Tuesday, November 29, 2011

3rd edition of Mansfield' s Middle East history

Certainly, the 3rd edition of Peter Mansfield's A History of the Middle East 'can enhance our understanding of 'the historical backgrounds of the region now experiencing an upheaval 'which, with the resurgence of Iran and Russia as well as the economic difficulties of both Europe and the United States of America, 'could last for many years to come.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Fifth anniversary of Al Jazeera's English news

Al Jazeera' s 'English-language news celebrated its 5th anniversary on 15 Nov ( Tues ). 'Love it or otherwise, the programme provides many Malaysians, 'via Astro Channel 513, 'a window to understand issues in the Middle East ('or West Asia'), North Africa and parts of South Asia.
Other global English-language stations that keep Malaysians informed of the fast changing situations as well as developments in other parts of the world on earth, include BBC (512), CCTV9 (509) and CNN (511). However, both Press TV and RT (Russia Today) are still not available.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Book launched in KL to honour Dr. Rajakumar

Tan Pek Leng's book An Uncommon Hero : M.'K. Rajakumar in politics and Medicine ( Petaling Jaya, SIRD, 2011 ) was launched last Saturday in KL by very well'-'known entrepreneur Tan Kai Hee who remembered his comrade and also family friend in need as a great 'Anak 'Malaysia. A poem written by the late Usman Awang (1929 -2001) specifically for Rajakumar, 'who was detained under the ISA from 1966 to 1969, 'was recited with passions. 'Peace activist 'Dr. 'Ronald McCoy 'was present. Journalist and media activist Jacqueline Ann Surin moderated a lively exchange of views by Tan Pek Leng, Dr. Poh Soo Kai and Fahmi Reza.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Learn more languages in era of rapid changes

Given a peacable mindset or positive attitude ( vis-a-vis' ''other-type' peoples), determination for personal self-betterment as well as right opportunity, one can actually master more than one useful languages. In this era of accelerating global changes, multilingualism is an asset as no one single language covers all the human knowledge or wisdom.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

M'sia honours Malay-language expert in China

Recently,' Professor Wu Zongyu from China was officially honoured in Malaysia with the award Tokoh Pejuang Bahasa Melayu Antarabangsa 2011 for his pioneering and persistent effort to develop and promote the studies of the Malay language at universities in China since 1961. In Malaysia, 'more and more Malaysians are also learning the Chinese language as an important world language for many endeavours in life.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Learning of Malay language in changing China

In this epoch of globalisation, young men and women in China are not only learning English, 'but also many other languages, 'such as Bahasa Melayu which is an important language in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and southern Thailand. 'There are Melayu-speaking Singaporeans too.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Jobs' biography now also available in Chinese

The biography of America's legendary ICT entrepreneur 'Steve Jobs is now also available in a Chinese-language edition, 'published by Zhong Xin or Citic Press in China. Both the English and Chinese editions are already being sold at most major book outlets in Malaysia, ''like MPH. Needless to say, Chinese-language translation of the masterworks of Adam Smith, 'David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill, Karl ''H. 'Marx and also John Maynard Keynes have been in circulation 'for a pretty long time.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

From knowledge in ivory towers to real work

Can journalism or entrepreneurship be taught or learned in schools or universities through textbooks ? Whatever the answer, field and real-life experience is 'absolutely essential for those who would like to put theory into practice. Both vocations require the ability to socialise or to interact with human beings with a fairly wide range of differences in belief-system, culture, language ('or dialect'), 'gender and lifestyle.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Greenfield's own writing on Internet overuse

Recently, Dr. Susan Greenfield also contributed an article to the Daily Telegraph on the negative impacts of Internet overuse 'on our brains. Some segments of the British society have identified 'social media as a contributory factor in the fairly digusting riots in England in August.