Podcasts about beijing capital international airport

Fueled by China's visa-free policies for visitors from more than 50 countries and the coordinated growth of cultural tourism and business exhibitions, top-tier Chinese cities have reported significant increases in the total amount of tax refunded to foreign travelers so far this year, according to Customs data.海关数据显示，受惠于中国对50多个国家旅客实施免签政策，以及文化旅游和商务展览业协同发展的带动，今年以来，中国主要城市向境外旅客办理的离境退税总额大幅增长。For example, Customs authorities at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, an aviation hub in South China's Guangdong province, verified over 4,600 departure tax refund applications from overseas travelers in the first four months of 2025, with the total value of these applications reaching 104 million yuan ($14.46 million) and the refunded tax amount exceeding 13 million yuan—up 195 percent, 149 percent and 150 percent year-on-year, respectively.例如，2025年前四个月，广州白云国际机场海关共审核境外旅客离境退税申请4600余份，总金额达1.04亿元人民币（约合1446万美元），退税金额逾1300万元人民币，同比分别增长195%、149%和150%。"I had a fantastic time and bought many things as well, including a new smartphone and some kitchen appliances," said Jao Shu-Min, a traveler from Australia, while going through the departure tax refund process at the declaration counter of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, information provided by Guangzhou Customs showed.广州海关提供的信息显示，来自澳大利亚的旅客饶淑敏（音译）在广州白云国际机场申报柜台办理离境退税时表示：“我玩得很开心，还买了很多东西，包括一部新的智能手机和一些厨房用具。”Her tax refund application listed the names, unit prices and tax amounts of the purchased items, with a refund rate of 11 percent.她的退税申请单上列出了所购商品的品名、单价和税额，退税率为11%。"In the past, I was always worried that visa procedures might delay my travel plans," said Chloe Elizabeth, a traveler from the United Kingdom, who received a tax refund of 2,600 yuan at the declaration counter of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in early May.来自英国的旅客克洛伊·伊丽莎白表示：“以前，我总是担心签证手续会耽误我的旅行计划。”5月初，她在广州白云国际机场申报柜台办理了2600元人民币的退税。"China's visa-free transit policy saved us time and prompted my spontaneous decision to visit. Overall, the experience of sightseeing and shopping has been excellent," she said.“中国的过境免签政策节省了我们的时间，促使我当场做出了前往中国的决定。总的来说，观光和购物的体验非常棒。”她说道。Around 2,120 kilometers from Guangzhou, Customs authorities at Beijing Capital International Airport processed a total of 6,108 departure tax refund applications between January and April, with refund invoices totaling 316.81 million yuan and tax refunds amounting to 40.55 million yuan.距广州约2120公里的北京首都国际机场海关在1月至4月期间共受理离境退税申请6108份，开具退税发票3.1681亿元人民币，实际退税金额4055万元人民币。During the five-day May Day holiday this year, a total of 435 tax refund applications were verified at Beijing Capital International Airport, jumping 105.19 percent on a yearly basis. The total value of the verified refund invoices reached 11.98 million yuan, up 181.41 percent year-on-year, statistics from Beijing Customs showed.北京海关统计数据显示，今年“五一”假期期间，北京首都国际机场共受理退税申请435份，同比增长105.19%，已核准退税发票金额1198万元人民币，同比增长181.41%。China began implementing a nationwide tax refund policy for international tourists in early April, replacing the traditional refund-at-departure system with a more efficient refund-at-purchase model.中国于4月初开始在全国范围内实施国际游客退税政策，以更高效的购物退税模式取代传统的离境退税制度。The upgraded tax refund policy, initially implemented in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, has been expanded to a nationwide rollout.升级后的退税政策已率先在北京、上海和广东省深圳等城市实施，目前已在全国范围内推广。Under the updated policy, eligible tourists can now receive tax refunds immediately at the point of purchase, eliminating the need to wait until departure, said Zhao Zhao, deputy head of Customs at Beijing Daxing International Airport.北京大兴国际机场海关副关长赵兆表示，根据新政策，符合条件的游客现在可以在购物时立即办理退税，无需等到离境。To attract more overseas visitors, China rolled out a new policy in late April allowing foreign travelers to claim departure tax refunds for same-store purchases of 200 yuan per day—down from the previous threshold of 500 yuan, according to the Ministry of Commerce.据商务部称，为吸引更多海外游客，中国于4月底推出了一项新政策，允许外国旅客在同店购物满200元人民币即可办理离境退税，门槛由之前的500元人民币下调至200元人民币。Driven by favorable visa-free and tax refund policies, Shanghai Customs verified a total of 36,000 departure tax refund applications in the first four months, marking a year-on-year increase of 137.4 percent.在优惠的免签和退税政策推动下，上海海关今年前4个月共审核离境退税申请3.6万份，同比增长137.4%。During the same period, Shanghai Customs facilitated the movement of 13.86 million inbound and outbound travelers, 83,000 flights and 233 cruise ships, up 26.8 percent, 15.3 percent and 111.8 percent year-on-year, respectively.同期，上海海关共办理进出境旅客1386万人次、航班8.3万架次、邮轮233艘次，分别同比增长26.8%、15.3%和111.8%。uptick/ˈʌptɪk/n.小幅增长；微升threshold/ˈθreʃhoʊld/n.门槛；起始点；临界值verify/ˈverɪfaɪ/v.核实，确认facilitate/fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/v.促进，使便利

On a four-day transit to Beijing, two siblings from Poland who visited several places said they were very impressed by China after experiencing the city's advanced services for foreign tourists.在4天的北京中转旅行中，一对来自波兰的兄妹参观了多个景点，并表示在体验了北京为外国游客提供的先进服务后，对中国留下了深刻印象。"We noticed we could pay with cash, card, or by scanning a QR code, and we were surprised to learn that facial recognition could also be used for payments," said Dagmara Paszkowska, who was visiting China with her brother Norbert.“我们注意到可以使用现金、刷卡或通过扫描二维码支付，而且还可以通过面部识别来支付，这让我们非常惊讶，”达格玛拉·帕斯科夫斯卡说道，她与哥哥诺伯特正在中国旅行。As soon as foreign visitors arrive at the city's two major airports—Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport—they will see Beijing Service counters, which are part of a new mobile payment and travel and transportation initiative that was launched on Jan 1 to facilitate visitors from abroad.外国游客一抵达北京的两大机场——北京首都国际机场和北京大兴国际机场，便会看到“北京服务”柜台。1月1日起，两大机场启动了一项创新举措，提供移动支付、旅游、交通等方面的服务以便利外国游客，该柜台就是举措的部分内容。The Chinese capital's launch of the Beijing Service counters at the airports coincides with a surge in international arrivals propelled by China's extended visa-free policies, which offer transit visa-free access to travelers from 54 countries and exempts passport holders from 38 countries from needing visas for short stays.中国首都北京在机场推出“北京服务”柜台之际，恰逢中国延长免签政策推动国际旅客入境数量激增。该政策为来自54个国家的旅客提供中转免签入境便利，并免除38个国家护照持有人的短期停留签证要求。Wang Hongyan, deputy head of the Beijing Bureau of Culture and Tourism's external exchange and cooperation department, said at a news conference on Monday that a daily average of 252 foreign nationals now enter Beijing with a temporary 240-hour entry permit. Before the policies were extended, the maximum stay with such a permit was 144 hours.1月13日，北京市文化和旅游局对外交流与合作处副处长王红彦在新闻发布会上表示，目前每天平均有252名外国公民持临时240小时入境许可进入北京。在延长政策实施前，持此类许可的最长停留时间为144小时。In 2024, Beijing recorded 3.94 million inbound visits, up 186.8 percent year-on-year. The city's tourism foreign exchange income reached $4.91 billion, an increase of 151.7 percent year-on-year, according to the bureau.据该局统计，2024年，北京市入境游客达到394万人次，同比增长186.8%。北京市旅游外汇收入达到49.1亿美元，同比增长151.7%。"We have been making efforts to improve the foreign visitors' overall experience in the city, including customer service, transportation, accommodations, sightseeing, shopping and payment," Wang said. "More service improvements will be carried out in Beijing, and we expect a 5 percent increase in inbound tourists in 2025."王红彦表示：“我们一直在努力提升外国游客在北京的整体体验，包括客户服务、交通住宿、观光购物和支付等方面。北京将推出更多服务改进措施，预计2025年入境游客数量将增长5%。”At the international arrival zones at Beijing's two international airports, Beijing Service counters provide foreigners with one-stop service for a range of financial, communication, transportation, culture and tourism needs.在北京两大国际机场的国际抵达区，“北京服务”柜台为外国旅客提供金融、通讯、交通、文旅等需求的一站式服务。Some foreign visitors say they are amazed by China's convenient digital payment system, though they are not familiar with it upon their arrival.一些外国游客表示，虽然他们刚抵达时对中国的数字化支付系统还不熟悉，但随后便为其便捷程度感到惊叹。The counters also offer assistance with cash withdrawals using foreign bank cards and currency exchange, and staff members can help visitors download mobile payment apps.柜台还能协助使用外国银行卡取款、货币兑换，工作人员可以帮助游客下载移动支付应用程序。In addition, foreigners at the airports can purchase a Beijing Pass, which is a versatile, rechargeable transportation card issued by the Beijing municipal government. Cardholders can not only use public transportation services in 300 cities, but can also use the pass in designated commercial, cultural and tourism areas.此外，外国游客还可以在机场购买“北京通”卡，这是由北京市政府发行的一种多功能、可充值的交通卡。持卡人不仅可在300个城市乘坐公共交通，还可在指定的商业、文旅区域刷卡消费。According to the bureau, up to 39,000 Beijing Pass cards have been issued to foreign visitors since the program's launch in July.据该局介绍，自7月该项目启动以来，已向外国游客发放了3.9万张“北京通”卡。To better introduce Beijing's traditional culture, the city now even offers free half-day trips to international transit passengers at Beijing Capital International Airport, according to the bureau.北京文旅局还表示，为了更好地介绍北京的传统文化，现在北京市甚至为北京首都国际机场的国际中转旅客提供免费半日游。Katia Houle, a representative for Trip.com, a travel platform, said that Beijing Express, a service that the company launched on Dec 27, enables visitors to register for free tours in the city.旅游平台携程网的代表卡蒂亚·胡尔表示，该公司于12月27日推出“北京快行”服务，游客可以注册并参加免费游京活动。"We offer free tours every single day. You sign up on the spot, and our tour guides are there," she said.“我们每天都提供免费旅游。您可以现场报名，我们的导游会在那里等候，”她说道。The first tour, which runs from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm, offers a direct trip from the airport to the Bada­ling section of the Great Wall and then returns to the airport. The second tour, from 1:30 pm to 9:00 pm, takes visitors downtown, where they visit the Temple of Heaven and pass Tian'anmen Square before returning to the airport.第一趟旅游线路为早上7:30至下午1:00，从机场直达八达岭长城段，然后返回机场。第二趟旅游线路为下午1:30至晚上9:00，带领游客前往市中心，参观天坛并途经天安门广场，最后返回机场。Recently, other Chinese cities, including Shanghai, have also attracted thousands of foreign visitors due to the visa-free policies. In recent months, for example, an increasing number of South Korean visitors have flocked to Shanghai because of the low flight ticket prices and the short flight distance.近期，包括上海在内的其他中国城市也因免签政策吸引了成千上万的外国游客。例如，近几个月来，由于机票价格低廉且飞行距离短，越来越多的韩国游客涌入上海。"I love the Shanghai style, which is fancy and modern," one South Korean who visited Shanghai last week posted on social media. "I went to several sightseeing spots in the city and tried delicious cuisine."“我喜欢上海的风格，既时尚又现代，”一名上周来上海旅游的韩国人在社交媒体上写道。“我参观了城市里的几个景点，还品尝了美食。”facilitatev.促进；使便利

