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- The perils of Beijing's great smog
- China deploys 70,000 railway police for travel rush
- NZ says milk safe, following chemical find
- China deploys 70,000 railway police for travel rush
- Travelers start hitting the road for home
- Chongqing sets out new roadmap in post-Bo era
- Tibetans stand trial over self-immolations
- Chongqing sets out new roadmap in post-Bo era
- Tibetans stand trial over self-immolations
- Huayi Brothers reports record growth in 2012
- Taiwan’s jewelry consumption ranked in world’s top five
- Have You Heard…
- China’s jumbo air freighter test flight a success: Xinhua
- Azarenka Beats Li to Win Australian Open
- China deploys 70,000 railway police for for travel rush
- China issues blue alert for thick fog
- Ray of hope breaks through the haze
| The perils of Beijing's great smog Posted: 26 Jan 2013 04:57 PM PST The perils of living and breathing in Beijing |
| China deploys 70,000 railway police for travel rush Posted: 26 Jan 2013 02:13 AM PST More than 70,000 police were deployed to train stations across China to manage orders and ensure travelers' safety on Saturday, when the nation begins the biggest annual migration on earth. They will carry out all-day patrols in squares, waiting rooms and ticket lobbies, platforms and trains to leave no room for "dangerous things," according to the railway police authorities under the Ministry of Public Security. The authorities said they also sent 96 teams to focus on smashing crimes including pick-pocketing and bag-snatching. Chinese tend to return home to get together with their family members to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. During the 40-day period from Saturday to March 6, Chinese people are expected to make more than 220 million journeys by rail. Another 3.2 billion journeys are expected by highways, water and air. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| NZ says milk safe, following chemical find Posted: 26 Jan 2013 09:21 AM PST The New Zealand government insisted yesterday that the country's dairy products are safe, after traces of a toxic chemical were found in milk. Concerns were raised after dicyandiamide (DCD) was detected in New Zealand milk. Farmers applied the chemical to pastures to stop nitrate fertilizer by-products from getting into rivers and lakes. High doses are reported to be toxic to humans. China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said they are asking New Zealand authorities to provide detailed information on the incident, after Chinese consumers raised concerns. This includes the quantity of DCD discovered and the brands and batches involved, China's Central Television reported yesterday. However, there were no reports of New Zealand dairy products being taken off the shelves in Chinese shops. About 80 percent of China's imported milk comes from New Zealand, according to Xinhua News Agency. The scare began on Thursday, when two major New Zealand makers of agricultural chemicals announced that they had suspended sales of DCD after low levels of the substance were found in dairy products. New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, Director-General Wayne McNee said yesterday there has been some confusion about the suspension of DCD. "The use of DCD was suspended by its manufacturers because very small traces of residue were unexpectedly detected in New Zealand milk. DCD residues have been only found in some milk powder products and not in other dairy products such as butter and cheese," McNee said in a statement. "The detection of these small DCD residues poses no food safety risk. DCD itself is not poisonous. It is actually vastly less toxic than common salt," McNee said. The statement also said that DCD is not related to melamine. In 2008, melamine-tainted milk killed six children in China and left 300,000 ill. McNee said DCD is not used directly in or on food in New Zealand. It is a product used on pastures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the leaching of nitrogen into waterways. Should not panic DCD is used by less than 5 percent of New Zealand's dairy farmers who applied it only twice a year. Each application leaves only traces of residue on the grass for no more than a few days. This means only very small numbers of New Zealand cows could have come into contact with DCD in very limited time frames, according to the statement. There has been no restriction on dairy sales in New Zealand because of this suspension of DCD use on pasture, said McNee. In China, some experts said consumers should not panic as DCD has very slight toxicity and there are no international standards for an acceptable level. Others focused on its toxic properties. Although it has a low toxicity, large doses of DCD can kill mice, Dong Jinshi, executive vice-president of the International Food Packaging Association and an expert in food safety, told Chinese media. And despite reassurances statement from the New Zealand government, Chinese consumers expressed concerns over New Zealand dairy products. Many Chinese shoppers had placed their faith in New Zealand milk following health scandals in the domestic industry. "So what else can we mothers choose to feed our babies? Am I supposed to make some soya-bean milk myself?" asked one mother with the tag "CCY" on the Weibo.com microblog. "I'm shocked to hear this. China should inspect these products to ensure safety," said Wang Lan, a 28-year-old local mother. Some consumers said they would still opt for New Zealand dairy products. "Until test results show the milk is toxic, I'll still choose New Zealand products," said a web user on Weibo.com. |
