China :: Commentaries

In a bid to protect eight key scenic spots in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, pasturing is now banned for five years, according to the regional animal husbandry bureau. The five-year-long "returning grazing land to grassland" project, which began this year, covers 100,000 hectares of grassland in eight key scenic spots, including Kanas and Tianshan Tianchi, said Zhao Xinchun, chief specialist of pasturage at Xinjiang Animal Husbandry Bureau. Local herdsmen are being compensated for their loss of grazing and get an annual subsidy of 750 yuan (US$116.5) per hectare of grassland. According to Zhao, the pasturing ban is "urgently required", as long-term overgrazing has caused severe degradation of the grassland and a marked decline in its herd-carrying capacity. Uyoup, a traditional Uygur herdsman at the Baishitou scenic spot in eastern Xinjiang's Hami prefecture, has seen firsthand how the grassland has degraded over the past 30 years. ...

A sketch of the scene where a fireman was killed by bullet train as he tried to rescue a suicidal man on the railway tracks in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province on Friday, July 29, 2011. [Photo: Xkb.com.cn] A fireman was killed Friday by a bullet train as he tried to rescue a suicidal man on railway tracks in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province, news portal Xkb.com.cn reports. According to local police, a young man surnamed Liang beset with emotional troubles suddenly jumped from a bridge onto the railway tracks at 5:25 p.m. in Zengcheng city as police tried to persuade him not to kill himself. Yao Xiewei, 22, and other firemen rushed to rescue Liang, but as Yao pulled him from the tracks, a bullet train passed, striking Liang and killing him instantly and severely injuring Yao's head. Yao later died at the hospital. A further investigation of the incident is under way.

A woman sits with her daughter as they settle in for the evening on the site of their half-built home, destroyed by last year's floods on July 29, 2011, in the village of Basti Jagwala Shoki. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) A year after some of the worst flooding in the countrys history, Pakistan is still trying to pick up the pieces. Last August, more than a fifth of the country was submerged underwater after exceptionally strong monsoon rains. Figures estimate that more than 4 million Pakistanis were displaced and 1.7 million homes destroyed. As of now, more than 800,000 families are still living in shelters and many are without jobs. Related Articles Pakistan and India to Ease Control of Trade and Travel And while residents and aid organizations are trying to rebuild, this years flooding has already began in some places. A couple sit in their home destroyed by last year's flood. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) Pakistani flood-affected families set a tent at Nasata camp in t...

This photograph taken on November 30, 2010, shows Chief-of-staff General Isik Kosaner (L) standing next to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. (Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images) The head of the Turkish military, Isik Kosaner, resigned on Friday along with the heads of the army, air force, and navy, according to media reports. The four resigned after a dispute with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogans government over the arrest of generals who were allegedly planning a coup, reported Turkish media agencies NTV and CNN-Turk. Kosaner met with Erdogan in recent days ahead of a meeting set for early August of the armys commanders which decides promotions. To replace Kosaner, the prime ministers office named General Necdet Ozel as the new head of the military, the former head of the countrys paramilitary forces. U.S. State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said that the U.S. is confident that the Turkish government will get the issue straightened out but declined to make further ...

Family members grieve after identifying a loved one's body. (STR/AFP Getty Images) The compensation agreement offered to families of victims of July 23s Chinese bullet train collision by the Ministry of Railways has raised eyebrows. In exchange for the payment, the families must cremate the victims as soon as possible. And the agreement includes a bonus for quick cremation, which has inevitably been viewed as a means of trying to stem more negative fallout. The Ministry of Railways stipulated that the families who accept the negotiation and sign the agreement shortly after the crash could receive an amount in the tens of thousands of yuan as a cash bonus. So when a family member of Lin Yan, a victim of the crash, for example, signed an agreement with the Steering Committee of the Incident Management Task Force at 1:00 am on July 26, she received 500,000 yuan ($77,600): 450,000 yuan ($69,840) was compensation, while 50,000 yuan ($7,760) was a bonus for signing the agreeme...

Watch Video Play Video Beijing's meteorological authorities have now lifted warnings of strong thunderstorms and lightning. Heavy downpours hit the Chinese capital during the morning rush hour on Friday. Over a three-hour period, average precipitation reached 11 millimeters, mostly in the north and west of the capital. Morning traffic was slowed in some areas. Beijing traffic departments sent all their police forces out to guide traffic at intersections that are prone to inundation. Information was updated through radio stations, and electronic road signs. Heavy downpours hit the Chinese capital during the morning rush hour on Friday. The fire department also deployed trucks and pumps under 42 bridges to assist drainage departments. More than one hundred flights were delayed and some were cancelled. Heavy downpours hit the Chinese capital during the morning rush hour on Friday. Heavy downpours hit the Chinese capital during the morning ! rush hou r on Friday. Editor: X...