China is set to expand its international flight operations this year, supported by new preferential policies such as visa-free transit for overseas tourists. The move aims to enhance sector development and return air traffic to 90 percent of the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Thursday."We will capitalize on the opportunities provided by new preferential policies, including visa-free travel for tourists in transit, and work to build a more robust international transfer market," said Song Zhiyong, head of the CAAC, during the administration's annual conference in Beijing.The initiative seeks to increase both passenger and cargo air traffic, strengthen China's global market connectivity and aid the country's post-pandemic recovery in the aviation sector. China is focusing on improving airport services and promoting cultural exchanges to position itself as a more attractive destination for international travelers.China's civil aviation sector, severely impacted by the pandemic, made a strong recovery last year, returning to profitability and cutting its losses by 20.6 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) compared to the previous year, according to Song.In 2024, China operated 6,400 weekly round-trip international passenger flights, 84 percent of its pre-pandemic levels. Air links with nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative expanded notably, with 19 new destinations added to China's air network last year.Passenger traffic increased 152.4 percent to destinations in Central Asia, 49.5 percent to West Asia and 25.7 percent to Europe, all above pre-pandemic levels. The bump in traffic created new opportunities for international travel and cross-border commerce.This year, China's economy is expected to generate fresh momentum, further enhancing prospects for the civil aviation market. According to the International Air Transport Association, global passenger traffic is forecast to exceed 5.2 billion trips in 2025, a 6.7 percent increase year-on-year.Recent milestonesChina's civil aviation sector has achieved significant milestones in recent years.Last year, the industry saw a record-high passenger volume of 730 million, and cargo/mail volume of 8.98 million metric tons, representing year-on-year increases of 17.9 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively. Compared to 2019, passenger traffic grew 10.6 percent, while cargo/mail volume rose 19.3 percent.This year, passenger volume is expected to reach 780 million, with cargo/mail volume projected at 9.5 million tons.A key driver behind China's expanding aviation sector has been the relaxation of visa policies.The Chinese government has eased visa requirements for international travelers, particularly those transiting through the country. Major airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport are spearheading efforts to improve the layover experience, making China an increasingly attractive transit hub.BCIA, a cornerstone of China's aviation infrastructure, has significantly enhanced its visa-free transit policies and passenger-centric initiatives. Recent upgrades include expanded global connections, streamlined immigration processes and enhanced visa-on-arrival services. For long-haul travelers, these improvements facilitate seamless connections and offer opportunities to explore nearby attractions during extended layovers.The airport has also invested in showcasing Chinese culture, introducing cultural exhibitions and art displays that celebrate the nation's heritage. For example, its art gallery now features rotating exhibitions of Chinese calligraphy, historical paintings and rare artifacts from ancient dynasties, providing international visitors a glimpse into China's rich cultural legacy.At Beijing Daxing International Airport, known for its futuristic design, efforts have focused on creating an immersive cultural experience for layover passengers. The recently renovated Ceramic Garden now serves as an interactive display highlighting China's ceramic heritage, enriching the airport experience and deepening international travelers' understanding of Chinese culture.Looking ahead, China's aviation sector is expected to continue its upward trajectory. With expanding international routes, a growing fleet of modern aircraft and increasingly flexible visa policies, China is well-positioned to remain a key player in the global aviation market.

The Malaysian government has agreed in principle to resume the search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook saidon Friday.12月20日，马来西亚交通部长安东尼·洛克·西弗·福克表示，马来西亚政府已原则上同意继续搜寻失踪的马来西亚航空公司370航班客机残骸。Loke told a press briefing that the cabinet has agreed in principle to accept the proposal from exploration firm Ocean Infinity to proceed with seabed search operations to locate MH370 in a new area estimated at 15,000 square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean.洛克在新闻发布会上说，内阁已原则上同意水下探测公司“海洋无限”的提议，将继续开展海底搜寻行动，在印度洋南部约1.5万平方公里的海底新区域寻找MH370航班。"This endeavor will be based on the 'no find, no fee' principle. Under this principle, the Malaysian government will not be required to pay Ocean Infinity unless the wreckage of the aircraft is discovered," he said.“此次搜寻行动将遵循‘无残骸，不收费'原则。依据这一原则，此次搜寻如未发现客机残骸，马来西亚政府将无需向“海洋无限”公司支付费用，”他说。Loke also said the proposed new search area, identified by the firm, is credible based on the latest information and data analyses conducted by experts and researchers.洛克还表示，该公司基于专家和研究人员开展的最新信息和数据分析而确定的新搜寻区域是可信的。The disappearance of MH370 was a tragic incident that occurred on March 8, 2014, when the Boeing 777, en route from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to Beijing Capital International Airport in China, vanished from radar screens with all 239 on board.MH370航班失踪是一起悲剧性事件。2014年3月8日，在从马来西亚吉隆坡国际机场飞往中国北京首都国际机场的途中，这架波音777飞机从雷达屏幕上消失，机上载有239人。resumev.（中断后）继续，重新开始

