Category: NEWS

The Tai Chi Gate’s Northern California branches are gearing up for a special joint anniversary celebration, aptly titled “Joyful Life through Qigong Wellness,” set for October 6 at 1:30 PM. This event marks a significant milestone, celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the Cupertino dojo alongside the first anniversary of the Santa Clara dojo, located at 5155 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95051. Attendees can anticipate a vibrant lineup of performances, including dragon dances, traditional drumming, and informative health seminars that highlight the mental and physical benefits of Tai Chi. The community is warmly invited to join in the festivities.

Dr. Lu Huan-yi, a practitioner of Chinese medicine from Taiwan who has grown up in the Tai Chi Gate community, will be a key participant in the event. He is scheduled to deliver a talk titled “Nourishing Qi for Stronger Bones: Bidding Farewell to Aches and Pains,” where he will explore the integration of traditional Chinese medicine with Qigong principles. Additionally, special guest Zhang Yi-ran, a visual effects artist from the film industry, will share his inspiring story of breaking into Hollywood.

Culturally significant performances will highlight the event, including a dragon dance that symbolizes peace and an energetic drumming ensemble featuring young practitioners. Organizers have also planned interactive zones with cultural displays, game booths, and a signature drive for the “World Peace Day Declaration.”

Master Hong Daozi, the leader of Tai Chi Gate and president of the World Peace Association, has devoted his life to promoting values like conscience, love, and peace. He has traveled extensively, visiting 109 countries over the decades to advocate for international harmony. To date, 583 esteemed leaders from 150 nations—comprising 72 heads of state, various government officials, and 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates—have joined him in a harmonious initiative, ringing a bell and expressing their peace wishes.

For more information about this meaningful event, please reach out to Lisa Tsai at 408-838-3286.

Japan’s government has recently confirmed that an official photograph of its newly formed cabinet was digitally altered to present a more polished appearance. This revelation comes after considerable speculation online regarding the authenticity of the image.

In media coverage, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Defence Minister were photographed with noticeable patches of white shirts visible beneath their suits. However, the version released by the Prime Minister’s Office looked significantly neater, which led to a wave of mockery across social media platforms.

In response to the backlash, a government spokesperson stated on Monday that “minor editing was made” to enhance the officials’ appearance. Spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi explained that these group photos taken by the Prime Minister’s Office are meant to serve as memorabilia for future generations, and minor touch-ups are standard practice.

The humor surrounding the image continued to grow online, with one commenter likening the cabinet photo to a group picture from a community seniors’ trip, describing it as “utterly embarrassing.” Another user highlighted the ill-fitting suits of the cabinet members, specifically pointing out issues with their trousers.

This photograph was taken shortly after the inaugural meeting of Japan’s new cabinet, which convened following Ishiba’s rise to leadership of the ruling party and his official appointment as Prime Minister. During a recent news conference in Tokyo, Ishiba announced plans for a snap election set for October 27, emphasizing the urgency for his administration to receive public judgment ahead of the scheduled timeline. This election will determine the control of Parliament’s lower house, occurring more than a year earlier than anticipated.

In a recent interview, leaders from the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) shared insights on what we can expect from the California housing market in 2025. According to their forecasts, we’re likely to see a surge of buyers and sellers entering the market, fueled by improving interest rates that are expected to ease the current “lock-in effect” and enhance the availability of homes.

C.A.R. anticipates that sales of single-family homes will increase by 10.5% in 2025, reaching approximately 304,400 units, up from a projected 275,400 units in 2024. This figure represents a year-over-year growth of 6.8% compared to the 257,900 homes sold in 2023.

When it comes to pricing, the median home price in California is projected to rise by 4.6%, climbing to $909,400 in 2025. This increase follows a forecasted jump of 6.8% in 2024, which would push the median price from $814,000 in 2023 to around $869,500. The persistent shortage of homes combined with a highly competitive market is likely to continue driving prices up in the upcoming year.

C.A.R. President Melanie Barker highlighted that the entry of more homes into the market and decreasing borrowing costs should encourage higher participation among buyers and sellers in 2025. She emphasized that as demand grows and interest rates hit their lowest levels in the past two years, first-time homebuyers stand to gain significantly.

