US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was in China this week,meeting with President Hu Jintao. Secretary Rice expects to see “more solid” relations between Washington and Beijing.
UK Foreign Secretary in China
David Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary signed a memorandum of understanding on urban-rural cooperation with the Chongqing municipal government. The UK will help raise the living standards of the city’s rural areas to narrow the urban-rural income gap.
China urges talks on Darfur issue
Earlier this week China’s special envoy for Darfur Liu Guijin arrived in Sudan. He urged countries with influence over rebel groups to pressure them to return to negotiations with the Sudanese government.
Over 200,000 affected by polluted river
An algae bloom is to blame for polluted water in the Hanjiang River in Hubei Province, affecting over 200,000 people since Monday. The water was red with bubbles. The local authorities are adding fresh water from nearby Changhu Lake to ease the situation.
South Korean president sworn in
Former construction boss Lee Myung-bak was sworn in as the Republic of Korea’s new president on Monday. In his inaugural speech, Lee said reviving the economy was his most urgent task.
Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the CPC
The Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held this week.
A communiqué from the session said the political system must keep pace with the needs of China’s economic and social development, the protection of rights and social equality and justice.
The session also approved lists of candidates, one for State leaders and the other for leading members of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference.
The committee also expressed concerns about education, social welfare and healthcare.
Beijing's new airport terminal opens
The world’s largest airport - Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport, opens today servicing five airlines. Designed by architect Sir Norman Foster, T3 is, 3.25 km long and 785 m wide.
Taking just four years to design and construct it has a $250-million state-of-the-art baggage handling system.
T3 will handle all of the athletes, officials and visitors coming to the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
Yao Ming out for the season
The Houston Rockets’ All-Star center has finished the NBA season early after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot.
There is also the possibility he may not be able to represent China in the Olympics if he doesn’t get better by August.
Yao could undergo surgery to place screws across the bone between his ankles and foot, or put a cast on his foot. Both options would take Yao three to four months to heal.
Launch of China Daily Mobile News
China Daily and China Mobile jointly launched a new news service to tap into the growing cell phone market.
Called China Daily Mobile News, a multimedia package in English and Chinese is sent twice a day. It features 10 to 20 news pieces in such categories as Top News, Biz Info, Odd News, Health and Language Tips.
Users of China Mobile Go Tone and M-Zone can subscribe to the mobile news service, which costs 5 yuan a month.
Peking Opera in schools
Twenty primary and secondary schools in Beijing are incorporating Peking Opera into the curriculum. The Ministry of Education decided to start the pilot program to help students learn more about the 200-year-old art form.
Academy Awards handed out
The violent drama No Country for Old Men won four Oscars at the 80th Academy Awards. Daniel Day-Lewis won best actor for There Will Be Blood, while best actress was surprise winner was Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose.
New York Philharmonic in North Korea
The New York Philharmonic Orchestra made history this week by performing in Pyongyang, North Korea. The program included George Gershwin’s An American in Paris and the Korean folk song Airirang.
（英语点津 Meggie编辑）
About the broadcaster:
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.
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