| China deploys 70,000 railway police for travel rush Posted: 26 Jan 2013 02:13 AM PST More than 70,000 police were deployed to train stations across China to manage orders and ensure travelers' safety on Saturday, when the nation begins the biggest annual migration on earth. They will carry out all-day patrols in squares, waiting rooms and ticket lobbies, platforms and trains to leave no room for "dangerous things," according to the railway police authorities under the Ministry of Public Security. The authorities said they also sent 96 teams to focus on smashing crimes including pick-pocketing and bag-snatching. Chinese tend to return home to get together with their family members to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. During the 40-day period from Saturday to March 6, Chinese people are expected to make more than 220 million journeys by rail. Another 3.2 billion journeys are expected by highways, water and air. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Travelers start hitting the road for home Posted: 26 Jan 2013 09:12 AM PST THE Spring Festival travel rush began yesterday, with travelers flocking to Shanghai Railway Station to make their way back to their hometowns for the Chinese New Year on February 10. The station resounded with sounds associated with the annual rush: people trying to sell goods to travellers; scalpers hired by coach operators attempting to persuade would-be passengers to travel with them instead. The day was warm and pleasant, ideal for traveling as part of what is known as the world's largest human migration. Shanghai Railway Station said about 7.8 million rail journeys will be made during the 40-day rush - a 10 percent rise compared to last year. Shanghai Railway Bureau, the Yangtze Delta region operator, said temporary train services will be added to handle the volume. Sitting on the edge of a greenery area at the railway station's north square, waiting for his connection, Zhu Bofeng played a cellphone game, almost dozing in the unusually warm winter noon. "I think I'll just skip my dinner," said the 23-year-old who works in a molding factory in neighboring Jiaxing City, more than an hour's ride from Shanghai. A native of central China's Shaanxi Province, Zhu bought a 300 yuan (US$48) rail ticket that will enable him to get home in 14 hours. Zhu's train was due to leave at 3:50pm. "Just a night's sleep and the next day you're back home," said Zhu, lighting a cigarette. Two bags and a new pressure cooker were the sum of Zhu's luggage. "I'm taking nothing else home but the cooker," said the young worker. "The prices of everything are rising, it seems that only my salary stands still." Some older migrant workers seemed more satisfied with their wages, which they've been saving away for returning home. "The money is enough," said a worker, surnamed Sun, sitting on his bags at an underground ticket lot of the Shanghai Long-Distance Bus Station, waiting for his co-workers to bring back tickets to his hometown, Fuyang in Anhui Province. Sun, in his 50s, said he could earn 4,000 to 5,000 yuan a month working as a mason on a construction site in suburban Pudong's Zhoupu area. "The conditions there are harsh though," said the middle-aged man, settling down for a nap. Sun said his son had also left their hometown and now works in Jiangsu Province. Meanwhile, for three college students taking photographs in front of the railway station while waiting for a connection, the burden of raising a family is not a concern for now. "The winter vocation is good for us to get out and about," said one of the students from Shaanxi Province, who were on their first trip to Shanghai. Before they left the city at midnight, the students said they wanted to tour around the Bund and People's Square. For railway workers watching the passengers gathering at the station, another rush year had just started. "And of course, the peak has yet to come," said Wu Zhenrong, a rail station manager who over the years has seen millions come and go over the Spring Festival. Wu and other station staff will spend the coming weeks mostly at the station, rarely going home. However, they will be so busy that there will be little time to reflect on this. "One day after another just pass in a rush at this time of year," said Wu. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Chongqing sets out new roadmap in post-Bo era Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:22 AM PST CHONGQING'S municipal government vowed yesterday that it would shake off the impact of the Bo Xilai scandal and make law-abiding governance a top priority. Huang Qifan, mayor of Chongqing, described 2012 as an "extraordinary year" for Chongqing's development in his report on the work of the municipal government, at the opening of the 4th Chongqing Municipal People's Congress. The mayor said the government has endeavored to maintain steady economical and social development despite the severe toll of the incidents involving Bo Xilai, with the city recording an annual economic growth of 13.6 percent. "It turned out that Chongqing citizens have weathered storms and withstood ordeals," he said. The government published the full text of its work report, in which it placed governing in accordance with the Constitution and the law as a main focus for this year. Bo's wife, Bo-Gu Kailai was convicted of the murder of a British businessman in November 2011, while Bo was secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee. Former police chief Wang Lijun was convicted of charges including abuse of power. Bo was later deprived of CPC membership and expelled from public service for severe disciplinary violations. |
