2008: China's 'Wedding Year'
China is expected to see a marriage boom in 2008, a year regarded as auspicious for having the lucky number "8" and for the Beijing Olympics.
Famous rats of the year
With the Chinese New Year of the Rat approaching, notable people born in the Year of the Rat include former US President George Bush Senior (1924), Prince Charles (1948) and British actor Hugh Grant (1960).
John Volcano erupts in Chile; about 700 flee
About 700 people were evacuated as a volcano erupted Wednesday in southern Chile, rocking the area with explosions and spewing lava and ash.
Protection for Bhutto's son
Bilawal, Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son who was chosen to take over her Pakistan People's Party is expected to be given 24-hour security protection from would-be assassins.
China to face pilot shortage
China is facing a pilot shortage due to its fast aviation growth. China now has 11 thousand pilots, but by 2020 will need 50 thousand.
Building of China's 1st 3rd-generation nuclear plant to start in March
The construction of China's first third-generation nuclear power plant, the Sanmen nuclear power plant, is set to begin in March.
Located in east China's Zhejiang Province, it is expected to begin generating power by August 2013. It would also become the world's first AP1000 nuclear power plant.
The construction of Haiyang nuclear power plant in Shandong using the same AP1000 technology will also begin later this year.
John Gutierrez: High-tech exports encouraged
The United States encourages high-tech exports to China, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez has said amid calls in his country for suspension of a program under which high-tech products are sold to China.
Beijing says the program blocks imports of high-tech products from the United States, but some in the country argue that certain exports to China might threaten US national security
Pickpockets foiled by bank cards
The thieves who normally prowl the country's major railway stations hoping to prey on cash-carrying migrant workers returning home for Spring Festival may have run out of luck.
The increasing popularity of bank cards is likely to limit the amount of hard currency in circulation during this Spring Festival.
Crude prices retreat after setting new intraday high
Crude futures retreated from an intraday high Thursday after the U.S. government reported larger-than-expected declines in inventories.
The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said Wednesday inventories fell by 4 million barrels last week.
Crude futures briefly hit the 100-dollar landmark Wednesday on concerns of tight supply and weak dollar.
Looking around the globe this week revelers from nations far and wide celebrated the coming New Year
In China
Local residents climbed the Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing to celebrate the coming Olympic year.
In the US
New York celebrated more than a million revelers in Times Square cheer as the giant crystal ball made its 100th drop and a ton of confetti rained down on the urban canyon.
In Brazil
More than two million people gather along the shores of Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
In Russia
People watched fireworks explode above St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square.
In the UK
Fireworks explode in front of the London Eye along the River Thames.
And in war torn Iraq
Revelers held sparklers to celebrate the New Year in the Karradah neighborhood of central Baghdad.
(英语点津Celene编辑）