Hot weather in many parts of China caused power companies to generate record amounts of electricity in July to meet demand, the country's top economic planner said Friday. On July 26, power plants in China generated a record 15.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity, an increase of 8.2 percent year-on-year, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement on its website. In mid-July, the plants' electrical output averaged around 14 billion kwh daily, said the statement. The rise in power output has mainly been attributed to the increased usage of air conditioners and industrial demands, the statement said. Industrial demands for electricity have been strong due to steady production growth, with industrial power usage up 11.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year, the statement said. The commission predicted that the amount of power used by air conditioners will rise by 12.5 percent year-on-year to reach 180 million kilowatts during ...

Watch Video Play Video For more on the weather affecting China, we are joined by Halla Mohieddeen, at China's meteorological center. Q1: As we heard, the Nock-Ten tropical storm is expected to land in South China. Can you give us more on that? Q2: In the north, heavy thunderstorms continue to pound the already soaked Beijing. Why has the north had so much rainfall recently and what can we expect in the near future? Tree fell down in heavy rain, Beijing, July 29, 2011. Heavy rain batters Beijing this morning. Heavy rain batters Beijing this morning. Heavy rain batters Beijing this morning. Heavy rain batters Beijing this m! orning. Heavy rain batters Beijing this morning. Related stories Tropical storm Nock-ten to hit China 2011-07-29 Crossover: Latest situation of Beijing's heavy rain 2011-07-29 Heavy rainfall batters Beijing 2011-07-29 Ten provincial-level regions promise to improve equality in basic education 2011-07-12 Editor: Zou Xian | Source: CNTV.CN ...

The death toll from a high-speed train crash in east China's Zhejiang Province has risen to 40 after a critically injured passenger died, local government authorities said Friday. China train crash death toll rises to 40 Chen Wei from southeast Fujian Province died at about 11 p.m. Thursday at a local hospital, sources with the government of the city of Wenzhou said. The train collision occurred in Wenzhou of Zhejiang Province on July 23.

Hideki Irabu in action for the Texas Rangers in 2002. (Craig Lassig/Getty Images ) Former Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead in his California home today. Irabu was 42 years old. His death is being investigated as a possible suicide, according to the New York Times. Irabu was a star in Japan before coming to the United States in 1997 to play for his dream team, the New York Yankees. However, his tenure at the Yankees was not dreamlikethe Japanese-American pitcher did not find success in America. Some say he did not have sufficient dedication and didnt work hard enough to keep fit. Whatever the cause, Irabu proved a disappointment and was traded to the Montreal Expos where he played for three seasons before ending up with the Texas Rangers. Irabu returned to Japan in 2003 and played a season with the Hanshin Tigers. In 2009, Irabu signed on to play for Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League. The Yankees released this statement about his death Thursday evening: ...

The white iPhone 4 is shown at an Apple Store last May in New York City. Lately rumors have been circling around regarding the iPhone 5's design and release date. (Daniel Barry/Getty Images) Rumors regarding the iPhone 5s design and release date have been around since the debut of the iPhone 4, but lately several major possibilities have surfaced. Design Currently, there are two conflicting rumors about the overall design of the iPhone 5. Several sources report that the new phone will be largely similar to the iPhone 4 in terms of shape and size but with better features and a faster processor. Reuters cited three people with direct knowledge of the companys supply chain who say that the new phone will be an update of the iPhone 4, much like how iPhone 3GS followed iPhone 3G. If Apple decides to the follow the pattern it previously set, then an iPhone 4S could be next. However, several other sources state that the upcoming device will have a completely revolutionary design, ...

With the citys temperatures reaching up to 37.9 degrees Celsius (100.2 degrees Fahrenheit), it snowed and hailed in Shanghai, China on July 26. Snow and hailstones fell on several districts, including Jingan, Pudong, and Huangpu, netizens from which posted photos and videos of the event online. Photos from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Zhejiang College show the road and trees covered with snow, and bulldozers were used to clear the path, which appears to have accumulated a couple inches of snow. Hail is formed when the ground is heated by the sun, thus heating the air near the ground. Having a lower density than colder air, the heated air rises and cools, and results in a lower capacity for holding moisture. Water vapor thus condenses and forms cumulonimbus clouds. With strong convection currents of hot and cold air, ice crystals formed in cumulonimbus clouds fall as hail. Related Articles SCIENCE IN PICS: Udumbara Flower Blooms The Rainmaking Machine However...

