The Smurfs smurf into China

Development firm Chengdu Teda Sino-Europe Construction and Smurf-brand owner International Merchandising, Promotion & Services plan to open a Smurf theme park in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, the Wall Street Journal reported, and cited DTZ Asia Property Market Update as the source. With an investment of 20 million yuan (US$2.9 million), the theme park is set to open in 3 to 5 years. It's part of a bigger plan to build tourism in Chengdu.

South China Sea oil exploration

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has signed amendment agreements to the production sharing contracts with Chevron China, BP China and Devon Energy Corporation for deepwater oil and gas blocks 42/05, 64/18 and 53/30 in the South China Sea, and these agreements have been approved by the Chinese government, Xinhua reported. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. During the exploration period, Chevron will act as the operator in the three blocks. China National Offshore Oil Company Limited, CNOOC's subsidiary company, has the right to participate in up to a 51 percent interest in the event of any commercial discovery in the blocks.

China protests boat detention

On Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry strongly protested over Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing boat near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, Xinhua reported. Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue summoned Japanese ambassador Niwa Uichiro to China to lodge the protest. It was the second time within 24 hours that the Chinese government summoned the Japanese ambassador on this issue. Yesterday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao summoned Niwa and lodged solemn representations on Japan's "interception" of the Chinese fishing boat Tuesday.

Two Japanese patrol vessels and a Chinese fishing boat collided yesterday morning in the disputed waters off Diaoyu Island, a place of focal point of tension between the two countries, reported Global Times. The Japanese coast guard arrested the Chinese ship captain on suspicion of obstructing public duties, said Kyodo News Agency.

Deadly bug bites reported in Henan

Deer ticks carrying a deadly virus have killed many people this summer in Shangcheng County, Henan Province, the Beijing News reported. Similar cases were reported last summer, but the local government, fearing massive panic, only recently announced that the virus has turned epidemic this year. The delay has contributed to the disease's high mortality rate as hospitals remained unaware of it. The virus infiltrates cells, killing blood platelets and leucocytes. Symptoms include fever, bloody coughs, vomiting and diarrhea. Victims usually die three to four days after being bitten by an infected bug.

Woman's bank card cloned

A woman surnamed Wen applied for a bank card from Chongqing's Humen subbranch of the Agricultural Bank of China last year. On the evening of April 5 this year, she received a text message from the bank that informed her that someone was using her account, and later found that 30,000 yuan was missing, the Nanfang Daily reported. It was learned that someone had installed a pinhole camera and a card reader in the bank's ATM and stole Wen's bank-card information and password while she was using the ATM. The suspect later cloned her bank card and made 10 withdraws from the same ATM. Wen sued the bank, and the court ruled the bank was neglectful of taking precautions and should compensate Wen for 80% of her losses. The court declared Wen responsible for 20% because she didn't report the loss promptly.

University offers 'zombie class'

The University of Baltimore is offering a new class on Zombies, the Daily Telegraphreported.

The University of Baltimore is offering a new class on Zombies, the Daily Telegraph reported. The course will be taught by the author Arnold Blumberg, who wrote a book about zombie movies. Students taking the course will watch 16 classic zombie films and read zombie comics. As an alternative to a final research paper, they may write scripts or draw storyboards for their ideal zombie flicks. The university is not the first to have a class on the undead. Columbia College in Chicago has offered a course on zombies in popular media for years.

WHO: Vaccines safe

China's vaccines have been used for a long time during routine measles vaccinations and proved as an effective immunity barrier against measles, said Peter Strebel of the WHO's Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Tuesday, Xinhua reported. Strebel's remarks were in response to some parents' concerns whether the quality of the vaccines could be guaranteed. China is to provide measles vaccinations for about 100 million children nationwide from September 11 to 20 in a bid to eliminate the disease.

Suicides cost Japan US$32 bln

The Japanese government says suicide and depression cost its economy almost 2.7 trillon yen (US$32 billion) last year, BBC reported. The figures refer to lost incomes and the cost of treatment. It is the first time Japan has released such figures. Japan has one of the world's highest suicide rates, with more than 32,000 people killing themselves last year. The government is setting up a task force to try to reduce the rate.

Gaga dons meat bikini for Vogue

Lady Gaga appears on the cover ofVogueJapan clad in a red-meat bikini, the Daily Mail reported. The bikini is strung together from other cuts of red meat - as bright as her red lipstick - and draped strategically over her body. The cover has prompted a furious response from animal-rights groups.

World's most outrageous bras

Since 2004, sculptor Laura Ann Jacobs has been creating risqué fine art inspired by women's lingerie from her studios in San Francisco and Palm Beach, Fla, AOL News reported. Her body of work includes more than 100 unusual, ornate sculptures of bras and corsets. Her snappiest masterpiece in the bunch is a bra made entirely out of real crab shells and lobster claws.

(China.org.cn September 9, 2010)