KCR’s statement of committing suicide by consuming poison draws criticism from all sections of society. He said, “In case if the agitations stop due to some reason and we fails to get statehood for Telangana, the thought itself makes me very afraid. If, Telangana won’t form with these agitations, then the people’s lives will turn miserable in the hands of Seemandhra leaders and they may offer only sweeper posts to us in our own land. The thought itself horrifies me not to think about that situation. In such case, I rather prefer to commit suicide by consuming poison than living as a slave.”