| Tibetans stand trial over self-immolations Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:22 AM PST TWO ethnic Tibetans stood trial yesterday at a court in southwest China's Sichuan Province over the case of eight people said to have been incited to set themselves on fire. Three of the eight died. Lorang Konchok, 43, and his 31-year-old nephew, Lorang Tsering, were accused of intentional homicide, said a statement issued by the Intermediate People's Court of the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba. The Aba Prefectural People's Procuratorate instituted a public prosecution against the two suspects on December 31. They were arrested last August after a series of self-immolations in Aba. According to the statement, Lorang Konchok had long-term and close contact with Samtan, a key figure in an overseas "Kirti Monastery media liaison team," a "Tibet independence" organization of the Dalai clique. Instructed by Samtan, the prosecution alleges, from 2009, Lorang Konchok collected and sent information on self-immolation to overseas contacts. He is accused of inciting the self-immolations of local Tibetans Tsedrup and Tsenam, last March. It is also alleged that on August 9, last year, Lorang Tsering heard that Jokba, 19, a herdsman from Aba, had a desire to self-immolate, and put Jokba in contact with Lorang Konchok. To strengthen Jokba's resolve, prosecutors say Lorang Konchok recorded Jokba's information, took pictures with his mobile phone and promised to spread news of the self-immolation overseas. Jokba died the following day. According to the statement, the two suspects encouraged another five people to self-immolate, efforts which failed. Prosecutors claimed Lorang Konchok is the main culprit with Lorang Tsering an accessary. The court announced an adjournment.
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| Chongqing sets out new roadmap in post-Bo era Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:22 AM PST CHONGQING'S municipal government vowed yesterday that it would shake off the impact of the Bo Xilai scandal and make law-abiding governance a top priority. Huang Qifan, mayor of Chongqing, described 2012 as an "extraordinary year" for Chongqing's development in his report on the work of the municipal government, at the opening of the 4th Chongqing Municipal People's Congress. The mayor said the government has endeavored to maintain steady economical and social development despite the severe toll of the incidents involving Bo Xilai, with the city recording an annual economic growth of 13.6 percent. "It turned out that Chongqing citizens have weathered storms and withstood ordeals," he said. The government published the full text of its work report, in which it placed governing in accordance with the Constitution and the law as a main focus for this year. Bo's wife, Bo-Gu Kailai was convicted of the murder of a British businessman in November 2011, while Bo was secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee. Former police chief Wang Lijun was convicted of charges including abuse of power. Bo was later deprived of CPC membership and expelled from public service for severe disciplinary violations. |
| Tibetans stand trial over self-immolations Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:22 AM PST TWO ethnic Tibetans stood trial yesterday at a court in southwest China's Sichuan Province over the case of eight people said to have been incited to set themselves on fire. Three of the eight died. Lorang Konchok, 43, and his 31-year-old nephew, Lorang Tsering, were accused of intentional homicide, said a statement issued by the Intermediate People's Court of the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba. The Aba Prefectural People's Procuratorate instituted a public prosecution against the two suspects on December 31. They were arrested last August after a series of self-immolations in Aba. According to the statement, Lorang Konchok had long-term and close contact with Samtan, a key figure in an overseas "Kirti Monastery media liaison team," a "Tibet independence" organization of the Dalai clique. Instructed by Samtan, the prosecution alleges, from 2009, Lorang Konchok collected and sent information on self-immolation to overseas contacts. He is accused of inciting the self-immolations of local Tibetans Tsedrup and Tsenam, last March. It is also alleged that on August 9, last year, Lorang Tsering heard that Jokba, 19, a herdsman from Aba, had a desire to self-immolate, and put Jokba in contact with Lorang Konchok. To strengthen Jokba's resolve, prosecutors say Lorang Konchok recorded Jokba's information, took pictures with his mobile phone and promised to spread news of the self-immolation overseas. Jokba died the following day. According to the statement, the two suspects encouraged another five people to self-immolate, efforts which failed. Prosecutors claimed Lorang Konchok is the main culprit with Lorang Tsering an accessary. The court announced an adjournment.