Watch Video Play Video The company behind the signaling system suspected of causing the crash, has apologized for possible design flaws. The Beijing National Railway Institute of Signals and Communication posted the apology on its website on Thursday, expressing condolences and regret to the victims of the accident. The company promised to fully cooperate with the investigation, and take responsibility and due punishments if they are found to be at fault. The Beijing National Railway Institute of Signals and Communication posted the apology on its website on Thursday, expressing condolences and regret to the victims of the accident. The company promised to fully cooperate with the investigation, and take responsibility and due punishments if they are found to be at fault. Related stories Signal system designer apologizes for flaw that caused China train collision 2011-07-28 Chinese premier urges solidarity, high morale to advance technology after train collision 2011-07-28 Wen...

Flash "The Lazy Song" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars from his debut studio album, Doo-Wops and Hooligans. Musically, "The Lazy Song" displays influences of reggae and Hawaiian music. The song went to number one in the United Kingdom.

Endangered killer whales off the west coast of Canada and the U.S. are facing an additional threatinbreeding. A research team headed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has found that orca whales that frequently visit Washingtons Puget Sound and the coast of British Columbia are mating within the same pods, or the same social groups. This could lead to a significant reduction in the genetic diversity of the already perilously small population of southern resident killer whales, which currently numbers only about 85 animals. Based on earlier studies, we didnt think killer whales mated within their own pod. Dr. Michael Ford We were surprised that, in many cases, the father was from the same pod as the mother. Based on earlier studies, we didnt think killer whales mated within their own pod, said Dr. Michael Ford, lead author of the study and a scientist with NOAAs Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. Although the reasons for the inbreedi...

Watch Video Play Video For more on the Tibetan antelopes crossing the Chumar River, we now go to our reporter Tang Bo who is on the scene. Hello, Tang Bo. We know the first group of Tibetan Antelopes has crossed the river. So what's the latest situation there along the waterway? Thank you. That's our reporter Tang Bo reporting from Chumar River in Qinghai Province. Related stories Large herds of Tibetan antelopes cross Qinghai-Tibet railway 2011-07-27 Tibetan antelopes crossing Qinghai-Tibet railway 2011-07-27 Tibetan antelopes crossing Chumar River 2011-07-26 Editor: Zhang Jingya | Source: CNTV.CN

Flash In the Tibetan Language, the name of the temple means praying for blessing and longevity. With a history going back 200 years, the temple is the most influential Gelug temple in northern Tibet. Fintan Monaghan takes a look at what makes the temple so unique. At dawn breaks, Buddhist monks in the temple have already started preparing for the Buddhist events of April 15th. As part of the ritual, followers walk around the white tower, reciting scripture and beginning the first step of their prayers. Some disciples also pitch in to help. They come early to clean the cups, place the lamp wicks, and pour in the yak butter. For them, each procedure in lighting the lamp is a spiritual purge. Disciples take part in the event in different ways. Some even bring their family here to sit for a whole day, listening to the scriptures. The Buddhist monks will then write them spells for happiness, and give soup and food to the adherents, which they believe will bring them good luck. A Buddhist Mo...

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar (R) shakes hands with Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna (L) prior to a meeting in New Delhi on July 27, 2011. (Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images) After a day of talks, Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers issued a joint statement saying that they were satisfied with their discussions on several longstanding issues and planned to meet again in the first half of next year. The main issues discussed in Islamabad were confidence building measures (CBM), counterterrorism cooperation, and trade and travel across the Line of Control in the contested state of Jammu and Kashmir. The ministers said that expert groups will continue CBM talks, including talks on nuclear issues, in September. Although no details were revealed, they did say that progress had been made toward resolving tensions around the 2008 terror attacks, in Mumbai, in which Pakistani-based terrorists killed over 160 people. The ministers did agree to expand the number of trad...

Tiger, in China has always been used to signify people and thing with energy and authority, carrying a commendatory tone. Wendi Deng Murdoch married to the chairman and chief executive officer of News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch now is characterized as tigress by netizens because of her quick and powerful reflexes to smack down an attacker during the phone hacking scandal press conference. Video and pictures of Wendi Deng jumping forward smacking the attacker are viral now online. During the question-and-answer session ofr the "Phone hacking scandal", a man suddenly stormed out to the witness table and tried to hit Rupert Murdoch with a plate of shaving cream foam. While all were dumbfounded, Wendi Deng who was sitting behind her husband, leapt forward, swung her arms in a great arch and smacked the attacker right in the face (some say it was a right hook). The scene was witnessed by millions television viewers and more netizens. Wendi Deng immediately became a hero because...