News Oct 8

News Bulletin

Chinese Leaders Visit May Quake Exhibition

Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders including top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao have visited an exhibition which pays tribute to victims of the May earthquake in southwestern Sichuan Province. The exhibition held in Beijing also praised the nation's concerted efforts to assist the disaster-stricken areas. The leaders paid particular attention to photos and videos showing the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake, and items that were used to rescue victims drew attentions of the leaders. The display has received more than 300,000 visitors since it opened on Sept. 20.

Quake-hit China Province Releases Subsidy Plan on Reconstruction

Sichuan Province has launched a housing subsidy scheme to assist quake-affected urbanites during the reconstruction period. A cash subsidy of 25,000 yuan, or about 3,700 U.S. dollars, is available for each urban family whose house was demolished in the May 12 earthquake. Tax reductions for building new houses and lower prices for purchasing apartments were also announced. Citizens living below the urban poverty line can live in a 40-square-meter apartment for free.

Tents, Relief Funds Distributed to China's Quake-stricken Tibet, Xinjiang

China`s relevant ministries have allocated 10 million yuan, or about 1.5 million U.S. dollars, from the disaster relief fund for the quake-jolted areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A 6.6 earthquake struck near Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, Monday afternoon and a 6.8 tremor shook a mountainous area near Wuqia, Xinjiang, Sunday night. 10 people were killed, 34 injured and over 150 homes collapsed in the Tibet quake, and although no one was killed in the Xingjiang quake over 700 homes there collapsed.

China Steps up Health Monitoring in Flu Season

China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention is asking hospitals to report influenza cases for the next six months as the flu season begins. According to a notice issued by the center, hospitals are required to input all flu cases on a weekly basis into the flu monitoring information network. The network consists of 198 hospitals and 63 laboratories

China Launches Institution for Water Supply Improvement in Rural Areas

China's Ministry of Water Resources has launched a national association for water supply and water-efficiency technology in rural areas. The move is China's latest initiative to enhance agricultural production and improve farmers' livelihood. The institution will intensify research and development on water-saving measures and technologies to ensure safe drinking water in rural areas and work on ways to commercialize the new technologies.

Chinese Scientists Start Studying Samples from Shenzhou-7

Chinese scientists have unsealed a box of solid lubricant samples that were aboard the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. Scientist will now begin six months worth of study of the solid lubricant samples that are widely used in spacecraft to reduce friction due to their ability to withstand a wide range of extreme temperatures. Scientists hope to improve the stability and lifetime of the materials by studying the test samples that were taken into space.

Thai Deputy PM Chavalit Tenders Resignation for Failure to Negotiate

Thai government sources say Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has tendered a letter of resignation. Chavalit is taking responsibility for the collapse of negotiation efforts to reach reconciliation between government and protesters after renewed violent clashes between police and protesters. Meanwhile, Thailand's new Cabinet has began delivering government policy addresses before the Parliament in a two-chamber joint session despite anti-government protesters' attempt to block the session.

Bush to Sign U.S.-India Nuclear Bill

U.S. President George W. Bush will sign into law on Wednesday a bill approved by Congress allowing civilian U.S. nuclear trade with India. Washington and New Delhi reached an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation in March 2006, under which India will get access to U. S. civil nuclear technology on condition that India is to separate nuclear facilities for civilian and military use and open its nuclear facilities for inspection.

First Air Bus Company Established in Shanghai

China has made another big step forward in its airplane industry with Shanghai Aircraft Customer Service center, the first of its kind, launched Tuesday in Shanghai. As a branch of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, which inaugurated in May, the launch of the service center is another step forward in making and owning China's home made trunk liners. Jin Zhuanglong, General Manager of the China Commercial Aircraft Company Ltd, said the company's ARJ201 jetliner, China's self designed trunk liner, will soon put to test flight.

China's Ten Oldest Elders" Released

"China's Ten Oldest Elders", the first ever such list in the country has been released to mark the Double Ninth Festival. The festival is a day on China's lunar calendar to honor senior citzens. The list was made public by the Gerontological Society of China in Rugao, a city famous for longevity in east China's Jiangsu Province. The honor of the oldest among the ten went to a 121-year-old Uygur man from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The average age of the ten is 117.