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| Huayi Brothers reports record growth in 2012 Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:27 AM PST  Source: By Huang Ying (chinadaily.com.cn) Huayi Brothers Media Group, one of China's leading film production companies, has forecasted annual net profits for 2012 of between 243.47 million yuan ($39.15 million) and 273.91 million yuan, a rise of 20-35 percent year-on-year. The company attributed the growth to an expansion of its core businesses, including movie production, and television series making, and significant investment gains. Last year, Huayi Brothers released seven movies, including Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Feng Xiaogang's Back to 1942 and Jackie Chan's Chinese Zodiac 12. To date, Chinese Zodiac 12 generated more than 865 million yuan in ticket sales on the Chinese mainland, and it is expected to be shown in at least 26 countries and regions. Ourpalm Co Ltd, an online game developer and operator, in which Huayi Brothers has invested, listed on the Growth Enterprise Market in Shenzhen Stock Exchange in May last year. |
| Taiwan’s jewelry consumption ranked in world’s top five Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:22 AM PST  Source: Want China Times Although Taiwan ranks about 50th in the world in terms of population, its sales of high-end jewelry products ranks within the world's top five. Even amid the global economic slowdown last year, Taiwan's market still showed small growth, our sister paper China Times reports. Nearly 10 brands have held such exhibitions on the island over the past two months, the report said. Bulgari is now holding an exhibition in Taipei's 101 shopping mall, where many big-spending mainland Chinese tourists come to shop, exhibiting antique jewelry formerly owned or worn by Elizabeth Taylor. Though Bulgari seldom exhibits its antique jewelry collection, it has placed 19 items on show in Taiwan, the report said, citing Bulgari's senior marketing manager Lu Yu-lun. The jewelry on display is worth more than NT$2.5 billion (US$86 million) in market value, it said. Taiwan has a history of collecting top jewelry items for more than 20 years, Lu said. Collectors are currently focusing on higher quality diamonds such as Type IIA or DIF. More buyers are also targeting rare colored stones such as the Kashmir sapphire exhibited at the show, of which fewer than 2,000 are in existence, and Pigeon blood ruby ring, the most expensive item in the show with an asking price of NT$480 million (US$16.6 million), Lu said. Taiwan's market attracts attention for the professional knowledge of its collectors. "Taiwan clients place an emphasis on crafts and creativity; they don't care so much about the size of the jewelry," the report said, citing Chanel jewelry department general manager Chang Ya-ping. "For these customers, wearing jewelry is not to show off how rich they are, but a symbol of taste." More than a year ago, one unidentified trader bought jewelry worth some NT$2 billion (US$69 million) from Regent Galleria, the report said. Most clients buying jewelry worth more than NT$100 million (US$3.45 million) typically pay part cash and uses credit cards. for the remainder. The rise in visits by Chinese businesspeople and tourists has also boosted jewelry sales at Regent Galleria. On several occasions, when male clients from China bought jewelry valued at between NT$100 and NT$200 million million (US$3.45 million-$6.9 million), their wives were overheard talking on the other end of the phone, saying: "You are buying too cheap items!" |
| Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:19 AM PST Have You Heard…   |
| China’s jumbo air freighter test flight a success: Xinhua Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:32 AM PST
(Reuters) – China has conducted a successful test flight of its first domestically developed jumbo air freighter, the official state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday. "The successful maiden flight of Yun-20 is significant in promoting China's economic and national defense build-up as well as bettering its emergency handling such as disaster relief and humanitarian aid," Xinhua said, adding that further test flights are scheduled. China is determined to reduce dependency on foreign firms such as Boeing (BA.N), Airbus (EAD.PA), General Electric (GE.N) and Rolls Royce Plc (RR.L) for the country's soaring demand for planes and engines. Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's dominant military and commercial aviation contractor, has lobbied for Beijing to back a multi-billion dollar plan to build a high-performance engine. Meanwhile a host of design flaws has delayed approval by the Civil Aviation Administration of China for the country's homegrown 90-seat ARJ21 regional passenger jet. At last November's China Airshow, China unveiled 50 new orders for its COMAC C919 passenger jet which is designed to challenge Airbus and Boeing in the largest segment of the $100 billion annual jetliner market. The orders for the 150-seat jet boosted the official tally to 380, reaching the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's declared breakeven point of 300-400 orders. However, analysts say it will be some time before the aircraft, due to make its maiden flight in 2014, proves both its technical worth and its financial viability.   |
