Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Oriental Daily News

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

The Oriental Daily, founded on September 29, 2002, by Datuk Sri Lau Hui Kang under the KTS Group (啟德行企業集團), shifted to an online-only format on April 16, 2021, after 18 years of print publication. The news outlet claims to provide “neutral, timely, and credible” news coverage with both simplified and traditional Chinese character options. According to unspecified independent traffic monitoring reports, the website is among Malaysia’s most visited Chinese-language news sites, claiming approximately 50 million monthly page views and over 4.5 million unique visitors. The KTS Group also owns other media outlets, including Sin Hua Daily (詩華日報), established in 1952, The Borneo Post, Utusan Borneo, and TEA FM radio station. As of 2024, the outlet claims over 2 million Facebook followers and maintains a presence on multiple social media platforms.

Tehran Times

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

Founded in 1979 as the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first English daily newspaper, the Tehran Times describes itself as the “voice of the Islamic Revolution.” According to a statement by Ayatollah Beheshti prominently displayed on the newspaper’s office wall, “The Tehran Times is not the newspaper of the government; rather, it is a loud voice of the Islamic Revolution and the oppressed people of the world.” The English-language daily publishes six days a week (except Fridays) and covers domestic cultural, political, economic, social, and sports news, as well as commentaries and foreign news. In 2002, the Tehran Times established the Mehr News Agency (MNA), with both organizations now operating under a single management system. The publication has gained recognition as a reliable news source for foreign media outlets, diplomats, and international organizations in Tehran, while also serving an educational function for English language students.

Polish Media Association

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

The Polish Media Association (波兰媒体协会), known as SPM, is a non-governmental journalistic organization established as a voluntary association of individuals working in mass media, headquartered in Warsaw. According to its statute, the organization claims to represent editors and publishers of Polish regional and local media, with the stated purpose of promoting Poland internationally, strengthening its position on the international stage, and maintaining national identity abroad. The association positions itself as independent of state administration, local governments, and political organizations. Under the leadership of Marek Traczyk, a former editor-in-chief of Polish Radio who also serves as President of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce, SPM has engaged closely with Chinese leaders, including from the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, which is tasked with fostering foreign connections in China’s interest.

Chinese Consulate in Kuching

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching serves as China’s diplomatic mission in Sarawak’s capital city. Located at Lot 276, Block 10, Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, the consulate processes visa applications and document legalizations for Sarawak residents. The current Consul General Xing Weiping (邢衛平) arrived in June 2022, becoming the tenth consul general to serve in this position. The consulate maintains it will “make efforts in promoting beneficial cooperation between China and Sarawak and strengthening traditional friendship.” The mission operates dedicated channels for visa inquiries and maintains an economic and commercial section.

Alpac Capital

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

Alpac Capital is a Portuguese investment group established in 2013 and headquartered in Lisbon, claiming to manage three investment funds focused on technology, telecommunications, and media sectors. The company positions itself as making equity investments to achieve active involvement in the business development of its portfolio companies and is regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). According to available information, key personnel have included Pedro Vargas David and Luis Santos, with the company maintaining regional offices in Budapest and Dubai in addition to its Lisbon headquarters. Alpac Capital holds a 97.6% ownership stake in Euronews, the European international news channel, having acquired the outlet from Naguib Sawiris. According to investigative reporting, €45 million of the €150 million Euronews acquisition was provided by Hungarian state capital fund SZTA, with Pedro Vargas David described as having close ties to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government. The International Federation of Journalists has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the acquisition. In May 2024, the Portuguese Securities Market Commission imposed a €100,000 fine on the company for failures related to customer identification data compliance and due diligence procedures.

Class Editori

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

Class Editori is an Italian media conglomerate founded in 1986 by Paolo Panerai. The company has been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since November 30, 1998. Class Editori specializes in financial and lifestyle media, publishing prominent periodicals including MF Milano Finanza, Italia Oggi, Capital, and Global Finance. The company operates television channels Class CNBC (in partnership with NBC Universal), Class TV Moda, and Gambero Rosso HD, along with Radio Classica and the MF Dow Jones News agency. Class Editori maintains partnerships with Chinese state media, including Xinhua News Agency (新華通訊社), with which it has collaborated since 2010 in news exchange and joint events. The company claims to deepen “media exchanges and communication” and “spread the voice of China-Italy friendly cooperation.” Class Editori also operates video information systems through Telesia, broadcasting in major Italian airports and metro systems in Rome, Milan, and Brescia.

Nanfang Media Group

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Guangzhou, Nanfang Media Group is one of China’s most internationally recognized media conglomerates, with a strong commercial and professional spirit in spite of its oversight by the propaganda office of Guangdong province. The group operates a comprehensive multimedia ecosystem covering over 460 million users through its integrated communication system (全媒体传播体系). The group operates across multiple segments, including publishing, advertising, printing services, and logistics. It is the parent company of some of China’s most vibrant and professional media outlets, including Southern Weekly (南方周末), Southern Metropolis Daily (南方都市报), Nandu Weekly (南都周刊), and Southern People Weekly (南方人物周刊). In 2024, new media and diversified revenue accounted for over 70% of the group’s income, with the combined brand value of its flagship publications reaching 219.81 billion yuan. In January 2013, during Xi Jinping’s early tenure as Communist Party general secretary, the group gained international attention when Southern Weekly employees went on strike protesting excessive censorship—marking a pivotal moment in China’s media landscape.

NPR

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

Founded in 1970, NPR, also known as National Public Radio, is an independent nonprofit media organization that distributes its programming through a network of member stations throughout the United States. The network produces a variety of content, including news, cultural shows, and podcasts, employing journalists at both their central office and local affiliates. NPR’s funding comes from multiple sources, with individual listener donations being the largest single source, followed by corporate sponsorship, foundation grants, and university support. It operates under the guidance of a Board of Directors and Foundation Trustees.

Ministry of Education of China

Written by Editors on October 25, 2025.

The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (中華人民共和國教育部) is the State Council agency responsible for regulating all aspects of the educational system in mainland China, including compulsory basic education, vocational education, and tertiary education. Established on October 1, 1949, as the Ministry of Education of the Central People’s Government, the ministry initially operated under the oversight of the Culture and Education Commission. From 1985 to 1998, it was renamed the State Education Commission before returning to its current title following State Council restructuring. The ministry has undergone multiple reorganizations, including temporary abolition during the Cultural Revolution from 1970 to 1975. Currently headed by Huai Jinpeng (懷進鵬), who was appointed Minister in August 2021, the Ministry certifies teachers, standardizes curriculum and textbooks, establishes educational standards, and oversees 75 affiliated universities as part of its mission to “modernize China through education.”