Jinhao tea seed oil contaminated

Local health authorities Tuesday admitted they waited five months before announcing that secret recalls of camellia oil had been ordered by Jinhao, a well-known edible oil maker based in Hunan Province, after the oil was found to contain excessive amounts of a carcinogen known as Benzo(a)pyrene, Xinhua reported. The benzo(a)pyrene level in the recalled oil was five times the national limit, according to a report in The Century Weekly. Jinhao released the information about the recalls yesterday in an apology letter to customers.

Children get free measles vaccine

China's Ministry of Health is planning a nationwide measles vaccination campaign September 11-20. Vaccines will be free to around 100 million children under 14 years' old, the Beijing News reported. Immunization is optional and parents can take the children to an appointed hospital to get the injection. Children vaccinated will have to remain in the hospital for at least half an hour as a precaution against allergic reactions. China plans to eradicate measles by 2012.

Israeli-Palestinian talks begin

Under the shadow of fresh violence in the Mideast, U.S. President Barack Obama convened the first direct Israeli-Palestinian talks in two years on Wednesday, AP reported. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begin face-to-face talks on Thursday at the State Department. The declared aim of the talks is to create a sovereign Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. Netanyahu said Israel wants a lasting peace, not an interlude between wars. Abbas urged Israel to freeze settlement construction in areas the Palestinians want as part of their new state, and to end the blockade of Gaza. The settlements issue is the central obstacle to achieving a permanent peace.

Swedes reopen Assange rape case

A senior Swedish prosecutor reopened a rape investigation into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday, AP reported. The charge was dropped last week for lack of evidence that Assange had raped a Swedish woman, but the woman's lawyer appealed the decision. Director of Public Prosecution Marianne Ny decided to reopen the case, saying new information had come in on Tuesday. Assange has denied the allegations and suggested they are part of a smear campaign by opponents of WikiLeaks.

A brisk walk can prevent cancer

More than 10,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year in Britain if people took more exercise, such as going for brisk walks or performing vigorous household chores, the Daily Telegraph reported. Scientists at the World Cancer Research Fund believe that just 45 minutes of moderate exercise a day could prevent 5,500 cases of breast cancer in Britain annually. Similarly, at least 4,600 cases of bowel cancer could be prevented if people exercised for 30 minutes daily. That would cut down cases of both types of cancer by 12 percent.

Apple's CEO presents new toys

Apple has launched Ping, a new social-networking service designed specifically for music fans. Ping is built in to Apple's iTunes software, a program used for downloading songs.

Apple has launched Ping, a new social-networking service designed specifically for music fans, the Daily Telegraph reported. Ping is built in to Apple's iTunes software, a program used for downloading songs. "You can follow your favorite artists and friends and discover what music they like and are downloading," Apple's CEO Steve Jobs said.

Deadly landslide in Yunnan

Xinhua reported that a landslide occurred in a village near Baoshan City, Yunnan Province late on September 1. As of 6 a.m. today, 11 people had been rescued, 3 are confirmed dead and another 57 are missing. The disaster affected 71 people from 20 families.

Gunman shot dead at Discovery HQ

A gunman who took three hostages at the Discovery Channel headquarters in the US has been shot dead by police and his captives have been set free, the BBC reported. The gunman was James J Lee, the author of a website called savetheplanetprotest.com. Lee had previously been arrested outside Discovery's headquarters in 2008 after protesting that the channel's programming had little to do with saving the planet. On that occasion, he distributed thousands of dollars to passers-by in an attempt to recruit them to his protest.

China to probe BHP's bid for Potash

China may launch an antimonopoly probe into BHP Billiton's US$39 billion bid for Canada's Potash Corp, Reuters reported. China buys around 7 percent of the output of Potash Corp, which controls around one-fifth of world production of the key crop nutrient. Potash demand in China has been growing at around 5-8 percent a year, faster than other fertilizers.

Man survives 39-storey plunge

22-year-old Thomas Magill tried to commit suicide by jumping from the roof of a 39-storey apartment building in West 63rd Street in New York on Tuesday, AP reported. He landed in the back seat of a car after crashing through the windscreen. Magill suffered broken legs and police say he is in a critical condition.

(China.org.cn September 3, 2010)