| Azarenka Beats Li to Win Australian Open Posted: 26 Jan 2013 08:33 AM PST
Ms. Li, who also was chasing a second major title, found herself in early control of the first set, which alone included seven breaks of serve. Despite failing to close out the set at 5-3, China's most-accomplished tennis player clinched her fourth set-point opportunity on Ms. Azarenka's serve, courtesy of a double fault. With Ms. Azarenka leading 3-1 in the second set, Ms. Li hurt her left ankle and fell as she reached for a backhand, requiring medical attention. The 30- year-old Ms. Li fought back to even the scores at 4-4. But Ms. Azarenka won eight of the next nine points and the set, as the sixth seed Ms. Li made six of her match total of 57 unforced errors. At 2-1 in the decisive set, play was suspended for nine minutes for an Australia Day fireworks display. In the first point back, Ms. Li injured the same ankle and hit her head as she fell, silencing the Rod Laver Arena crowd, which wondered whether it would witness what would have been just the second retirement in a Grand Slam women's final since 1968. "[For] two seconds, I couldn't really see anything. It was totally black," Ms. Li later explained. She added that the outcome of the match could have been different had she not fallen twice, but otherwise refused to dwell on the past. Though play resumed, and Ms. Li continued to amass winners—she made 36 during the match, double Ms. Azarenka's 18—it was the latter who raced to match point, sealing it as a forehand from Ms. Li sailed past the base line. "In these kind of matches you always have to take the opportunity of the important moments," said Ms. Azarenka. She added that she had expected a poor reception from the crowd because of a controversially timed off-court medical timeout in her semifinal against 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens, which was miscommunicated as a panic attack, rather than a rib injury that impaired her breathing. "I was expecting way worse, to be honest actually. What can you do? You just have to go out there and try to play tennis in the end of the day," she said. Speaking about the spotlight and the expectations that attended her as defending champion, Ms. Azarenka said she enjoys pressure, and uses it to her advantage. "I take it as a positive, something that will push me forward to improve, to get better, and the outcome is out of my hands." With the win, the Belarussian joined Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova as the only active players who have won two or more major tournaments. Ms. Li, who turns 31 next month and will rise one place to No. 5 in the Women's Tennis Association rankings on Monday, joked that she felt like she was at the China Open, because of the number of Chinese flags and cheers, both in Mandarin and English at the arena. "I know I'm not young, but I still have to say [I'm] very looking forward to next year." "I wish I can [do] the same this year, as well," she smiled, before reminding the press that French Open's winners in 2008 and 2012—Ana Ivanovic and Sharapova—bounced back from finishing as runners-up at the Australian Open that year to win the coveted title in Paris. Source: Wall Street Journal by Gillian Tan | Photo: Xinhua   |
| China deploys 70,000 railway police for for travel rush Posted: 26 Jan 2013 02:13 AM PST MORE than 70,000 police were deployed to train stations across China to manage orders and ensure travelers' safety on Saturday, when the nation begins the biggest annual migration on earth. Chinese tend to return home to get together with their family members to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| China issues blue alert for thick fog Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:14 PM PST CHINA'S meteorological authorities issued a blue-coded alert for heavy fog in the country's southern areas on Saturday. |
| Ray of hope breaks through the haze Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:04 PM PST Ad: Magic Submitter By Alexandr Krulik - The Power To Dominate Social Media And All Search Engines Affiliates Join www.magicsubmitter.com/affiliate |
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