全通翻譯/翻譯社

The Future of the Smartphone: High-end or Low-cost?

For many, the advent of the smartphone age began with the release of the first iPhone in 2007. However, the history of this now ubiquitous technology can be traced back almost 20 years. 

“Leftover Women” Reject Sexist Stigma

The term “leftover woman” has become de rigueur in China, where it is used to denote women in their late-20s and older who have not yet married. The exact origins of the term are murky. It was given official sanction in 2007 by the supposedly feminist state agency, the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF). However, the TV show “New Era of Marriage,” starring Taiwanese actress Rene Liu, has also been credited with spawning it. 

Valentine's Day: A Must for Lovers

THE origins of Valentine's Day are obscure. An ancient Roman celebration of love called Lupercalia, which fell between February 13-15, is one possible root. This festival involved naked young men spanking their female partnesrs with whips,which was said to increase fertility— hardly the image of romance we have now! Although it's unclear which of the several historical martyrs named Valentine was being venerated, St. Valentine's Day was declared a Christian feast around the late fifth century A.D. However, it wasn't until Chaucer's poem “Parlement of Foules” almost 900 years later that the day became associated with love. 

Shanghai: 

It's the most populous city proper in the world, but Shanghai is a relative youngster by Chinese standards.

A Matriarchal Future? 

When Bill Clinton recently outlined his reasons to be cheerful about the future, many people noticed number four on the list: Women Rule. The former U.S. President observed that no society could afford to stifle the efforts of half its population. The good news, he added, is that in all corners of the globe “women are gaining social and economic power that they never had before.”

The Lowdownh on the 

The beginning of 2013 marked the imposition of the securities gains tax, which fomented heated debate in Taiwan last year. The levy is categorized under capital gains tax. It comes on top of the existing transaction fee on the buying and selling of shares, and the security transaction tax on the disposing of stocks on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The issue has been broached several times over the last 20 years, but has proved so sensitive that it led to the resignation of two finance ministers. As the debate rages on, we examine the rationaleh behind the tax, as well as its possible impact.

The Lowdownh on the 

The name Amsterdam derives from the dams built by traders around the Amstel River, a clear indication of the Dutch capital's origins. The first recorded use of the name is from 1275, when the location was little more than a fishing village. However, by the Dutch Golden Era, when the Dutch East India Company dominated maritime trade, Amsterdam had become one of the wealthiest cities in the world.