Sports News

Yao Ming, The 1st Sports Celeb to be on China's Rich List

Although he ranks only 987th, a relatively obscure place on Hu Run's Rich List of China, Yao Ming is the first sports figure to ever take up a place on China's most influential wealth ranking list. Topping the list for the third time is Huang Guangyu, chairman of home electric appliance giant Gome, followed by the chairman of Rizhao Steel Co., Du Shuanghua, Yang Huiyan, the reigning shareholder of real estate group Country Garden and the richest woman in China, came in third.

Beckham to Miss Match due to Suspension

David Beckham will miss the Los Angeles Galaxy's last away game in the Major League Soccer season on Oct. 18 against Houston due to a one-game suspension for earning his fifth yellow card. Beckham was penalized in the Galaxy's 1-0 defeat at Columbus on Saturday and he won't be available for Sunday's home game against Colorado after being called up by England for two World Cup qualifiers. Landon Donovan will also miss Sunday's game because he's been called up for the U.S. World Cup qualifying clash against Cuba on Saturday.

Games almost Doubled in CBA New Season

Jiangsu Dragons will have the longest season in their 13-year history at the Chinese Basketball Association league when they kick off the opener against the Dongguan New Century in the 2008-09 season on November 15. The 18 teams will play 50 games in the regular season, compared to 30 in the 2007-08 season, when Tianjin Ronggang and Qingdao DoubleStar, two teams from the National Basketball Association, joined in for the new season. Teams are divided into two conferences, the North and the South, according to their geographical distribution. Teams in the same conference play under double home-and-away round and teams in the different conferences play one-round home-and-away games.

Ronaldo Ready to Return

Brazilian striker Ronaldo will return within a month from the knee injury that he picked up in February. Ronaldo, who is without a club, has been undergoing a rehabilitation programme at Brazilian soccer team Flamengo since August. Ronaldo, who helped Brazil to the World Cup triumph in 2002, ruptured a tendon in his left knee during the Italian Serie A game for AC Milan against Livorno. The problem was similar to two injuries he sustained to his right knee earlier in his career.

Entertainment News

'Kungfu Panda' Sequel Seeks Inspirations in Chengdu

The production team of the sequel to the animation blockbuster movie "Kungfu Panda" will pay a visit on October 20th to southwest China's city of Chengdu, home of the endangered giant pandas. The American animators hope to draw inspiration there from the real life of giant pandas for their better making of a sequel film. Two representatives from China office of Paramount Pictures, distributor of the "Kungfu Panda" sequel, were already in Chengdu on Tuesday to prepare for the strong delegation's arrival. The upcoming 20 person delegation will include directors John Stevenson and Mark Osborne and will fly then to Chengdu from India.

Angelina Jolie's Acting U-turn

Angelina Jolie planned to give up acting. The actress, who recently gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne, revealed partner Brad Pitt persuaded her to return to work rather than caring full-time for their six children. Despite admitting she wants to expand her family further, 33-year-old Angelina admitted having such a large family does cause problems - because she and Brad, 44, struggle to get time alone.

Linkin Park Cancels China Gig

To the disappointment of Chinese fans, the highly-anticipated Linkin Park concerts will not be played in China in the next couple of weeks. The Chinese organizer of the shows announced that the upcoming "Music for Relief" charity shows, slated for October 12, 15 and 19 in Shanghai, Wuhan and Beijing, will be called off, as "lead vocalist Chester Bennington has sustained a back injury." The band's October 6 show in Las Vegas was also cancelled for the same reason. Details about the refund process will be published no later than Wednesday on the official ticket Web site, www.ticketmaster.cn.

Andy Lau Kicks off Another "Wonderful World" Tour

As the whole country takes pride in China's successful spacewalk mission, Hong Kong singer Andy Lau joined the celebration by appearing onstage dressed as an astronaut. The 47-year-old pop sensation opened another part of his "Wonderful World" tour at Sydney Entertainment Center last weekend. The veteran and heartthrob of millions has performed in 15 Chinese mainland cities since September 2007, and ended last year's tour with a series of Christmas concerts in Hong Kong.