Additionally, potential sellers who have felt trapped by the “lock-in effect”—those benefitting from lower-rate loans who are reluctant to sell and purchase new homes at higher rates—are expected to find more room to maneuver as mortgage rates decline. This newfound flexibility will empower them to pursue housing options that align better with their current needs.

C.A.R.’s 2025 forecast also indicates a further easing of inflation, with the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) projected to fall to 2.0% in 2025, down from 2.9% in 2024. Consequently, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage could decrease from 6.6% in 2024 to 5.9% in 2025. Although these rates remain above those at the start of the pandemic, they are still below the long-term average of around 8% over the past 50 years.

The availability of housing is anticipated to improve gradually, with a moderate increase in active listings expected in 2025. As interest rates drop over the next 18 months, the “lock-in effect” could further diminish, encouraging more properties to come onto the market. Homeowners who have postponed moving and investors awaiting market recovery may see rising home prices as an opportunity to sell, likely leading to an increase in listings. While supply may still be limited, a boost of about 10% in active listings compared to 2024 is projected, reflecting ongoing market improvements and favorable borrowing conditions.

C.A.R.’s Chief Economist Jordan Levine noted that while falling interest rates may help ease housing supply constraints, demand will concurrently rise due to lower mortgage rates and limited housing availability, contributing to upward pressure on home prices in 2025. Although the rate of price growth may moderate, the ongoing housing shortage is expected to maintain fierce competition in the market, ensuring that home prices continue to climb unless significant economic disruptions occur.

“This iceberg in Antarctica was so massive that I had to dive deep and capture 147 photos in frigid temperatures. Then, I pieced them together on a computer. Even nearly ten years later, my toes still bear the effects of that experience.”

Interview by Chris Broughton, October 9, 2024

As a child, I was mesmerized by Jacques Cousteau’s documentaries. They were a weekly highlight for our family and unlike anything else on television. Growing up near the coast, my brother and I often dreamed of exploring the ocean depths as Cousteau did. Our parents would warn us against swimming right after lunch or getting too close to crabs and jellyfish. During my teenage years, I found myself frustrated when my family seemed more focused on sunbathing than on underwater exploration. I often wished my dad were a diver or that we had grown up in a place like French Polynesia, thinking it would have offered me a deeper understanding of the underwater world.

Reflecting on it now, I realize that maybe those experiences shaped my sense of adventure, which continues to drive my work today. My photography often captures the unknown—creatures and environments that remain mostly unexplored. The oceans are teeming with wildlife and locations that have never been documented, though reaching them often presents significant challenges. I believe that the mystery of the unknown invokes a deeper respect than mere aesthetics. There’s something captivating about encountering something vast, strange, or even terrifying that I don’t entirely grasp, and it’s this curiosity that propels my desire to explore.

On one significant expedition, we undertook our longest dive, lasting five hours in water that was a chilling -1.8ºC. In 2010, I made history as the first diver to photograph a living coelacanth, a fish believed to have gone extinct since the age of the dinosaurs. This remarkable specimen was discovered in a cave 120 meters beneath the surface at Sodwana Bay, on South Africa’s east coast, where locals refer to them as gombessa. Since then, my ongoing gombessa project has led to numerous expeditions where I’ve photographed spawning groupers, witnessed a feeding frenzy of 700 sharks under a full moon, and explored the rich deep-sea ecosystems hidden beneath Antarctic ice.

During our Gombessa 3 expedition in Antarctica, we operated from the Dumont d’Urville scientific base—an incredible opportunity, as only about 100 researchers are accepted each year despite thousands of applications. Each day, we returned with extraordinary images that showcased the deep-sea biodiversity surrounding us.

The metaphor of hidden portions of an iceberg is a well-known one, but while we were in Antarctica, I began to consider how I could visually represent that idea. Many of the massive icebergs were too large and mobile to capture in one shot, but I discovered a smaller one that was trapped in ice at the surface. Since it didn’t reach the ocean floor, light was able to illuminate the area below. The lighting conditions were ideal for photography; it felt almost staged, with the divers’ torches providing a sense of scale.

