The elders play Taiji softball in Nantong City of east China's Jiangsu Province, August 6, 2009. People took part in different types of exercises throughout China to greet the first National Fitness Day, which falls on August 8. [Photo: Xinhua]
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A bald-headed songbird, or bulbul, with a nearly featherless, pink face has been discovered in a rugged region of Laos, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WSC) said on Thursday.
It marks Asia's first description of a new species of bulbul -- a family of about 130 species -- in over 100 years. Besides, the thrush-sized bird is noteworthy because it is the only known bald songbird in mainland Asia. It marks Asia's first description of a new species of bulbul -- a family of about 130 species -- in over 100 years. Besides, the thrush-sized bird is noteworthy because it is the only known bald songbird in mainland Asia.
A description of the new species, dubbed the Bare-faced Bulbul, is published in the latest issue of the Oriental Bird Club's journal Forktail. A description of the new species, dubbed the Bare-faced Bulbul, is published in the latest issue of the Oriental Bird Club's journal Forktail.
The bird is said to be found in an area of sparse forest on rugged limestone karsts -- a little-visited habitat known for unusual wildlife discoveries. The bird is said to be found in an area of sparse forest on rugged limestone karsts -- a little-visited habitat known for unusual wildlife discoveries.
"Its apparent restriction to rather inhospitable habitat helps to explain why such an extraordinary bird with conspicuous habits and a distinctive call has remained unnoticed for so long," said Iain Woxvold of the University of Melbourne, who made the discovery along with WSC researchers. "Its apparent restriction to rather inhospitable habitat helps to explain why such an extraordinary bird with conspicuous habits and a distinctive call has remained unnoticed for so long," said Iain Woxvold of the University of Melbourne, who made the discovery along with WSC researchers.
Although much of the bird's presumed habitat falls within legally protected areas in Laos, quarrying of limestone looms as a potential threat to wildlife in this area, along with habitat conversion for agriculture, the researchers warned in a statement. Although much of the bird's presumed habitat falls within legally protected areas in Laos, quarrying of limestone looms as a potential threat to wildlife in this area, along with habitat conversion for agriculture, the researchers warned in a statement.
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Four passengers died and 34 were injured after a train derailed in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region early Wednesday due to a rain-triggered landslide.
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People came to rescue after train 1473, from Xiangfan of central Hubei Province to Zhanjiang of Guangdong Province, derailed in Liuzhou City of Guangxi at 4:22 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2009. [Photo: Xinhua]
Hundreds of taxi drivers in northeast China's Mudanjiang City Thursday continued to stage sit-ins before local Party and government office buildings in protest over the local government's plan to reform the current taxi operating system, said a city government spokesman Thursday.
Zhao Shiyuan, secretary general of Mudanjiang City Government, said the city government had to mobilize taxi drivers from neighboring cities to offer taxi services and help alleviate traffic pressure caused by the strike of local taxi drivers that began a week ago.
China shares border with Russia via Mudanjiang, a tourist city in Heilongjiang Province and more than 300 kilometers away from Harbin, the provincial capital. Mudanjiang City has 2.8 million permanent residents and has 2,705 taxis in service, most of which are privately run, said Zhao.
The departments of communications and public security in Mudanjiang City published Provisional Measures Regarding Management of Urban Taxis in Mudanjiang City (draft) on July 20 and solicited opinions from the public.
The draft document of Provisional Measures Regarding Management of Urban Taxis in Mudanjiang City stipulates that taxis bought before July 20 this year could be awarded with another eight years of operating term each if the eight-year-long usage span of the taxis matures. Taxis bought after July 20 or remaining unchanged hands will only be awarded eight years of operating rights each.
"Misinterpretation by the part of cabbies is the cause of the strike," said Zhao, who added the draft document was open to discussions and could be improved based on opinions aired by taxi drivers.
Mayor Zhang Jingchuan has held dialogues with some of the drivers with the hope of bringing the drivers back to work, but the efforts have been fruitless.
The taxi drivers began their strike on July 23.
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Zhuo Lin, widow of China's late leader Deng Xiaoping, died in Beijing Wednesday. She was 93.
She died of illness at 12:30 pm after medical treatment failed, said a statement issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. She died of illness at 12:30 pm after medical treatment failed, said a statement issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
[Read more: crienglish]
Time: 8:50 am, July 22, 2009. Location: Chongqing [Xinhuanet]
Time: 8:53 am, July 22, 2009. Location: Chongqing [Xinhuanet]
Time: 8:59 am, July 22, 2009. Location: Chongqing [Xinhuanet]
Time: 9:05 am, July 22, 2009. Location: Chongqing [Xinhuanet]
Time: 9:07 am, July 22, 2009. Location: Chongqing [Xinhuanet]
Time: 9:16 am, July 22, 2009. Location: Chongqing [Xinhuanet]
Apple Inc's iPhone may debut in China sooner than expected after the US tech firm Wednesday was reported to have started manufacturing the Chinese edition of its popular smart phone.
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Vice Minister Tian Jin of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (L), and CRI Director-General Wang Gengnian, launch the CRImobile service during a ceremony on Thursday, July 16, 2009 in Beijing. CRImobile is a multimedia website optimized for a wide range of mobile devices. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
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