英闻天下——323 China's Outbound Tourism Booms

The recent Chinese Spring Festival, a seven-day-holiday, was a golden period for outbound travel as well as a good start to this year's expected growth in the travel industry. Zhou Jingnan has some insights. A survey by the China Tourism Academy indi

英闻天下——324 Movie "Argo" Criticized in Iran

Ben Affleck's film 'Argo' tells the story of the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979 and the resulting operation to get US diplomatic staff out of the country. Many Hollywood films like 'Argo' though are not screened in cinemas in Iran but p

英闻天下——325 Jerusalem 'Ice City' Festival - A Carnival for All

Residents of Jerusalem swarmed into the city's Old Train Station compound on the first day of this year's 'Ice City' Festival to embrace the long-awaited ice world. Three 12-year-old girls Einav, Yael and Maayan enjoy themselves on an ice slide featu

英闻天下——326 China, Russia Discuss N. Korea Nuclear Test

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have agreed that any international responses to North Korea's recent nuclear test should be conducive to regional peace and stability. After a meeting in Moscow, the forei

英闻天下——327 Park Geun-hye Reacts to Nuclear Test

South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye met with US and South Korean army officials on Friday to ascertain her country's military readiness following North Korea's recent nuclear test. The South Korean government and I will not accept North Korea'

英闻天下——328 High-end Catering Business Affected by Policy Promoting Frugality

In a nationwide survey by the China Dining Industry Association, high-end restaurants whose income mainly comes from business dinners fell by about 20 percent during the Spring Festival period. Liu Wei, a manager of a high-end restaurant in Beijing,

英闻天下——329 China's Labor Market Still Faces Tight Pressure

Figures from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security reveal that this year, an estimated 25 million people will be looking for jobs. The employment market pressure is still big. In some labor intensive industry concentrated areas, like Gu

英闻天下——321 Spring and Autumn Break Draws Mixed Views

China's State Council recently encouraged local governments to experiment with giving primary and high school students a spring and autumn break. Students in China currently have only two breaks - usually two months in summer and one month in winter

英闻天下——320 Paying after Medical Treatment

China's Ministry of Health is promoting a new medical payment system which will allow patients to pay after they receive medical treatment. More than 20 provincial regions are carrying out the payment program in local hospitals on a trial basis. But

英闻天下——319 School Sued over Portrait of Jesus

Ohio's Jackson City school district is fighting a lawsuit demanding the removal of a portrait of Jesus that has hung in a middle school hallway for 66 years. The American Civil Liberties Union and its partners contend the portrait is government endor

英闻天下——318 Toxic Dye Found in School Uniforms

An investigation has revealed six garment manufacturers in Shanghai have made school uniforms using toxic dye. The city's quality watchdog says it found aromatic amine dye in uniforms sold to 21 primary and middle schools across the city. China's nat

英闻天下——317 500 Million Benefit from Natural Gas in Central Asia

China's first transnational natural gas pipeline, which runs from Central Asia into China, is reported to have benefited nearly 500-million Chinese people. The pipeline, which is constructed by China National Petroleum Corporation, has so far transmi

英闻天下——316 Regulations Promoting Saving Take Effect

In Guangzhou city, the capital of Guangdong Province, the tradition of local enterprises is to hold a banquet to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. But this year, many companies have cancelled their banquet. One staff member at a local Guangzho

英闻天下——315 Italy's Upcoming Election and Its Impact

Ballots are being distributed to the polling stations nationwide as Italy prepares for its general elections this weekend. Opinion polls show that Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Democratic Party with almost zero name recognition outside Italy, is

英闻天下——314 Japan PM's Statement Needs Clarification: China

In an interview with the Washington Post ahead his US visit, Abe says China has a deeply ingrained need to spar with Japan and other Asian neighbors over territorial issues. The Japanese prime minister says the ruling Communist Party of China uses th

英闻天下——313 Green Automakers Steps up Patent Applications

The State Intellectual Property Office is reporting patent applications by new energy vehicle manufacturers here in China have surpassed 2 thousand. This is the 3rd highest in the world only behind Japan and the US. Gan Shaoning is the Deputy Directo

英闻天下——312 China Rumored to Tighten Housing Policies

It is being reported China is going to further tighten the curbing policies for second-time homebuyers. Down payment ratio is likely to be raised to 70 percent and lending rate could also be set at 1.3 times the benchmark rate - currently that rate s

英闻天下——310 UN Marks 2013 as Int'l Year of Quinoa

The United Nations has officially launched 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa and congratulated Bolivian President Evo Morales for his work in promoting the ancient grain in international markets. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a co

英闻天下——309 Dutch FM Visits Indonesia to Strengthen Ties

Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans is set to offer water management experience to the Indonesian government during his visit there. He is scheduled for talks with his counterpart Marty Natalegawa and says flooding issues are something both count

英闻天下——308 Top Legislator Recognizes Macao's Achievements

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo says the Central government fully recognizes the achievements of the Macao Special Administrative Region government. Speaking at the conference marking 20 years since Macao's Basic Law was declared, he said everythin