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Airport Encounter: A Heartwarming Tale of Gifts and Gratitude Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/airport-encounter-a-heartwarming-tale-of-gifts-and-gratitude Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京首都国际机场的免税店，夏天的阳光透过大窗户照进来，照亮了店里的每一个角落。En: At the duty-free shop of Beijing Capital International Airport, the summer sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating every corner of the store.Zh: 拥挤的人群中，明和佳都在为各自的重要任务而忙碌。En: Amid the bustling crowd, Ming and Jia were busy with their respective important tasks.Zh: 明是一个35岁的商人，他经常出差，这次他要回家。En: Ming, a 35-year-old businessman, traveled frequently and was on his way home this time.Zh: 明的女儿喜欢各种漂亮的小东西，所以他决定在免税店给她买一件特别的礼物。En: His daughter loved all kinds of beautiful little things, so he decided to buy her a special gift from the duty-free shop.Zh: 他走过香水柜台、饼干区，最后来到丝绸围巾的展示区。En: He walked past the perfume counter and the cookie area, finally arriving at the silk scarf display section.Zh: 佳是一位30岁的自由摄影师，刚刚完成一次拍摄任务，准备回家。En: Jia, a 30-year-old freelance photographer, had just finished a photography assignment and was also preparing to return home.Zh: 她妈妈喜欢收集特殊的小饰品，于是佳也决定在免税店里找到一个合适的纪念品。En: Her mother loved collecting unique little accessories, so Jia decided to find an appropriate souvenir in the duty-free shop.Zh: 她看中了丝绸围巾，因为这是充满北京特色的传统手工艺品。En: She was drawn to the silk scarves, as they were traditional handicrafts filled with Beijing's distinctive charm.Zh: 当明和佳同时看到一条美丽的丝绸围巾时，他们的眼中都闪烁着光芒。En: When Ming and Jia simultaneously spotted a beautiful silk scarf, their eyes lit up.Zh: 这是一条罕见的围巾，图案独特，颜色鲜艳。En: It was a rare scarf with a unique pattern and vibrant colors.Zh: 可是，店里只剩下这一条。En: However, there was only one scarf left in the shop.Zh: 明心想：“这真是我女儿的完美礼物，就这条了。En: Ming thought, "This is the perfect gift for my daughter; it's got to be this one."Zh: ”他伸手想拿。En: He reached out his hand to take it.Zh: 佳也想：“妈妈一定会喜欢这条围巾，太符合她的品味了！En: Jia also thought, "My mother would definitely love this scarf; it perfectly suits her taste!"Zh: ”她也伸出手去。En: She also reached out her hand.Zh: 他们的手指几乎同时触碰到围巾。En: Their fingers almost touched the scarf at the same time.Zh: 明和佳对望了一眼，气氛有些尴尬，但他们都很礼貌。En: Ming and Jia glanced at each other, the atmosphere slightly awkward yet polite.Zh: 明冲佳笑笑，说：“对不起，我想给我女儿买这条围巾。En: Ming smiled at Jia and said, "I'm sorry, I want to buy this scarf for my daughter."Zh: ”佳温柔地回笑道：“没关系。En: Jia softly smiled back and replied, "It's okay.Zh: 我也很想给我妈妈带回去，但看起来你更需要它。En: I also want to bring it back for my mother, but it seems you need it more."Zh: ”明想了想，真诚地说：“不如这样，我买这条围巾，你可以拍张照片留作纪念。En: Ming thought for a moment and sincerely said, "How about this: I'll buy the scarf, and you can take a photo of it as a keepsake."Zh: ”佳犹豫了一下，觉得这是个不错的主意。En: Jia hesitated for a moment and thought it was a good idea.Zh: 她点头道：“好啊，那就这么办。En: She nodded and said, "Alright, let's do that."Zh: ”明买下了那条围巾，佳用相机细心地拍下围巾的每一个细节。En: Ming bought the scarf, and Jia carefully photographed every detail of it with her camera.Zh: 她们都很开心，因为在这个喧闹的机场里，他们找到了完美的解决方案。En: They were both happy because, in the bustling airport, they had found a perfect solution.Zh: 明在回家的飞机上看着围巾，心里感叹道：“考虑别人的需求也是一种温暖。En: On the plane home, Ming looked at the scarf and thought to himself, "Considering other people's needs is also a kind of warmth."Zh: ”佳则在整理照片时微笑着想：“礼物背后的故事有时比礼物本身更珍贵。En: Jia smiled while organizing the photos and thought, "Sometimes the story behind the gift is more precious than the gift itself."Zh: ”于是，他们都在这次意外的相遇中学到了宝贵的东西。En: Thus, they both learned something valuable from this unexpected encounter.Zh: 明和佳，各自带着心中的温暖和感动，继续他们的旅程。En: Ming and Jia, each carrying warmth and a sense of gratitude in their hearts, continued their journeys. Vocabulary Words:duty-free shop: 免税店illuminating: 照亮bustling: 拥挤respective: 各自frequent: 经常souvenir: 纪念品freelance: 自由photography assignment: 拍摄任务traditional handicrafts: 传统手工艺品distinctive charm: 特色rare: 罕见unique pattern: 图案独特vibrant colors: 颜色鲜艳hesitated: 犹豫awkward: 尴尬sincere: 真诚delicate: 细心considering: 考虑gratitude: 感动wrapped: 包裹aesthetic: 美学的unveil: 揭开journey: 旅程whispered: 低语exquisite: 精致captured: 拍摄appreciate: 欣赏glanced: 对望momentarily: 一瞬间busyness: 喧闹

Send us a Text Message.https://www.patreon.com/AdeptusRidiculoushttps://www.adeptusridiculous.com/https://twitter.com/AdRidiculoushttps://orchideight.com/collections/adeptus-ridiculousMalaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370) was an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared from radar on 8 March 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The cause of its disappearance has not been determined.Support the Show.

Welcome wisdom seekers to The Brave New World Order! Straight out the dungeons of podcasting I am your host Brandon St. One! Thank you all for joining me for this episode as we swan dive head first so deep into the abyss! On March 4, 2014 Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 disappeared from radar while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China. There were 227 passengers and 12 crew members. It has not been determined what caused its disappearance. Ashton Forbes - https://twitter.com/JustXAshton https://t.co/rl9KbR8iol All Pertinent Evidence - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xwgnR6w9ub93RdDkPhYu_qEC7yDkHL9UeDPXondHuj4/edit Fake Eclipse - https://x.com/Thekeksociety/status/1784503821697249598 Red Horse Prophecy - https://x.com/0ccultbot/status/1784396673696883180 Website! https://thebravenewworldorderpodcast.com/ Email me: thebravenewworldorderpodcast@gmail.com Follow me on X/Twitter: @Bravenwopodcast If you enjoy The Brave New World Order Podcast buy me a coffee and help it grow! Much Love! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BRAVEnWo --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bravenwopodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bravenwopodcast/support

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a visit to China - offering a mixture of friendliness and warnings. We assess US-China relations and ask what, if anything, this visit could change.Also in the programme: the father of a US-Canadian aid worker killed in Gaza tells us the message he'd like today's memorial service to send to the world; and the possible dangers of yet another artificial sweetener - one that's hard to avoid if you like soft drinks, cakes or chewing gum.(MAGE: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at the Beijing Capital International Airport, in Beijing, China, April 25, 2024 / CREDIT: Mark Schiefelbein / Pool via REUTERS)

Beijing will continue to enhance its business environment to attract investment by introducing a series of foreigner-friendly measures and strengthen international exchanges, amid its comprehensive efforts to promote high-quality development.Yin Yong, mayor of Beijing, made the statement at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday morning."We know that creating a favorable business environment is the greatest support for enterprises," he said. "Beijing has taken various measures and listened to the opinions and suggestions from enterprises."For instance, during the past weekend, the city's senior officials visited companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Meituan and Alibaba in Beijing to better know their needs.On Thursday, Beijing will hold an international meeting at which the mayor will engage in face-to-face discussions with leaders of over a dozen internationally renowned multinational companies, listening to their insights on Beijing's business environment."We deeply understand that the business environment can always be improved, and there is no 'best', only 'better'," Yin said.According to the city government, in recent years, Beijing has implemented over 1,200 reform measures to improve the business environment, reducing procedures by over 60 percent."In the next step, we will focus on enhancing the sense of satisfaction for enterprises, striving to build the 'Beijing Service' brand for the business sector," he added.Beijing's efforts have won support from many big brands and companies.Zhou Xing from PricewaterhouseCoopers said that since its first permanent representative office was set up in Beijing in 1981, it has expanded investments in the capital to now have more than 5,500 employees in four offices, according to Beijing Daily."We look forward to more enterprises, entrepreneurs and investors coming to China, to Beijing, to truly experience the current multidimensional development," Zhou said, adding that the company will continue to play its role as a bridge, promoting the convergence of various domestic and international standards and assisting in promoting the sustainable development of Beijing.Furthermore, Xia Linmao, the city's executive vice-mayor, said at the news conference that Beijing will make greater efforts to address the concerns of foreign friends.For instance, in payment methods, Beijing will focus on enhancing the convenience of the use of cash, foreign bank cards and electronic payments, he said.Also, in areas with many foreign residents such as Chaoyang district and the sub city-center in Tongzhou district, efforts will be made to accelerate the construction of international schools and hospitals."Additionally, the process for handling mobile phone cards both online and offline will be further improved for foreigners," he added.At both Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport, the authorities have established service centers for overseas visitors' payments, and plan to expand the construction of the service centers to enable visitors to enjoy more integrated services such as tourism, transportation and telecommunications upon their arrival.In another development, Yu Yingjie, Party secretary of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, introduced a coming national-level event — the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum, which will be held for the first time at its newly constructed permanent venue from April 25 to 29."UNESCO will participate as a supporting unit at the forum for the first time", Yu said. "The forum will be even more internationalized, with more fruitful results."So far, 28 events have been organized at the forum, focusing on widely discussed topics such as large-scale model applications, cell and gene therapy, and quantum computing.Reporter: Du Juan

