News in review

Monday____December 4

Mist cannon among tools used to fight heavy smog

Heavy smog that has been covering many cities in northern China has caused some authorities to bring out pollution-fighting artillery.

The mist cannon, which is not well-known but gaining popularity, is a large machine mounted on a truck that sprays water mist.

It was initially used at construction sites and mines to reduce dust. But engineers have improved the machines to make them release tinier droplets of mist for combating fine airborne particles, said Xu Yuexin, an engineer with Beijing Capital Group Boom-sound Environment Science & Technology Co Ltd, which provides the mist cannon service in parts of the capital.

Service sector index hits 16-month high

China's services sector expanded at its quickest rate in 16 months in November, a private survey showed.

The Caixin China General Services PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) hit 53.1 in November, up from 52.4 in October, according to a survey conducted by financial information service provider Markit sponsored by Caixin Media Co Ltd.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 represents contraction.

The surveyed companies said the expansion was due to increased new projects and orders, with job creation posting the fastest rate in one-and a-half years, the survey showed.

Confronted with a prolonged slowdown, China has channeled energy into the services sector to offset flagging manufacturing and lackluster exports. In the first three quarters, services made up 58.5 percent of GDP growth, up 3.4 percentage points

Tuesday____December 5

China, Australia agree to open aviation market

China and Australia have agreed to open the aviation market between the two countries.

The new arrangements announced on Sunday will remove all capacity restrictions between Australia and China for each country's airlines, allowing Australian tourism businesses to take advantage of the largest and fastest growing consumer market in the world.

The two countries have seen a boom of direct flights in recent months. Air China, China's national flag carrier, started its Chengdu-Sydney line in November this year, while China Southern Airline is expected to begin its Guangzhou-Adelaide service in December. Australia's flag carrier Qantas also announced it will relaunch its daily service from Sydney to Beijing in January.

Sold floor space ends 21-month rise amid curbs

China's property market continued to cool down as total floor space of sold apartments in major Chinese cities in November experienced the first year-on-year decline in 21 months.

In November, some 19.9 million square meters were sold in 30 major cities, 4.2 percent less than the same period last year, according to statistics compiled by E-house China R&D Institute.

The decline came after Chinese authorities introduced a slew of measures in October to rein in house prices and contain speculative house purchases, including purchase limits and tougher mortgage limits.

The year-on-year decline is expected to continue in December with less speculative home buyers, said Yan Yuejin, senior researcher with E-house China R&D Institute.

It proves the effectiveness of the cooling policies and means narrowed home price rises in a more stabilized market, Yan said. (Photo 1)

Wednesday____December 6

Parks to step up protection of pandas, big cats

China will establish a national park system to increase the protection of giant pandas, Siberian tigers and Amur leopards, according to a decision made by the country's leading group for overall reform.

A pilot program for a national park system will help increase the integrity, connectivity and coordination of the habitats of the three endangered animal species in China, according to a statement released after a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms.

The giant panda, Siberian tiger and Amur leopard, among the world's most endangered species, have been put under top national protection.

There are fewer than 70 Amur leopards in the world, most of which live in Russia's Far East, the northeastern provinces of China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. (Photo 2)

Student test scores down from 2012

Chinese students' scores fell across the board in science, reading and mathematics in the 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests compared with a 2012 assessment, though they were able to retain their top 10 ranking in science and math.

Students in Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Shanghai took the two-hour test, administered last year by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In 2012, Shanghai was the only Chinese mainland city partaking in the assessment. Shanghai has been participating in the PISA since 2009.

Students in Beijing-Shanghai-Jiangsu-Guangdong, as denoted by the OECD in the assessment, scored a median 518 in science in 2015, compared with the 580 that students from Shanghai scored in 2012. They scored 494 in reading in 2015, compared with 570 in 2012, and 531 in mathematics, compared with 613 in 2012.

Thursday____December 7

Traditional Chinese medicine catching on globally

A white paper released by the State Council Information Office outlines China's efforts to promote international exchanges and cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine. The paper, Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, said TCM has spread to 183 countries and regions.

According to the World Health Organization, 103 member states have given approval to the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, 29 have enacted special statutes regarding traditional medicine, and 18 have included acupuncture and moxibustion treatments in their medical insurance provisions, the white paper said.

TCM has gradually gained more international acceptance, from Russia to the United Arab Emirates.

Many countries have expressed hopes of working more closely with China on TCM.

Shanghai welcomes new smoking ban

The World Health Organization and some members of the public said they welcome an extended smoking ban in Shanghai, which is aimed at shielding residents from secondhand smoke.

The new regulation prohibiting smoking at all public indoor venues and indoor working areas was recently approved by the city's legislative body, the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, and will take effect in March next year.

Other locations included in the extended smoking ban are a greater number of outdoor places, such as artistic performance and sports venues, open areas at maternity and infant hospitals and the bus stops.

The regulation was passed 10 days before the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion, which was held this week.

Friday____December 9

Michael Jordan wins trademark case

US basketball icon Michael Jordan welcomed China's top court's ruling in trademark case on Thursday.

The Supreme People's Court overturned two decisions made by Beijing courts against the former NBA star from 2014 to 2015, asking the State Administration for Industry and Commerce to issue a ruling over the use of the Chinese characters in the brand name "Qiaodan".

Jordan had been in a series of disputes with a Fujian-based company, Qiaodan Sports, because he claimed that the Chinese company registered multiple trademarks by using "Qiaodan", a transliteration of Jordan's surname, which violated his rights.

"I am happy that the Supreme People's Court has recognized the right to protect my name through its ruling in the trademark cases," Jordan said in a statement.

Chinese businessman bankrolls US brain research

Chen Tianqiao, once ranked the richest man in China, and his wife are donating $115 million to efforts to crack the fundamental principles that underlie brain function.

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the United States announced the gift from Chen and his wife Luo Qianqian Chrissy, cofounders of China's Shanda Group.

The money will be used for inter-disciplinary neuroscience research to "deepen understanding of the brain-the most powerful biological and chemical computing machine-and how it works at the most basic level as well as how it fails because of disease or through the aging process," a statement from Caltech said.

The university in Pasadena, California, will establish a neuroscience institute named after the couple. It will house a range of research investigations from deciphering the basic biology of the brain to understanding sensation, perception, cognition, and human behavior.

(China Daily USA 12/09/2016 page12)