Headlines

FedEx cargo plane crashes

A FedEx cargo plane smashed into a runway and burst into a ball of fire while attempting to land at Tokyo's Narita airport Monday, killing the American pilot and copilot. Investigators believe wind shear, or a sudden gust of wind, may have been a factor.

The flight from FedEx's hub in Guangzhou, China skipped along the main runway before flipping over and coming to a fiery halt.

Blair and Jet Li sign cooperation plan

Kungfu star Jet Li joined former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to sign a strategic cooperation plan on climate change on behalf of their respective non-profit organizations—One Foundation and the Climate Group.

Blair applauded China's goal of increasing renewable energy use to account for 15 percent of its total energy mix by 2020. He also urged countries to work together to reach a global agreement at the upcoming Copenhagen climate talks.

Water strategy a priority for China

China called on the international community to highlight risk management of water-led disasters and food security by putting in place joint strategies.

Chen Lei, minister of water resources, said China and six other countries have agreed to enhance disaster security systems and forecasting, build up capacities for emergency response and train people for self-protection and mutual assistance to prevent deaths and minimize damages from flood and drought.

China to join in WWF Earth Hour

China will be joining countries across the globe this Saturday to mark the third "Earth Hour" launched by the WWF. Lights and electrical appliances will be turned off at 8:30 pm for one hour.

Beijing's Bird's Nest, Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor and many other places will take part in the event. Some restaurants will even provide candle-lit dinners that evening.

In-depth News

High-speed rails to slash travel time

Two high-speed railways opening on April 1 will dramatically slash travel time between the hinterland and coastal regions.

Stretching more than 350 km, the Hefei-Wuhan passenger railway, along with the Hefei-Nanjing lines opened last year, will provide the shortest link between Central China and East China's Yangtze River Delta region. Passengers traveling from Wuhan to Shanghai will also benefit, with travel time cut in half to only four hours and 45 minutes.

The other new high-speed railway is the 190-km Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan railway linking the north and the west. Passengers traveling between Taiyuan and Beijing will need only three hours, saving more than five hours.

'Olympic pandas' take final bow

A large number of well-wishers turned up at the Beijing Zoo earlier this week to say good-bye to eight panda cubs who wrapped up their Olympic mission and returned home.

The pandas had been sent to Beijing Zoo from Sichuan province, southwest China, to bring extra cheer to visitors during the 2008 Olympics. The adorable cubs remained playful and naughty despite it being their last day in the capital.

The "Olympic pandas" were flown to Beijing on May 24 last year, earlier than expected, after their home, the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Wolong, was severely damaged in the May 12 earthquake.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ director in Beijing

Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle brought the success of his international hit film “Slumdog Millionaire” to Beijing Wednesday with a packed press conference and movie premiere.

The Academy Award-winning film secured a coveted slot as one of 20 major foreign movies that China will import this year. Two of the child actors in the film who came from the very slums they were filmed in have received financial help as a result of the film’s success. Boyle said he would not only help them, but other street children in Mumbai as a way to give back.

Picture News

Zhou Xun Crowned at Asian Film Awards

Chinese mainland starlet Zhou Xun was named Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards Monday in Hong Kong.

Zhou was honored for her performance of a plucky cab driver in "The Equation of Love and Death".

Yu Shaoqun from “Forever Enthralled” won Best Newcomer.

The Best Actor award went to Masahiro Motoki from the Japanese film "Departures".

And "Tokyo Sonata" took home the Best Film award.

Also adding to the Japanese-dominated winners list is Hirokazu Koreeda, who garnered the Best Director honor for the family drama "Still Walking".

（英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Nancy Matos is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Nancy is a graduate of the Broadcast Journalism and Media program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her journalism career in broadcast and print has taken her around the world from New York to Portugal and now Beijing. Nancy is happy to make the move to China and join the China Daily team.