In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumper International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China. Sadly, the plane and its 239 passengers and crew did not reach their destination. The official narrative of why and where the plane went is still very much a mystery. Today we are joined by Citizen Journalist Ashton Forbes, who is leading the way in getting the truth as to what happened to the plane. Ashton breaks down the facts and theories and opens our minds to possibilities that might even be beyond our comprehension. check out: @JustXAshton - X - YouTube https://youtube.com/@JustXAshton?si=oA77G5pvf9M5zJVSWe are super excited to announce that you can now purchase Let's Get Freaky merch! Hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, stickers and lots more! Check it out! http://tee.pub/lic/aQprv54kktwSPONSOR Check out Braxton County, West Virgina for plenty of beauty and a hub for paranormal activity! Flatwoods Monster, Bigfoot, Haunted Towns and MORE!!Click the link and plan your visit! https://braxtonwv.org/freaky/If you have had any paranormal experiences and would like to be a guest on the show, please get in touch! Email us at letsgetfreakypodcast@outlook.com or message us on social media, Facebook-Instagram-Twitter-TikTok and YouTube @tcletsgetfreakypodcast https://linktr.ee/letsgetfreaky#LetsGetFreaky #LetsGetFreakyPodcast #FreakyFam #Paranormal 

Snow: Transportation, water supply services face pressure雨雪天气：交通、供水服务面临压力China's northern and central regions are experiencing heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures, which are posing serious challenges for public transportation and water supply services, and have prompted many schools to suspend classes.华北地区和中部地区正在经历一轮降雪和降温过程，给公共交通和供水服务带来严峻挑战，多所学校宣布停课。The National Meteorological Center on Monday renewed its blue warning — the lowest level of alert in a four-tier system — for cold waves across the country.中国国家气象局周一继续发布寒潮蓝色预警，该预警为四级气象预警中的最低一级。From Wednesday through Friday, blizzards are forecast in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces, with some areas expected to see more than 10 centimeters of snow cover on Sunday, the center said.气象局预报，周三到周五，山西、陕西、河南等省份将出现暴雪天气，周日，局部地区积雪厚度将超过10厘米。The weather will bring a significant drop in temperatures across several regions, including Northwest and Southwest China and parts of South China. Some areas may see temperatures plummet by more than 14 C.寒潮将引起全国多地大幅降温，包括西北、西南以及局部南方地区。一些地区的气温下降幅度将超过14℃。Beijing's first snowfall this winter arrived early on Monday, covering the Chinese capital in a mantle of white overnight and plunging the city into freezing temperatures, with even colder weather looming this week.周一凌晨，北京迎来了今年冬天的初雪，一夜之间，首都银装素裹，地冻天寒。而本周内，北京的气温还会继续下降。The city typically sees its first snow of the season between late November and February. More snowfall is expected this week, with temperatures forecast to plummet as low as -20 C.北京的冬季初雪一般在每年的11月底到次年的2月出现。本周内北京还将降雪，预计温度将降至-20℃。The Chinese capital last saw similarly frigid weather on Jan 7, 2021, when the mercury dropped to -19.6 C. Beijing's all-time low of -27.4 C — a record set on Feb 22, 1966 — remains unbroken.北京上一次出现类似的寒冷天气还是在2021年1月7日，当时的温度低至-19.6℃。而有史以来，北京的最低温度是1966年2月22日的-27.4℃。On Monday, Beijing's weather bureau warned of road icing in large parts of the city, with authorities restricting traffic on some expressways or partially closing sections.周一，北京市气象台发布道路预警信号，对部分高速公路采取交通管制措施，同时封闭部分路段。By 10 am, more than 60 flights had been canceled at the Beijing Capital International Airport. Railway authorities enforced speed limits on lines connecting Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, causing delays in train arrival and departure schedules. Services on more than 180 bus routes in the city were also suspended in the morning.截至上午10点，北京首都国际机场已有60多个航班被取消。铁路部门对京广高铁上下行列车采取限速运行措施，导致途经该区段的部分旅客列车晚点运行。北京近180条公交线路停运。Beijing's subway ran additional trains during peak hours on Monday, and extend the duration of its services on urban lines by 40 minutes and on suburban lines by one hour in anticipation of traffic disruptions caused by the heavy snowfall.为应对大雪造成的交通中断，北京地铁在周一高峰时段增开列车，延长市区线路高峰运力40分钟，郊区线路高峰运力1小时。In Central China's Henan province, schools suspended classes for the day in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, which recorded 14.2 millimeters of precipitation with a snow depth of 10 cm, as well as in Anyang.在中部地区的河南省，郑州和安阳的学校采取临时停课措施。郑州降雪量为14.2毫米，积雪深度10厘米。Lyu Xiaona, chief forecaster at the provincial meteorological office, warned of road icing, frozen power lines, low temperatures and strong winds. "Henan was expected to see two rounds of snowfall. The first spell happened on Sunday. The second is expected to start on Tuesday night," Lyu said.河南省气象台首席预报员吕晓娜提醒，预计将出现道路结冰、电线结冰、低温和强风现象。“预计河南将出现两轮降雪。周日将出现第一轮降雪。第二轮预计将于周二晚上开始。” 吕晓娜说。In Jinan, the capital of East China's Shandong province, authorities issued an advisory recommending off-peak working schedule to alleviate traffic pressure on the roads. Government departments and other organizations were urged to implement flexible working hours, except for essential services. Many schools held classes online on Monday.山东省济南市发布“应对强降雪天气实行错峰上下班倡议书”，建议错峰上班，缓解道路交通压力。除保障城市正常运转和便民服务岗位外，其他机关及企事业单位人员实行错峰上下班。周一，多校实施线上教学。Northeast China's Heilongjiang province was hit particularly hard over the weekend, with temperatures dropping between -25 C and -30 C in some areas on Sunday. The frigid weather is expected to last the whole week.本周末，黑龙江省受到极寒天气的严重影响，周日部分地区的气温降至-25℃至-30℃。未来一周，极寒天气预计将持续。Plummeting temperatures are posing serious challenges to water supply services. Emergency repair teams have been dispatched to areas where water pipes have been reported frozen, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.气温骤降给供水服务带来了严峻挑战。据中国中央电视台报道，紧急维修队已派往出现水管冻结的地点。In North China's Shanxi province, heavy snowfall and low temperatures have disrupted public transportation services. Special traffic control measures have been implemented on highways covered in snow, CCTV reported.在山西省，大雪和低温影响了公共交通服务。据中央电视台报道，交警对积雪路段以及结冰路段实施交通管控措施。Blizzard英/'blɪzəd/ 美/'blɪzɚd/n. 暴风雪

MH370 stands as one of the most enduring enigmas in aviation history. Vanishing on March 8, 2014, during its journey from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to Beijing Capital International Airport in China, its disappearance continues to confound experts and enthusiasts alike. In the wake of that fateful day, a slew of conspiracy theories emerged, adding intrigue to an already tragic event. However, in the contemporary landscape of social media, MH370 has once again risen to prominence. Recent ripples of interest have been generated by the resurfacing of alleged satellite data suggesting an unprecedented turn of events: the possibility that the aircraft was encircled by unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) mere moments before its inexplicable vanishing act. This striking notion has prompted a surge in discussions online, triggering debates about whether the airliner could have undergone teleportation or if these claims are simply part of an extravagant conspiracy fabric. In this intriguing discussion, our guest today presents a compelling perspective. Armed with what he deems to be substantive evidence, he asserts the authenticity of the rediscovered videos. He maintains that these videos may hold the key to unraveling the mysteries surrounding MH370's final moments.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3294569/advertisement

This week Scott takes us to 2014 to tell us the story of flight MH370. This was an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared while flying from Kuala LumpurI International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination,Beijing Capital International Airport in China. This episode is sponsored by: A & W Outdoor Services The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce All Star Property Group - Keller Williams Realty Easy Street, Restaurant, Bar, and Performance Hall Theme song is The Legend of Hannah Brady by the Shane Givens Band https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-legend-of-hannah-brady/1013006958?i=1013006965 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truecrimeoneasystreet/support

