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BIG NEWS IN MY COUNTRY IN 2004 | |
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New Banknotes Issued [PPC] | |
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 In November 2004, Japan issued a new series of 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 Yen banknotes for the first time in 20 years,. The front of the 10,000 Yen note is unchanged, depicting the educator and protagonist of enlightenment Yukichi Fukuzawa but the 5,000 Yen note now depicts the female novelist and poet Ichiyo Higuchi, famous for her novel Takekurabe, while the 1,000 Yen note depicts the Meiji era bacteriologist Hideyo Noguchi, famous for his research into yellow fever. The focus of attention among these new notes is the 5,000 Yen note, which in a rarity even on a global scale utilizes a female in the form of Ichiyo Higuchi. While the reverse of the 2,000 Yen note in Japan employs Shikibu Murasaki, the new 1,000 Yen note represents the first time a female has been used on the front. The main purpose of the new issue is anti-counterfeiting measures through adoption of the latest technologies such as holograms that change appearance depending on the viewing angle, while a positive, albeit slight, economic effect is also expected through modification of vending machines and an "invisible consumption stimulation effect" as a result of renewed sentiment. It will take approximately two years for the new banknotes to replace all of the old ones and it looks like the new and old notes will co-exist in people's wallets and purses for some time to come. |
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Fourth Malaysia Prime Minister DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD RETIRED. [PAP] | |
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In the 22 years helming the country he could be credited with initiating what could be described as seismic changes to the nation's economic landscape. When he took over as Prime Minister on July 17, 1981, commodities were the fairly dominant features of economy, with main mainstays like rubber, palm oil, tin and the fledgling petroleum industry. Investment in the free trade zones were largely assembly-related, as investors sought cheap overheads as well as easier access to mature markets through special preference arrangements for a developing country. Many of the projects are seen as the foundation for Dr Mahathir grand plan to take Malaysia into the realm of developed status, under his Vision 2020 concept, so that Malaysian can rub shoulders with the "big boy" and give the country the bigger say in international affairs apart from bringing better living standards and opportunities for Malaysians. Vision 2020 meant "a clear vision" to chart the future of the nation and to give the people a "destination" to head for. During his 22-years tenure as Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir has steered the country to an exalted position in terms of development and its image in the eyes of international community with his pragmatic policies and implementation of ideas and projects that brought benefits to Malaysians and accolades from foreign leaders. His visionary ideas and projects will remain a milestone for generations to come. |
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Singapore offers incentives to boost birth rate [PAPS] | |
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 Singapore's low birth rate has become an urgent concern
after it was revealed that fertility plummeted to a
historic low of 1.26 children per woman in 2003, meaning
Singapore's native population is shrinking. Only 36,000
babies were born last year, well below the 50,000 babies
Singapore needs to replenish its population of 3.4
million naturally and have enough manpower for long-term
economic, defence and other needs. A new package of
measures to boost Singapore's shrinking baby pool is
now viewed as a top national priority. The goal was
to raise the total fertility rate to 1.8 or 50,000
babies annually.
The Singapore government unveiled a S$300 million additional annual package to encourage couples to have more children and reverse the alarming fall in the birth rate. These includes Enhanced baby bonus, where cash is paid out to parents over a period of 2 years; Parenthood tax rebate; New working mothers' child relief; Infant care subsidy; Foreign domestic worker levy concession and Grandparent caregiver tax relief. Working mothers will now have a total of 12 weeks paid maternity leave instead of the previous 8 weeks. And under the New childcare leave incentive, working parents will be eligible for 2 days of employer-paid childcare leave every year. These new measures will bring the Government's total annual expenditure on pro-family measures to about S$800 million per year. Most of this money will go to the child's educational development, paid leave for parents and provision of more child care options. We need to shift the social attitudes that come with greater affluence, as well as the resistance to having children that the state itself fostered a generation ago in order to boost the fertility rate. |
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Disneyland Celebrates "Topping Off" of Sleeping Beauty Castle [PCL] | |
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Big news in 2004 - Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates "Topping
Off" of Sleeping Beauty Castle
23 Sept, 2004 is a big date to all Hong Kong & China people, because Hong Kong Disneyland celebrated a major milestone in its construction by placing the top-much turret upon the highest tower Sleep Beauty Castle in a "Topping Off" ceremony, signaling that the first Disney family vacation destination in China is on schedule to open on 12 Sept 2005. The "Topping Off" ceremony showcased the construction of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the iconic landmark in Disneyland. Hundred of Guests including government officials, business and community leaders and Cast Members gathered at the Hong Kong Disneyland construction site in Penny's Bay on Lantau Island to witness the moment and the "magic at work" within the park. Also, they were joined by beloved Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, Chip and Dale!