Although this iceberg was small compared to others, it was still too large to capture in a close-up shot, and pulling back diminished image clarity. To address this, I devised a plan to send a long line with weights down to the ocean floor, creating a large grid in front of the iceberg to the desired distance. I then swam along this grid, taking photos at each point with my wide-angle lens until I captured the entire scene.

Setting up the net took my friend and me two days, followed by two to three hours of diving to gather all the images. The final result—147 photographs—were digitally stitched together to reveal the iceberg in its entirety, extending beyond our line of sight while diving next to it. Seeing it all come together on the screen was a breathtaking moment.

The longest dive of the expedition reached five hours, braving water temperatures at a frigid -1.8ºC. It took several months for the pain in my toes to ease. Even nearly a decade later, they still feel the strain, but images like this one make all the suffering worthwhile.

This photograph is featured in “60 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year: How Wildlife Photography Became Art,” available in hardback from nhmshop.co.uk.

Laurent Ballesta’s CV:
Born: Montpellier, France, 1974
Trained: Marine Biologist
Influences: Jacques Cousteau
High point: “Winning the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, presented by the Natural History Museum in London, four times”
Top tip: “Don’t aim to create images that outshine your peers—strive to make yours unique.”

Matthew Modine has made quite an impact in the entertainment industry, with a career that spans iconic films like Full Metal Jacket and Oppenheimer, as well as memorable TV shows such as The West Wing and Stranger Things. His latest project sees him stepping into the role of a cycling coach. What aspects of his journey are you curious about? Share your questions in the comments!

Modine’s career is distinguished by collaborations with some of the industry’s most revered filmmakers. He made a mark as the wise-cracking marine JT “Joker” Davis in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket and showcased his comedic talent as a quirky FBI agent in Jonathan Demme’s Married to the Mob. His diverse filmography includes playing a troubled landlord in John Schlesinger’s Pacific Heights, an avian-obsessed young man in Alan Parker’s Birdy, and contributing to Robert Altman’s films like Streamers and Short Cuts. Recently, he reunited with Christopher Nolan, portraying a cautious deputy commissioner in The Dark Knight Rises and the American engineer Vannevar Bush in Oppenheimer.

On the small screen, Modine has taken on various roles, from a womanizing real estate developer in Weeds to a billionaire inventor in Proof. He’s also remembered for his complex portrayal of the doctor trying to help Eleven escape in the final season of Stranger Things. Notably, he has turned down major roles in films like Top Gun, Back to the Future, and Big—subjects that might make for interesting discussions.

Currently, Modine is in the spotlight as a cycling coach in the upcoming coming-of-age sports drama, Hard Miles. In this film, he guides a group of incarcerated students on an intense bike journey from Denver to the Grand Canyon. Cycling holds a special place in his heart; he leads an organization called Bicycle for a Day and is often seen cycling around New York City, where he lives.

Post your questions for Matthew Modine in the comments by 6 PM on Tuesday, October 1. Don’t miss out—Hard Miles is now available on digital platforms!

In a recent interview, Brent Homan, the Data Protection Commissioner for Guernsey, shared insights about a new initiative designed to promote children’s health through the distribution of wristbands. These wristbands, sourced from UK manufacturer Moki, are being provided to schoolchildren throughout Guernsey to monitor their activity levels. The initiative, spearheaded by the Health Improvement Commission (HIC), aims to foster the wellbeing of children across the island.

Homan underscored the significance of privacy in this program, stating, “By its very nature, children’s personal information is sensitive, and this sensitivity is further heightened by the fact that we are dealing with health-related data.” To address these concerns, the Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) collaborated with HIC and Moki to implement robust privacy measures and to enhance transparency in communications.

The ODPA expressed satisfaction with the current privacy protections that Moki has in place but emphasized the need for better communication with parents about the program. A key modification involves a shift from an opt-out to an opt-in policy, requiring parents to actively consent for their children to participate.

Homan highlighted the social advantages of the initiative, noting, “This program clearly offers significant social benefits.” He also commended the HIC for their dedication to maintaining high privacy standards, saying, “We are extremely impressed with their approach to privacy.”

Currently, Moki provides wristbands to over 1,500 schools across the UK, and Homan is hopeful that their commitment to transparency and stringent safeguarding protocols will benefit children not only in Guernsey but across the UK as a whole.