Two people died as of 4 pm on Monday and more than 52,000 were evacuated from flood-prone areas in Beijing as heavy rainfall triggered by Typhoon Doksuri pounded the capital for the third consecutive day.受台风“杜苏芮”的影响，北京自7月29日开始连续强降雨，截至31日下午16时，此轮强降雨导致2人死亡，转移受暴雨威胁民众超过5.2万人。The inclement weather led to the cancellation of dozens of flights, affected many bus routes and prompted city authorities to issue the highest alert for flooding.恶劣天气导致数十个航班取消，公交线路受到影响，北京市发布洪水红色预警。The onslaught of Doksuri, which plowed into eastern China's Fujian province on Friday and then moved toward northern China, was most pronounced in Beijing's western districts, including Mentougou and Fangshan.28日，台风“杜苏芮”登陆福建，随后向北部移动，并对北京西部的门头沟和房山等地区造成了显著的影响。Two people were found dead in a river in Mentougou on Monday morning following heavy downpours, which started on Saturday evening, according to the district government.门头沟区政府表示，29日晚间门头沟遭遇强降雨，8月1日在该区的河道中发现两具尸体。As of 3:30 pm on Monday, the average precipitation in the district reached 320.8 millimeters. A weather station on Miaofeng Mountain recorded the maximum rainfall — 580.9 mm.截至31日下午15点30分，门头沟区平均降雨量320.8毫米，妙峰山气象站测得最大雨量580.9毫米。More than 52,000 Beijing residents were relocated by Monday evening and all tourist attractions closed down to avoid potential risks, city authorities said.为了避免潜在风险，北京市有关部门表示，截至31日晚间，北京全市共转移受威胁群众5.2万余名，全市所有景区已关闭。A video uploaded by local media showed snapped tree branches and damaged cars, left behind by receding floodwaters, swamping riverbanks in Mentougou, which by Monday afternoon had evacuated 5,000 people.当地媒体上传的一段视频显示，洪水退去后折断的树枝和受损的汽车淹没了河岸。截至31日下午，门头沟区已转移群众5000人。Fangshan district also grappled with serious flooding. To curb the rising river levels, 2,000 police personnel were dispatched to help build dams.房山区同样遭遇了严重洪灾，2000名武警官兵驰援房山垒筑堤坝，防止河水暴涨导致的危险。Beijing received average rainfall of 170.9 mm in 40 hours, starting on Saturday night, which is equivalent to the city's average total rainfall for the month of July, official data showed.官方数据显示，从29日晚间起的40小时内，北京地区的平均降雨量为170.9毫米，与全市7月份平均总降雨量相当。The local water authority issued a red alert for flooding at 11 am on Monday, and people were advised to work from home.北京市水文总站于31日上午11点发布了洪水红色预警，并建议市民居家办公。The Beijing Meteorological Service said that heavy rainfall will continue in the city through Monday night, and some areas might experience rainstorms. It forecast light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday.北京市气象台表示，强降水将持续到31日晚间，局地暴雨。气象台预测1日将会有小到中雨。Vehicular traffic was severely affected on Monday as heavy rainfall flooded roads, and a road near a shopping center in western Beijing caved in on Sunday. More than 260 bus routes across the city suspended operations by 1 pm, according to the Beijing Public Transportation Group. All bus services in Yanqing and Huairou districts were suspended.31日，暴雨淹没道路，车辆交通受到严重影响。30日，北京西部一个购物中心外围道路坍塌。北京公交集团表示，截至下午13点，全市260多条公交线路暂停运营，延庆和怀柔地区暂停所有的公交服务。Beijing Capital International Airport canceled 40 flights, while many trains to and from Beijing were delayed. Passengers traveling on a train from Wuhai West in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region to Beijing Fengtai Railway Station were reportedly stranded for more than 30 hours. By Monday afternoon, they were all transferred to safety.北京首都国际机场取消航班40架次，往返北京的火车大面积延误。据报道，一列从内蒙古乌海西开往北京丰台的列车在途中滞留30多个小时，截止31日下午，所有乘客已被转移到安全地带。Neighboring Hebei province had also activated the highest alerts for rainstorms, flooding and waterlogging.毗邻北京的河北省也发布了暴雨、洪水和内涝的最高预警。Heavy downpours have drenched parts of northern China since Saturday, after Typhoon Doksuri moved inland and increased the risks of flooding and landslides.随着台风“杜苏芮”向内陆移动并增加了洪涝和山体滑坡的风险，自29日起，中国北方部分地区遭遇强降雨。The Ministry of Water Resources has maintained a Level II emergency response in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and deployed 10 teams for flood response.水利部在京津冀地区启动II级应急响应，并部署10个工作组指导洪水防御工作。Meanwhile, Typhoon Khanun — the sixth typhoon of this year — is moving closer. It has prompted Zhejiang province to activate a Level IV emergency response, the lowest in China's four-tier emergency response system.与此同时，随着年的第6号台风“卡努”逼近，浙江省启动防台风Ⅳ级应急响应，该等级是中国四级应急响应系统中最低的一级。Rainfall英/'reɪnfɔːl/美/'ren'fɔl/n. 下雨，降雨Flood英 /flʌd/美 /flʌd/n.洪水Flight英 /flaɪt/美 /flaɪt/n. 航班

The nation's second C919, China's first self-developed narrow-body jet, was delivered to its first customer, China Eastern Airlines, on Sunday morning in Shanghai.7月16日上午，中国东方航空在上海接收第二架国产窄体客机C919。As more C919s are put into commercial operation, the homemade aircraft should perform better and more safely, industry experts said.业内专家表示，随着越来越多的C919投入商业运营，国产飞机的性能应该会更好、更安全。The jet took off on a ferry flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 10:06 am, and landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 10:20 am. It will officially join China Eastern's aircraft fleet on Sunday, according to the Shanghai-based carrier.上午10:06，飞机从上海浦东国际机场调机飞往上海虹桥国际机场，于上午10:20着陆。总部位于上海的东航表示，这架飞机将于7月16日正式加入东航机队。"The delivery of a second C919 for commercial operation demonstrates that China's aviation industry has entered the stage of using more self-developed jets," said Zheng Hongfeng, founder and CEO of VariFlight, an aviation data and solution service provider.航空数据和解决方案服务提供商飞友科技（飞常准）创始人、CEO郑洪峰表示：“第二架C919飞机交付用于商业运营，这标志着中国航空业已经进入了使用更多自主研发飞机的阶段。”"As more C919 jets are put into commercial use, their safety will increase, and their manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, will fall more in line with market demand," Zheng added.郑洪峰补充：“随着更多的C919喷气式飞机投入商业用途，这些飞机的安全性能将会提高，飞机的制造商中国商用飞机有限责任公司将会按照市场需求降低价格。”As the second of five C919 aircraft to be delivered to China Eastern, the new jet has the same cabin layout as the first. On Friday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the plane with all the necessary certifications for commercial operation.7月14日，中国民用航空局向这架飞机颁发了商业运营所需的所有认证。此次接收的C919大型客机为东航首批采购5架C919客机中的第2架，客舱布局与首架机保持一致。China Eastern said that the jetliner will initially join the first C919 on flights between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan province, and will later fly to more Chinese cities.东航表示，第二架C919将与首架机“搭档”，首先执飞“上海虹桥—成都天府”航线，后续将逐步拓展更多航线。"The reason we are first flying the C919 between Shanghai and Chengdu is that it is an adequate flying distance, and the east-west flight will better allow the jet to adapt to environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity," Li Yangmin, general manager of China Eastern Airlines, was quoted as saying by Chinese financial news outlet Yicai.中国财经媒体《第一财经》援引东航总经理李养民的话表示“我们将上海到成都选为C919的首飞航线，原因是这条航线的行距合适，而且东西方向飞行，从飞行的性能来说，对环境的适应性会比较好，包括温度湿度等方面。”"The strength of China Eastern's security capabilities and heavy passenger traffic along this route also confirmed it was the right choice," Li added.“东航在这条航线上的资源保障能力总体也不错，而且这条航线的客流量也不错，”李养民补充说。The first C919 has a layout of 164 seats, with eight in business class and 156 in economy class.首架C919飞机有164个座位，其中商务舱8个，经济舱156个。Following its maiden flight in 2017, the first C919 for commercial use was delivered to China Eastern on Dec 9, 2022, by COMAC, its manufacturer. After the first successful commercial flight between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport on May 28, the jet has been put into operation on the Shanghai-Chengdu route.继2017年首飞后，2022年12月9日，中国商飞公司将首架商用C919交付给东航。2023年5月28日，东航开启了C919首个商业航班“上海虹桥——北京首都”，之后这架C919就在沪蓉快线上运营至今。"Since commercial operations kicked off, many passengers have specifically booked flights on the C919 to enjoy the experience of flying on a large, Chinese-made passenger jet," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst.航空分析师林智杰表示:“自从投入商业运营以来，许多乘客专门预订C919的航班，以体验中国制造的大型客机。”The C919 is comparable to the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737, and offers a brand-new alternative on the market, which should help break the duopoly maintained by Boeing and Airbus and help promote competition and the healthy development of the global civil aviation market, said Lin, who is also a columnist at carnoc.com, one of China's biggest civil aviation websites.林智杰同时也是中国最大的民航网站——民航资源网的专栏作家。他表示，C919投入商业运行为全球的干线飞机市场提供了新的产品选择，打破了波音和空客的双寡头垄断，促进了民用飞机市场的良性竞争。The first C919 has completed 87 commercial flights as of July 12 — two between Beijing and Shanghai and 85 between Shanghai and Chengdu, according to China Eastern.据东航表示，截至7月12日，首架C919已经完成了87次商业飞行，其中京沪航班2班，沪蓉航班85班。With average load factors of about 80 percent, the first C919 has served 11,095 passenger trips and flown for a total of 250.10 hours.首架C919的平均载客率近80%，累计服务旅客11,095人次，累计商业运行250.10小时。Jet英 /dʒet/美 /dʒet/n. 喷气式飞机Commercial英 /kəˈmɜːʃl/美 /kəˈmɜːrʃl/adj. 商业的

