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Use of mobile Web overtakes computers

The number of people who surf the Internet using mobile devices in China has for the first time exceeded the number using computers to go online, an industry report says.

The number increased by 14.42 million over the past six months, meaning that 83.4 percent of China's Internet surfers are now using mobile phones to go online, said the report by the China Internet Network Information Center, a government-backed industry administrative body.

The total number of Chinese netizens was 632 million by the end of June, 527 million of whom logged onto the World Wide Web through their smartphones, the report said.

Call for research push to make greener jets

China should step up research and development so it can produce advanced aviation materials and build aircraft that are greener and more competitive, an expert says.

"Advanced materials can reduce an aircraft's weight, lowering fuel consumption and cutting back its ecological footprint," said Cao Chunxiao, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and senior researcher at the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials.

Aircraft have traditionally been made of aluminum alloy, but composite materials and titanium alloy are becoming increasingly attractive to manufacturers.

Extensive use of composite materials and titanium alloy means the Boeing 787 Dreamliner uses 8 percent less fuel than aircraft made of traditional materials, Cao said.

New scare hits fast-food chains

Shanghai has shut a food factory for allegedly selling out-of-date meat to restaurant giants including McDonald's and KFC.

A Shanghai television channel that first reported the allegations on July 20 said workers at Shanghai Husi Food Co Ltd mixed expired meat with fresh product and deliberately misled quality inspectors from McDonald's.

Gu Zhenhua, deputy director of the city's Food and Drug Administration, said it had ordered the company to suspend production and seized food and raw materials for investigation.

Shanghai Husi Food is a subsidiary of the food company OSI Group of Chicago.

McDonald's and Yum Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, said on July 21 that they have stopped buying meat products from the Shanghai supplier and that they have zero tolerance for illegal behavior in food safety.

China's air quality improved slightly in the first half of this year compared with the corresponding period last year, but aggravated ozone pollution became a prominent problem across the country, the Environmental Protection Ministry says.

In 74 major cities, air quality was good 60.3 percent of the time from January to June. The figure was 58.7 percent during that period last year. In addition, the frequency, duration and pollution concentration of severely polluted days all fell this year.

A ministry official who wished to remain anonymous said the improvement came from tougher policies adopted after the Airborne Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan was issued last September, and more favorable weather conditions.

Endangered monkey makes a comeback

The number of snub-nosed monkeys in Hongla Mountain National Nature Reserve, in Markam county of the Tibet autonomous region, has increased in recent years, a local official says.

The population of the monkeys, which are under China's level-one protection, has grown from fewer than 400 in the 1980s to nearly 800, thanks to a special national fund and the enhanced awareness of local residents, said Rentsing Pyingtsuo, head of Markam's Bureau of Forestry.

The Hongla Mountain area is a major habitat of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. Last year it was established as a national-level nature reserve to protect the rare species.

Wineries seek growth in China

Argentine wines are prospering despite a major shift in the Chinese wine market and are positioning themselves for an even brighter future.

Last year Argentine wine exports to China rose 28 percent in value to $21 million and 18 percent in volume to 472,000 cases, says Wine of Argentina, an association that represents 250 Argentine wineries.

By contrast, overall wine imports by China fell 4.1 percent in value and 4.4 percent in volume last year, the International Organization of Vine and Wine reported in May.

The anti-graft campaign started at the end of 2012 prohibited government and state-owned enterprises from lavish spending and receiving gifts, previously two key drivers of the Chinese wine market.

Young footballers up there with the stars

The Chinese beverage producer JDB Group says it has invested 10 million yuan (1.2 million euros, $1.67 million) in a program to send young footballers to receive professional training in Argentina.

The first group left Beijing for Argentina on July 12, the eve of the World Cup final in Brazil. Fifteen boys aged 14 to 17 joined a two-week session at the Atletico Boca Juniors Club and Atletico River Plate Club.

Sixty young players will be selected for the 17-day program, which includes physical training, friendship games and communication with professionals.

Mandela recalled as nation honors friend

Amid worldwide celebrations recently to honor the first Nelson Mandela International Day without the former South African president, China and South Africa have moved closer together by jointly celebrating his legacy.

"In line with the spirit of Nelson Mandela, we hope the event is going to touch the hearts of many people and mobilize goodwill to help the unfortunate ones," said Bheki Langa, South Africa's ambassador to China.

He made the remarks at the Nelson Mandela Charity Ball in Beijing to mark the UN-designated Mandela Day, the late anti-apartheid hero's birthday, July 18. He died last December.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily Africa Weekly 07/25/2014 page3)