For the latest updates on this initiative, follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. If you have story ideas, you can reach out to [email protected].

San Francisco Fleet Week 2024 officially kicked off on October 8th at Pier 30-32, led by Mayor London Breed. This week-long event spans from Friday to Sunday and features an exciting air show by the famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Alongside the exhilarating aerial displays, Fleet Week offers a range of educational activities and demonstrations throughout the week. These include disaster simulation exercises, performances by military bands, and showcases of military skills. These initiatives aim to illuminate military capabilities and educate civilians about the crucial role the military plays in disaster response.

Now in its 43rd year since launching in 1981, Fleet Week stands as one of the largest public events of its kind on the West Coast, celebrating the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. This year’s event welcomes several U.S. naval vessels to San Francisco Bay, where they’ll open their doors for public tours, conduct naval flight demonstrations, and participate in rescue exercises, drawing thousands of residents and tourists.

During her opening remarks, Mayor Breed remarked, “Fleet Week is not just a celebration; it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to express gratitude for our military’s service and to strengthen the trust between our military and the community.”

This year’s Fleet Week has invited various military branches, including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, and California National Guard. Attendees can look forward to seeing advanced amphibious assault ships, Coast Guard patrol boats, and U.S. Navy destroyers on display. These vessels will be available for public tours, giving citizens the chance to engage closely with cutting-edge naval equipment.

The Blue Angels’ aerial performance remains one of the main highlights of Fleet Week. Each year, this spectacular show attracts tens of thousands of spectators to San Francisco Bay, where the aircraft dive, swoop, and fly in formation, showcasing remarkable flying skills and teamwork. Many attendees specifically come to witness this breathtaking display, excited to experience the thrill of both the stunning visuals and the powerful sounds.

This year’s theme is “Disaster Response and Relief.” To emphasize this focus, organizers have scheduled a large-scale emergency drill simulating an earthquake scenario, demonstrating how the military can provide critical services such as supply transport, medical assistance, and evacuation in emergencies.

For more information about San Francisco Fleet Week, visit fleetweeksf.org.

Ethiopia is navigating a notable political transition with the recent appointment of Taye Atske Selassie as the new president, following his role as foreign minister since February. This move comes after parliament’s decision to replace Sahle-Work Zewde, the country’s first female head of state.

Can you shed some light on how this transition unfolded and its significance for Ethiopia as it moves forward?

Taye’s new position is largely ceremonial, as the primary political power rests with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who retains that crucial role. There were reports of friction between Sahle-Work and Abiy in recent years. Her appointment in 2018 was hailed as a major step for gender equality in Ethiopian politics, bolstered by the prime minister’s support at the time.

On Saturday, Sahle-Work expressed her discontent in a brief and somewhat cryptic social media post, her first statement in over a year. Sources close to her revealed to BBC Amharic that she had been feeling dissatisfied for some time and was eager to conclude her term later this month.

During her presidency, Sahle-Work consistently called for peace across the nation but faced backlash for her handling of gender-based violence amid the two-year civil conflict in Tigray. Speculation surrounds her hesitation to engage more proactively, particularly given the ongoing violence in the Oromia and Amhara regions, where federal forces are clashing with local militias, resulting in significant casualties and extraordinary allegations against security forces.

Taye, who is 68 years old, brings extensive diplomatic experience, having served both at the United Nations and in Egypt. He is known to have a close relationship with Prime Minister Abiy and was officially sworn in during a parliamentary session on Monday.

Following Sahle-Work’s exit, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan remains the only female head of state in Africa.

What do you think this political shift means for Ethiopia’s future, particularly in terms of gender representation in leadership roles?

A year ago, the scenes were truly haunting.

In the wake of the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, while Gaza was enduring relentless bombardment, many viewed this moment as a turning point. The Israel-Palestine conflict, which had seemingly faded from public awareness, suddenly erupted back into focus.

This resurgence took nearly everyone by surprise. Just a week before the attacks, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed, “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.” Fast forward a year, and the region is engulfed in turmoil.