In the early morning of Feb 6, Li Nan, a tour guide from China Tourism Group, was busy helping tourists check in their baggage at Beijing Capital International Airport for a long-awaited trip to Singapore.2月6日凌晨，中国旅游集团的导游李楠在北京首都国际机场忙着帮游客办理行李托运，准备开始期待已久的新加坡之旅。The 15 travelers made up the first Singapore-bound tour group departing from Beijing since the country resumed outbound group travel on Monday. Outbound group tour services have been suspended in China over the past three years due to COVID-19.自2月6日中国恢复出境游以来，这15名游客组成了首个从北京出发的新加坡旅游团。受疫情影响，过去三年中国出境游团队暂停了服务。"I am really excited today," Li said, adding that it marks a rebound and a new beginning of the domestic tourism industry.李楠说“我今天真的很兴奋，”并表示这还标志着国内旅游业的恢复和一个新的开始。Besides Singapore, travel agencies are permitted to organize group tours to 19 other countries and regions including Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia and New Zealand.除新加坡外，旅行社还获准组织赴泰国、阿联酋、埃及、俄罗斯和新西兰等19个国家和地区的团体旅游。Also starting on Monday, cross-border travel between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao was fully resumed.同样从2月6日开始，中国大陆与香港和澳门之间的跨境旅行全面恢复。Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy, said China's outbound tourism market is expected to see a sustained recovery this year thanks to the optimized COVID-19 protocol.中国旅游研究院院长戴斌表示，得益于疫情优化政策，今年中国出境游市场有望持续复苏。According to data from online travel agency Ctrip.com, the realtime search volume for outbound tour products on its platform surged five times when the new policy was announced on Jan 20.根据在线旅行社携程网的数据，自1月20日新政策宣布以来，其平台出境游产品的实时搜索量激增了5倍。Travel portal Tuniu said the number of bookings made from Feb 6 to 12 for overseas trips is estimated to double that of last week.旅游门户网站途牛表示，2月6日至12日的海外旅行预订量预计可达上周的两倍。Many domestic airlines including Spring Airlines and China Southern Airlines also reported a high occupancy rate in international flights and plan to add more flights to meet the growing demands for outbound travel.包括春秋航空和中国南方航空在内的许多国内航空公司也报告说，国际航班的上坐率很高，为了满足日益增长的出境游需求，将计划增加更多航班。China had remained the largest outbound tourism market worldwide for several years before the pandemic hit. In 2019, Chinese tourists made 155 million overseas trips, with consumption abroad worth $133.8 billion.疫情前的几年里，中国一直是全球最大的出境游市场。2019年，中国游客出境旅游1.55亿人次，境外消费1338亿美元。Paul Pruangkarn, chief of staff at the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said Chinese tourists are an essential part of global tourism.亚太旅游协会会长Paul Pruangkarn表示，中国游客是全球旅游业的重要组成部分。The resumption of China's outbound travel is injecting strong impetus into tourism in the Asia-Pacific region and into the recovery of the global economy, he said.他说，中国出境游的恢复为亚太地区旅游业和全球经济复苏注入了强劲动力。Destination countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia have extended warm hospitality to first arrivals from China.泰国、新加坡和柬埔寨等目的地国家热情接待了第一批来自中国的游客。"We are extremely delighted to receive these first tour groups today, and look forward to more Chinese tourists coming back to Thailand," Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said at a welcoming ceremony held in Bangkok on Monday.2月6日，泰国旅游局局长Yuthasak Supasor在曼谷举行的欢迎仪式上说:“我们非常高兴今天接待了第一批旅游团，期待更多的中国游客来到泰国。”TAT predicted that Thailand will receive 7 million tourists from China this year, roughly 63 percent of the pre-epidemic level in 2019.泰国国家旅游局预测，今年泰国将接待700万中国游客，约为2019年疫情前的63%。However, outbound tourism is still at the preliminary stage of recovery, said Sun Guizhen, secretary-general of the China Association of Travel Services, adding that major constraints include the limited number of international flights, high costs and inadequate hoteliers.然而，中国旅行社协会秘书长孙桂珍表示，出境旅游仍处于恢复的初步阶段，主要制约因素包括国际航班数量有限、成本高、和酒店经营者不足。Industry insiders said that it requires the joint efforts of regulators, business entities, employees and tourists to achieve a full recovery. Some travel service providers therefore are re-collecting resources and conducting training to remedy the industrial chain.业内人士表示，要实现全面复苏，需要监管部门、企业、员工和游客的共同努力。因此，一些旅游服务提供商为了修复产业链，正在重新收集资源并开展培训。So far, Ctrip.com has launched nearly 1,200 outbound tour packages. Tuniu offered 400 overseas trip products on its platform, most of which are for small-scale tour groups.截至目前，携程网已经推出了近1200个出境旅游套餐。途牛在其平台上提供了400种海外游产品，其中大多数是针对小规模旅游团的。The outbound travel market is set to see a more apparent boom during this year's May Day holiday, experts predicted.专家预测，今年“五一”假期期间，出境游市场将更加繁荣。outbound英 [ˈaʊtbaʊnd] 美 [ˈaʊtbaʊnd]adj.向外的 Inadequate英 [ɪnˈædɪkwət] 美 [ɪnˈædɪkwət]adj.不充分的

For our series 4 opener, we discuss flight MH370. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared on 8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport. 

On March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and began flying in the direction of Beijing Capital International Airport in China. Less than an hour after the flight had taken off without incident, the captain confirmed his position with Malaysian air traffic control and wished them a goodnight as the plane crossed over into Vietnamese airspace. Those goodnight wishes would be the last radio communication anyone ever received from the plane. Only two minutes after those goodnight wishes, flight 370 disappeared from air traffic control radar screens, and neither the plane nor any of the 239 people on board have been seen or heard from since. In this episode, I've decided to share a very creepy and infuriating mystery with you. What exactly was the plan flight MH370 was supposed to follow that day back in 2014, and just how drastically did it deviate from those plans? What are the various theories (other than my personal one of alien abduction) that have been put forward to explain the little we actually know about this incident? Is it possible that this was truly some kind of bizarre accident…or was it simply the willful and malicious intent of someone on board, maybe even one of the pilots? And of course, the question I had when I first heard about this case: How in the hell is it possible for an entire Boeing 777 jet with 239 people on board to just…disappear? I'll provide some responses to these questions, but not necessarily answers, because the answers in this case are really hard to find amidst all the damn questions.  I'll also talk a little about mysterious plane disappearances in the landscape of the fictional horror world, and I've even found a little bedtime story which presents a rather sci-fi theory on the whereabouts of MH370 for you to entertain. Why provide you with more questions than answers for once? Because everyone loves an unsettling mystery, and though the actual disappearance of 239 human beings is tragic, the idea of one of the biggest jets flying the skies literally disappearing into thin air is pretty Creeptastic. See visuals for this episode on https://www.instagram.com/carolinesayang/ (Instagram)! Become a https://www.patreon.com/creeptastic (Patreon) of Creeptastic to access bonus weekly and monthly content! Contact me and find links to social media at https://creeptastic.com/ (Creeptastic.com)!

