Five omens for China's future

A New York Times article published on July 26, "Five Omens for China's Future," said five demographic, financial and monetary milestones provide an insight into the future of the world's third-biggest economy.

1. The population is aging: Almost a fifth of the population will be "aged" -- defined as over 65 years old -- by 2050, according to the Asian Development Bank. A surplus of old people and a shortage of young people might mean China gets old before it gets rich.

2. Henan Province got bigger: The population of China's biggest province passed 100 million in July, according to official estimates. Henan, 20 percent poorer on a per capita GDP basis than the country as a whole, has more people than Germany, France or Britain.

3. China's export engine revved back up: Falling exports led China into trouble in 2008 and now rising exports may do the same.

4. China's energy needs exploded: China surpassed the United States as the world's biggest consumer of energy in 2009, using the equivalent of 2.3 billion tons of oil, according to the International Energy Agency. Although China disputes the figures, it is already the world's biggest importer of resources.

5. Banks broke yet another record: The Agricultural Bank of China pulled off a $19 billion initial public offering in Shanghai and Hong Kong, which, if its overallotment option is exercised, will be the world's biggest, at US$22 billion. That helped China beat another record: it has hosted all of the world's three largest IPOs by value this year, demonstrating that the center of gravity for new stocks has shifted decisively east.

Man detained for poisoning panda

A man surnamed Yang was detained by police on July 26 on suspicion of causing the death of Quanquan, a panda in Jinan Zoo, Xinhua reported today. Allegedly, on July 22 the man used sodium dichloroisocyanurate and sawdust to fumigate a disused air-raid shelter he planned to use for planting mushrooms. This caused poison gas to be discharged through an ventilator shaft which had been used to cool the panda house, causing the tragedy.

4,000 yuan guarantees a good HK tour

4,000 yuan guarantees an all-in Hong Kong tour with no forced shopping or surcharges, Tian Beijun, President of the Hong Kong Tourism Development Bureau, said at a press conference in Beijing yesterday. Li Qiaozhen, a tour guide who forced mainland tourists to shop in certain Hong Kong stores, also apologized to mainland tourists and Hong Kong citizens, the Beijing News reported.

Tian said mainland tourists should try the "Honest and Quality Hong Kong Tour" organized in 27 mainland cities by 78 travel agencies appointed by the Hong Kong Tourism Development Bureau. Costs may vary slightly from agency to agency. There are four main itineraries, each covering most scenic spots in Hong Kong. Tourists will have plenty of free time and will be able to shop where they like.

Wheelchair 'driven by breathing'

People with severe paralysis may soon be able to surf the internet or drive a wheelchair simply by breathing, the Telegraph reports. Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel are testing a "sniff detector" that is able to pick up pressure changes in the wearer's nasal cavity and convert them into electrical signals. The device can be hooked up to special software and used to move a curser on a computer screen or control a wheelchair. To control a wheelchair, for example, two short sniffs means a forward move, while two short exhalations means reverse. An exhale followed by a sniff signals left, and a sniff followed by an exhale signals right. Similar commands can move a cursor on a computer screen, allowing the user to write.

No piracy, no product placement

Rampant use of product placement in Director Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock has drawn criticism from the media and the public. The 135-minute film contains six obviously product placements lasting 15 minutes, including alcohol, a bank, insurance, a cell phone, a car, and sportswear.

Rampant use of product placement in Director Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock has drawn criticism from the media and the public. The 135-minute film contains six obviously product placements lasting 15 minutes, including alcohol, a bank, insurance, a cell phone, a car, and sportswear.

According to Xinhua, Zhang Hongsen, vice director of the SARFT film department said Monday that advertisements in movies were necessary to allow film makers to make profits, as piracy poses a threat to revenues. He said a tougher crackdown on piracy was essential. The pirated version of Aftershock appeared two days before its national premier.

But Netizens say serious movies like Aftershock should steer clear of product placement. Aftershock, which cost 130 million yuan to make, received almost 100 million yuan from product placement deals and another 60 million yuan from the Tangshan municipal government.

Plane carrying 152 crashes in Pakistan

A Pakistani private Airblue plane crashed into hills near Islamabad Wednesday while preparing to land with 152 people on board, the AFP reported. Airblue flight 202 took off from Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city and financial capital, at 7:45 a.m. and was preparing to land when it crashed, civil aviation spokesman Pervez George told AFP. He said 146 passengers and six crew members were on the flight.

Maradona out as Argentine coach

Diego Maradona's contract as coach of the Argentine national soccer team will not be renewed, the Argentine Football Association said Tuesday, according to CNN. Sergio Batista, currently coach of the Argentine national youth program and coach of the 2008 gold-medal winning Olympic team, will take over temporarily.

Zedonk born in US wildlife preserve

A zedonk is the center of attention at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Dahlonega, Georgia, U.S. after being born there a week ago, AP reports. The animal, which has a zebra father and donkey mother, has black stripes on its legs and face. C.W. Wathen, the preserve's founder, said the foal has the instincts of a zebra. Donkeys and zebras rarely mate, but zedonks turn up occasionally.

Court says teenage Dutch girl can set sail

The BBC reports that Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old Dutch girl who wants to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, has won a court's permission to attempt the voyage. The Child Protection Council of Utrecht claimed she was not capable of the undertaking due to her social and emotional immaturity. Laura must complete the two-year trip before she turns 17 in September 2012 to break the record.

(China.org.cn July 30, 2010)