Tragically, the death toll for Palestinians has surpassed 41,000, with two million Gazans forced to flee their homes. In the West Bank, another 600 Palestinians have lost their lives. Meanwhile, more than a million people in Lebanon are now displaced, with over 2,000 fatalities reported. The day of the attacks saw over 1,200 Israelis killed, and since then, an additional 350 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza. Approximately 200,000 Israelis have been evacuated from regions near Gaza and the volatile northern border with Lebanon, where around 50 soldiers and civilians have fallen victim to Hezbollah rocket strikes.

Tonight, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds will present The Today Debate, tackling the pressing question: Is there a path to peace in the Middle East?

Various factions across the region have entered the conflict. Despite the U.S.’s persistent efforts to mitigate the crisis through presidential visits and extensive diplomatic initiatives, the situation remains unchanged. Rockets have been launched from as far away as Iraq and Yemen, and Israel and Iran, long-time adversaries, have started exchanging fire, pointing to an escalation of confrontations.

At a time when Washington’s influence seems to wane, the roots of this conflict appear to fade from collective memory, much like the impact of a devastating car crash receding into the rearview mirror of a speeding vehicle.

As the situation deteriorates and expands, the daily lives of Gazans seem to have slipped from media attention, which is primarily focused on forecasts of “all-out war” in the Middle East. Many Israelis, profoundly affected by the traumatic events of October 7, are expressing feelings of neglect.

“We have been pushed aside,” shared Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, during an interview with Israel’s Kan news last week. He placed the blame for the current situation on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of conducting a “pointless war that has turned all potential enemies against us.”

“He is doing everything, and doing it well, to minimize the significance of the events of October 7,” Cohen asserted.

Meanwhile, Israelis are commemorating the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Not everyone shares Cohen’s perspective; for many, the Hamas assaults from a year ago mark the start of a broader campaign by Israel’s adversaries to dismantle the Jewish state. In response, Israel has employed various methods of retaliation, including targeted strikes, assassinations, and long-range bombing missions, all reflecting the intelligence operations the nation takes pride in.

“There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach,” Netanyahu confidently declared last week.

Although his popularity plummeted following October 7, signs suggest that his approval ratings may be climbing once again. Could this pave the way for more aggressive strategies?

The future remains unpredictable. “None of us know when the music is going to stop and where everybody will be at that point,” noted Simon Gass, Britain’s former ambassador to Iran, speaking on BBC’s Today Podcast last Thursday.

On October 1, the “Majestic Landscapes: A Joint Exhibition of Artists from Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait” opened its doors in Taipei, featuring over 110 works created by 20 artists from mainland China and 31 artists from Taiwan.

In an interview, Wang Zhengdian, chairman of the Taiwan Cultural and Creative Development Association, emphasized that this collaboration is more than just a visual journey through stunning landscapes; it is also a profound cultural exploration. He expressed his optimism that the exhibition would unveil the richness and complexity of Chinese culture to those who attend.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is a collaborative piece titled “Majestic Landscapes.” This artwork employs traditional Chinese composition techniques to depict iconic sites such as Dawang Peak, Yunu Peak, and Tianyou Peak along the picturesque Nine-Bend Stream, complete with bamboo rafts gliding across the water.

Luo Zhenxian, an honorary professor at National Taiwan University of the Arts and the leader of the Taiwanese delegation that visited Wuyishan for inspiration, shared insights about how the artists harmonized their differing styles. In our conversation, he noted that the collaboration transcended mere creation; it was a valuable process of mutual learning and observation as artists adapted to one another’s techniques and palettes.

The Taiwan Cultural and Creative Development Association has a history of organizing joint exhibitions, previously showcasing renowned locations like Huangshan, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, Taishan, Yandang Mountain, and Shennongjia. This year marks a significant milestone as they invited six young students from Taiwanese art institutions to join the Wuyishan project, aiming to nurture the next generation of artistic talent.

Luansonghan, a student specializing in ink painting at Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, reflected on her experience of being mentored by distinguished mainland artists during her time in Wuyishan. She highlighted the unique artistic philosophies of both groups, noting that while mainland artists often embrace a sense of grandeur, Taiwanese artists tend to focus on intricate details.

The exhibition is set to run until October 15.