英语新闻｜疫情下的求变与创新：航空公司推出“行李到家”服务｜Airlines bank on upgraded services to boost revenue Domestic airlines are taking the brunt of financial pressures caused by the latest resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have launched additional innovative services to stay afloat. Yet, analysts remain cautious about the extent to which the service can help carriers increase revenues.随着近期疫情反弹，面临巨大经济压力的国内航空公司为求生存纷纷推出附加的创新服务。然而，分析师对于这些服务是否能帮助航空公司增加收入仍持有保留态度。Hainan Airlines, China's fourth-largest carrier, launched a service in late March that helps passengers deliver their luggage home. The service is available at Beijing Capital International Airport and Haikou Meilan International Airport. By ordering the service online, passengers will be able to save the time of waiting for their checked luggage and they don't have to carry heavy suitcases by themselves.国内第四大航空公司海南航空3月底在北京首都机场、海口美兰机场推出了“行李到家”服务。旅客只需线上下单，即可享受从机场到家门口的行李送达服务，从而为旅客节约行李提取等待时间，免除大件行李搬运的劳累和不便。After passengers have checked their luggage at departing airports and within one hour after the flight lands, they can order the service through the app or by scanning the bar code at the airports, Hainan Airlines said. The company didn't disclose the specific number of people who have ordered the service so far.据海南航空称，在办理完托运行李值机手续以后至航班落地后1小时之内，旅客可通过登陆海南航空APP或现场扫描二维码，在线下单办理“行李到家”服务。海南航空没有透露迄今为止订购该服务的具体人数。Ground service employees of the carrier will help passengers to get their luggage and logistics staff will deliver the luggage to designated destinations. Usually, it takes about four to six hours for the transportation after picking up the luggage, and passengers will be able to track the luggage status on their mobile phones, Hainan Airlines said.据称，海航地服人员将为旅客提取托运行李，并由物流人员将行李送达旅客指定地点。通常情况下，行李将于当天物流取件后4-6小时内被派送至指定地点，旅客可通过手机实时了解行李运输进程。It costs at least 85 yuan ($13) to deliver one piece of luggage. For passengers who bought flight tickets for business class, they can get complimentary delivery service for one piece of luggage that is less than 30 kilograms. Next, Hainan Airlines will continue to expand and upgrade its services related to luggage delivery, it said.据了解，海南航空“行李到家”服务费用为85元/件起，购买公务舱机票旅客可免费体验“行李到家”服务，为1件不超过30公斤的行李办理此项服务。后续，海南航空将不断拓展服务范围，为旅客带来优质的行李送达服务。"There remain certain challenges to the operations and potential revenues of the luggage delivery service. Overall passenger volume decreased due to the pandemic, and this stands as the biggest challenge for airlines at the moment," said Yu Zhanfu, partner and vice-president for the China unit at consultancy Roland Berger.罗兰贝格咨询公司全球合伙人兼大中华区副总裁于占福表示，行李送达服务在操作上和潜在盈利性上仍然存在着某些挑战。疫情导致的客流量总体下降仍然是航空公司目前面临的最大挑战。"Still, those innovative measures of airlines are worthy of support and encouragement. But it's unclear what kind of business can help carriers to significantly increase revenues," he said.他说，尽管如此，航空公司的这些创新举措依然值得支持和鼓励。但是目前尚不清楚哪种业务能够帮助航空公司显著提高收入。In February, domestic air transport capacity resumed to 84 percent of the level seen in February 2019, when there was no pandemic, while domestic air passenger flows resumed to 67 percent of the level over the same period. The recovery of the civil aviation sector is still facing multiple challenges, according to projections by Flight Master, an intelligent travel services platform in China.今年2月，民航国内运力已恢复至2019年同期（当时尚未暴发疫情）的84%，但国内客流量只恢复至2019年同期的67%。国内智能旅游服务平台航班管家的分析报告显示，民航业的复苏仍面临着诸多挑战。From March 1 to 27, a total of 8,779 flights took off from Beijing Capital International Airport, down 35.59 percent over the volume in February, Flight Master found.航班管家数据显示，3月1日至3月27日北京首都机场共执飞航班8779架次，环比上月下降35.59%。Meanwhile, in late 2020, Guangzhou, Guangdong province-based China Southern Airlines became the first domestic carrier to launch a luggage delivery service in China. Now, it provides the services at 19 airports and on nearly 200 domestic routes.2020年底，总部在广东广州的中国南方航空在国内首次推出行李送达服务。目前，南航已在19个机场为近200条国内航线提供这一服务。China Southern provides luggage delivery services from airports to homes, or from homes to airports, as well as from one residence destination to another in different cities.南航提供将行李从机场送到家、从家送到机场，以及从一个居住地送到不同城市的另一个居住地的服务。The carrier said it would add a protection case and a password lock for every piece of luggage, and each suitcase is equipped with baggage delay and damage insurance. It will also monitor the transportation status of luggage.南航表示，将会为每件行李增加一个保护套和一个密码锁，并为每个行李箱办理take/bear the brunt [teɪk ðə brʌnt]首当其冲; 承受打击stay afloat英[stei əˈfləʊt]；美[ste əˈflot]顺利运营；维持生存ground service英 [ɡraʊndˈsɜː(r)vɪs]；美 [ɡraʊndˈsɜrvɪs]地勤；地面服务

What's Happening. A Chinese man who wanted to escape his family, has been living at Beijing Capital International Airport for 14 years. Swamp Watch. ABC's Katherine Faulders on if Ginni Thomas will be subpoenaed by the January 76th committee

On March 08, 2014 Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 left Kuala Lumpur International Airport for its destination of Beijing Capital International Airport carrying 239 people (227 passengers, 12 staff). It never reached its destination. Instead the plane made a huge U-turn and was last reported flying over the Southern Indian Ocean, never to be seen again. The oddities surrounding this flight are numerous, and wherever there is oddities, there is conspiracies, all asking the same question; who was to blame? The pilot? Putin? The Rothschilds? Aliens? Join Dave and Jordan as we explore this mystery.

At 12:41am, on March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 takes off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, seemingly without any issues. The plane was heading to the Beijing Capital International Airport. 40 minutes after takeoff, the flight was flying at a normal cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. The two men in the cockpit check in regularly with air traffic-control and didn’t report anything unusual. Then, all systems onboard seemingly malfunction and communication with the flight is lost. And after missing its scheduled arrival time in Beijing, 4 hours later, Flight 370 and all 239 people onboard are officially declared missing. Referenceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2KEHvK-q8https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-19/tracking-flight-mh370-acars-and-transponder/5331124?nw=0https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enIN874IN874&sxsrf=ALeKk02Rq1ELXYC3hzEReyx2xJBnYKMuEw%3A1609837415776&ei=Zyv0X933LsO_8QPJyYzQDA&q=normal+speed+of+aeroplane&oq=normal+speed+&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgBMgoIABDJAxAUEIcCMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAOgQIABBHOgQIIxAnOgoILhDHARCvARAnOgUIABCRAjoFCAAQsQM6AgguOggILhCxAxCDAToICAAQsQMQgwE6BAgAEEM6BQguELEDOggIABDJAxCRAjoHCC4QsQMQQzoHCAAQyQMQQzoICAAQsQMQyQNQ_0RYvG1gg3poAHAEeACAAYQBiAHsCpIBAzUuOJgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrIAQjAAQE&sclient=psy-abhttps://www.traveller.com.au/pilots-reveal-the-greatest-myth-about-being-an-airline-captain-h0vxdbhttps://www.aeroprofessional.com/what-does-it-feel-like-to-fly-the-b777-the-aircraft-that-transformed-the-skies/https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/how-does-autopilot-work-on-a-plane/articleshow/72181132.cmshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-31/mh370:-what-is-washed-up-plane-debris-flaperon/6663434https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/jul/30/mh370-final-report-released-by-malaysian-government-livehttps://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/key-moments-emerge-in-tracking-of-missing-malaysia-airlines-plane/501-266319638 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/17/mh370-pilot-sister-my-brother-loved-life-zaharie-ahmad-shahhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN7GRoCgrAEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_yR7uz2ftE

Although it's been previously reported on the unsatisfactory revenue of Finnair in the Asian market, as Finnair suffered losses in the first quarter of 2019, and some Asian routes did not turn into profit. It is expected the operation between Helsinki and Chongqing will be cancelled this October. However, these seem to be unable to stop Finnair's enthusiasm and long-term interests for the Asian market, and still regard this region as the core of future growth. According to media reports recently, Topi Manner, the newly appointed Finnair CEO, said that thanks to Finland's favorable geographical position, Finnair can provide very efficient and convenient flights from Europe to China and other destinations in Asia; and these routes also contributed a large portion of passenger revenue to Finnair. Although there are some trade tensions and some unfavorable factors for the slowdown of growth in some economies this year, Finnair has seen some signs of a rebound in demand in the near future, and the Japanese market has performed well, which is in line with some recent macro indicators. A positive recovery signal is consistent. In addition, Robert Öhrnberg, General Manager of Finnair Greater China, also revealed in an interview with the Civil Aviation Resource Network reporter in Beijing late last month that China has always been one of the most important global markets for Finnair and will be rooted and invested in it for a long time. We are willing to work with all parties to explore and dig deep into this market with an open attitude. In fact, a series of recent actions by Finnair in the Asian market are enough to confirm the "Asia-centrism" of the above executives. Earlier, Finnair publicly announced that in order to increase the capacity of the Beijing route, starting from November 3 this year, it will open a flight to and from Beijing Daxing International Airport (IATA code: PKX), which Finnair will operates three flights a week on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, operated by the Airbus A330 widebody aircraft. In addition to the current daily flights operated to and from Beijing Capital International Airport, the number of flights from Finnair to Beijing will increase to 10 flights per week. Finnair has thus become the first foreign airline to announce the opening of the flight service of Beijing Daxing International Airport. At the same time, Finnair also announced that it will open flights to Busan, South Korea in the summer of 2020, and will become the first and only airline to connect between Busan and Europe. According to plan, starting on March 30 next year, Finnair will use the new Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft to operate round-trip flights between Helsinki and Busan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In this regard, Finnish Chief Commercial Officer Ole Orver commented: "We are very happy to be the first European airline operating in Busan, which is a good complement to our vital Asian network. Korea is also our largest market in the world. One of which we have been operating for 11 years. Finnair is pleased to offer a new destination for our travellers and continue to grow in Asia." It is understood that Busan will be the 20th destination of Finnair's network in Asia. Of course, in addition to striving to build and consolidate the route network in Asia, Finnair has fully relied on the advantages of other partners to jointly develop the market and is an indispensable part of its strategic development in Asia. In fact, Finnair has also worked hard in this area recently and has reached a lot of cooperation. According to the public information collected by the Civil Aviation Resource Network, in June this year, Finnair opened code-sharing cooperation with China Southern Airlines (China Southern Airlines) and Juneyao Airlines. In the same month, Finnair also cooperated with Juneyao Airlines to start the frequent flyer program cooperation. The code-sharing cooperation between Finnair and China Southern Airlines...