About Hong Kong Disneyland, it is a project between The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR Government. Hong Kong Disneyland phase one will comprise three theme parks (Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Adventureland) and two hotels (with restaurants, several specialty shops, lounge, tea area, spa, meeting & convention space & a wedding gazebo). Besides, daily parade and unique firework will be the high-lite of every evening. If you want to enjoy this magical experience with us, let's make a plan to visit the world of fantasy, imagination and adventure ~ HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
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The Asia Second Largest Ferris Wheel Open [PTW] | |
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The long-awaited Miramar Entertainment Park inaugurated on November 19 to quickly draw over a turnout of 150,000 to the Taipei's Dazhi district. The entertainment park, designed to be a multifunctional commercial and recreational complex, becomes a landmark in Taipei with the nation's first 3D-IMAX movie theater and the Asia second largest Ferris wheel.
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The 72nd birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit [PMT] | |
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In 2004, there were many
important events and interesting news occurred in Thailand.
One of the most impressive and auspicious events of
this year was the occasion of the 72nd birthday anniversary
of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit. | |
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Deadly incident in air [PTM] | |
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The second one, recovered about an hour later, contains the flight data. The Bombardier CRJ-200 of China Eastern Airlines (CEA) was reported crashed into a lake at Baotou, seconds after it took off for Shanghai on the morning of November 21. By Wednesday afternoon, the officially announced death toll was 54, of which 53 people were aboard and one on the ground. The latest news reported that a 53-year-old woman on the ground may also have died in the accident. She was doing morning exercises near the crash site when the accident occurred and has been missing ever since. Her daughter told the Beijing News that she saw among the ruins pieces of clothes belonging to her mother. A DNA test has been made, but the results have not been revealed. It was China deadliest air crash in more than two years. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The black boxes will help in finding the answer, but as the flight only lasted seconds, what help they can give may be limited, said an earlier report aired by CCTV. Many victims' relatives and journalists had raised doubt about the plane early takeoff, which they suspected may have affected the pre-flight safety examination. That was later declared irrelevant to the crash by the State Council's investigation team at a latest press conference. It is normal for a flight to take off 10 minutes in advance if all the passengers are on board and the safety examination is finished, and is in compliance with international practice, news from the press conference said. Doomed CRJ-200 According to CEA, the doomed CRJ-200 was put into use in 2002, and had only flown about 5,000 hours. The aircraft commander Wang Pin, who died in the accident along with five other crew members, was a very qualified commander. He had flown safely for nearly 10,000 hours. In 2001, when CEA decided to import the CRJ-200 airplanes from Canada, Wang was sent to Canada for special training, and he started flying CRJ-200 after that. The crash happened only seconds after it took off, said a deputy manager of CEA surnamed Wu when interviewed by the Beijing News. he crew members didn't send back any information during that time, and the staff on the conning tower only saw the plane incline and crash to the ground. The manager said the airplane didn't exploded in the air but exploded when it hit the ground, in contrast to what some witnesses said. In an earlier story from Xinhua News Agency, some witnesses said they heard an explosion before the plane hit the ground, and one described seeing big fireball overhead. All information about the airplane, including the data records during the pre-flight safety examination, has been sealed and won be publicized until the investigation is finished, the manager said. A business insider said to the Hohhot-based newspaper Beifang Xinbao that based on his experiences, such an immediate explosion after takeoff was more possibly caused by mechanical failure or mistakes of the pilot. Although the cause hasn't been found yet, experts have excluded the possibility of terrorism or sabotage, as no such evidence was found. For safety sake, starting November 23, all domestic airlines were ordered to ground their Bombardier CRJ-200 jetliners for inspection. Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern both have five CRJ planes and have cancelled their flights. Experts in airworthiness are arriving in Baotou from other parts of the country to help investigate the air crash. There is also news that Bombardier Canadian headquarter has sent an accident response team to China along with Canadian Government officials from the Transportation Safety Board. |
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| Copyright (C) 2004 polyplastics Co.,Ltd. All Rights Reserved |
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The wheel measuring 70 meters in diameter and 100
meters in height has 48 colored carriages and can carry
288 people at any one time. Bathed by neon light in
the evening, the wheel brings a romantic element to
the Taipei's skyline. Under the Ferris wheel craze,
it's predicted that the public swarming into the park
will not stop in the short term. 
The Thai government also issued new bank notes to mark
the 72nd birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen
Sirikit this year. The new banknote with a vertical
design is the first one of its kind in Thailand, over
7 million notes were sold out within a short period.