Twenty-two people are missing after a cargo ship from North Korea capsized in the Yellow Sea yesterday.
The ship got into trouble 6.5km off the coast of China’s Shandong Province.
An official with the provincial maritime bureau said strong winds were sweeping the area when the accident happened and only three of the 25 crew members have been saved.
Local fishermen and police were organizing rescue efforts.
China: Chang'e I on right track
All systems on Chang'e I are in good condition, with the high energy solar particle detector and the low energy ion detector functioning properly.
Chang'e I, the country's first lunar probe, is currently on a 24-hour orbit with an apogee of 70,000 kilometres following its second orbital transfer on Friday, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
The lunar probe has traveled more than 500,000 km so far. It must travel 1.59 million kilometres before it reaches the moon’s orbit, said program engineer Ji Gang.
China: Cold front sweeps in
A cold front is expected to hit the eastern and central parts of China today, with some region’s temperatures plunging 12 C in the days to come.
The weekend saw a cold front passing through the north and east, generating icy winds.
On Sunday, Beijing's maximum and minimum temperatures were between 13 C and 1 C.
The Central Meteorological Observatory says all industries particularly susceptible to weather changes should keep aware of weather forecasts.
Sleet and light rain are expected in the west and north, with drizzle in the east and light to moderate rain in the south over the next three days.
China: Panda twins back 'home'
Two pandas born in Japan four years ago became the first overseas-born twins to return to China yesterday.
Ryuhin and Shuhin, both males, reached the Chengdu research base of Giant Panda Breeding center yesterday afternoon.
The twins will be quarantined for two to three months before they are shown to visitors, said Zhang Zhihe, head of the base in Sichuan Province.
Ryuhin and Shuhin were born in 2003.
China: School ignites Olympic spirit
Olympic spirit was in full flight on Friday at the International School in Beijing.
The school in Shunyi in north-east Beijing staged its own Olympics Games Opening Ceremony.
The event is part of ISB’s International Day celebrations and involved all 1,850 students from pre-school to grade 12.
Tom Hawkins, Head of School for the past three years says Friday’s ceremony is the start of a year-long celebration leading up to next year’s Beijing Olympics.
“Throughout the year student houses will be divided into ‘continents’ and the students will compete in activities throughout the year.”
Guests included two-time Olympic gold medallist Gao Min and Angela Chiu a member of the 2008 Olympic Torch design team.
During the mini-ceremony students paraded in the colours of the Olympic rings, performed traditional Dragon and Lion dances and delivered the oath of the Olympics in English, French and Chinese.
In the true spirit of the Games more than 50 pigeons were released into the sky signifying peace and unity through sport, the message behind the Olympics.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