Happy Independence Day! This week's Beltway Beef comes to you from Beijing Capital International Airport, where NCBA President Craig Uden discusses his recent trip to promote and celebrate the return of US beef into China for the first time since 2003.

Happy Independence Day! This week's Beltway Beef comes to you from Beijing Capital International Airport, where NCBA President Craig Uden discusses his recent trip to promote and celebrate the return of US beef into China for the first time since 2003. Music: Sakura Blossom by Admiral Bob

This is Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. Here is the news. President Xi Jinping's wife Peng Liyuan says people from all walks of life should do more to support children orphaned by HIV and AIDS. Peng made the remarks at an opening ceremony for the 2016 summer camp for Chinese and African children. The event, entitled "Love in the Sunshine", has been held at the Palace Museum in Beijing. Peng is the World Health Organization goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Peng said that despite their nationality or race, children orphaned by AIDS are the future of the world. It is the common responsibility of society to love and care for children orphaned by HIV and AIDS, so that they can grow up soundly and happily. The event was a part of the follow-up actions of a China-Africa anti-AIDS advocacy campaign launched last year by Peng and the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS. The summer camp is sponsored by the Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control, and is the 7th in a row since the camp began in 2010. Fifty-seven children orphaned by AIDS from China, South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe attended this year's summer camp. This is Special English. With its open culture and growing economy, China is becoming a popular destination for higher education seekers in Australia. According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, there are 5,000 Australians studying in Chinese universities, up by 83 percent compared with the figure in 2011. The report said the number of Australian students studying in China has kept growing in recent years, attributing the change to China's open society and healthy economy. A Chinese education expert was quoted as saying that local Chinese companies are rising and they are becoming more and more competitive. Other factors have also contributed, including economic growth, a more service-orientated economy, and a more technologically-focused economy. Though the number of Australian students in China is increasing, it pales comparing with that of Chinese students heading to Australia and non-Australian international students in China. According to the Chinese Education Ministry, Chinese universities have an enrolment of almost 200,000 international students last year, surging 12 percent from a year earlier. Last year, students from South Korea, the United States and Thailand ranked the three biggest groups in China, while Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang province in eastern China are the top three destinations of foreign students. China now has 2,800 higher educational institutions, the second biggest number in the world. Aiming to attract up to 500,000 foreign students in 2020, China has kept increasing its educational input in recent years. You're listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. China is planning to build its first domestically produced polar icebreaker. The Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard has made the announcement, saying construction will start by the end of this year. China's current largest polar icebreaker, the "Xuelong", or Snow Dragon, was bought from the Ukrainian in 1993. China refitted it into a polar research vessel at a cost of 31 million yuan, almost 5 million U.S. dollars. The icebreaker was put into service the following year. So far, it has completed 32 expeditions in Antarctica and is now on its 7th Arctic expedition. The new home produced vessel will be 120 meters long which is smaller than the "Xuelong", but with stronger icebreaking power. The "Xuelong" can work non-stop, breaking 1-meter thick ice at a sailing speed of 2 knots; while the new vessel is designed to break 1-and-a-half-meter thick ice at a sailing speed of 3 knots. This is Special English. China will expand international exchange in the training of astronauts in a bid to push it closer to becoming a space power. The Astronaut Center of China made the announcement recently while briefing an international training mission for astronauts. Chinese astronaut Ye Guangfu participated in the mission. Ye is the first Chinese citizen to receive "CAVES" training organized by the European Space Agency. "CAVES" is short for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behavior and performance Skills. It is an advanced training course for astronauts. The training took place in underground caves in Sardinia in Italy. Prospective astronauts from Japan, Russia, Spain and the United States also took part in the training. The Astronaut Center of China says that in the future, China will strengthen international communication in astronaut training while also relying on its own efforts. It is not known whether further Chinese astronauts will be selected for CAVES training. China is considering the possibility of starting its own CAVES program, and had examined several potential sites. Ye and five others spent several days underground from July 1-7, simulating a mission exploring another planet. CAVES training puts them in environments that simulate spaceflight, as well as improving leadership, teamwork, decision-making and problem-solving skills. This is Special English. Relocation of two top Chinese airlines to a new airport in Beijing will help cut airfares for international passengers. The move will also improve services for national flagship carrier Air China, which will remain at Beijing Capital International Airport. China Eastern and China Southern Airlines, along with some other SkyTeam Alliance members, will move to Beijing's new international airport when it begins operation in 2019. Other carriers to be relocated will include Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. National carrier Air China and other Star Alliance partners, including United Airlines, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and Japanese airline ANA, will stay. Slot shortages at Beijing Capital International Airport have made it increasingly difficult for airlines to add flights and launch new routes. The ultra-large new airport will be in Daxing district in Beijing's southeastern suburbs. It is expected to serve those who travel to and from Beijing and its neighbors Tianjin and Hebei province. As the southern part of Beijing further develops, with more businesses and government agencies moving there, passengers will find it increasingly convenient to use the new airport. Since the new airport will be almost 50 kilometers from the downtown area, airline companies based there will likely offer cheaper ticket prices to attract passengers and tour groups. You're listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. You can access the program by logging on to newsplusradio.cn. You can also find us on our Apple Podcast. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know by e-mailing us at mansuyingyu@cri.com.cn. That's mansuyingyu@cri.com.cn. Now the news continues. China will spend 36 million yuan, roughly 5 million US dollars, on geological disaster surveys in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Starting in July, the fund will be allocated over three years to launch systematic surveys in two counties in the northern part of Kunlun Mountain, which is susceptible to frequent earthquakes. The surveys will focus on disaster risk levels and monitoring to help locals improve their ability of pre-warning and damage prevention. Satellites and drones will be used to collect data and monitor disasters in the area, while locals will attend training sessions on prevention. Xinjiang has complex weather and natural conditions, with 1 million square km, or 64 percent of the region's area, prone to geological disasters. A massive landslide killed 35 people in a village and forced the relocation of 200 others last month. This is Special English. Beijing's green industries could be worth 250 billion yuan, roughly 38 billion U.S. dollars, by 2020, particularly those focused on recycling and waste treatment. By the end of 2020, Beijing intends to employ some new technology including wastewater management and plastic recycling. A municipal official said recently that Beijing has laid out a plan to develop cutting-edge technology for environmental protection, including garbage processing and fuel control in some industries. According to Beijing's Action Plan on Technological Innovation, by next year, 20 major innovation projects will be carried out, some of which will improve the quality of the water discharged from wastewater recycling plants. One such project is an underground network that will benefit around 11 million residents in central China. Other projects have helped make it easier for local residents around Beijing to recycle household items including plastic bottles, electronic waste and clothes. Automatic recycling machines for plastic bottles were introduced in Beijing in 2012, allowing users to process used bottles and get paid directly through their smartphones. You're listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. More than half of Chinese children aged six months or younger are purely breastfed. The National Health and Family Planning Commission made the announcement to mark the 2016 World Breastfeeding Week last week. The breastfeeding rate for newborns under six months was 59 percent in 2013, a surge from 28 percent in 2008. The commission will formulate guidelines to standardize breastfeeding rooms in public places. It encourages public and private entities to set up such facilities in workplaces and public venues, to address the problem of insufficient and substandard breastfeeding sites in the country. This is Special English. （全文见周日微信。）

This is Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. Here is the news. U.S. space agency NASA says it views China as a potential partner, not a threat, in the civilian space area. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden made the remakes at an event hosted by the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Bolden discussed his agency's role in U.S. international affairs. Bolden said that since he only views civilian space, he sees China as a potential partner. He said China is already a partner in some areas including Earth and lunar science. The United States and China have cooperated in areas including collaborative research on geodetics and glacial characterization in the Himalaya region. Bolden said there are potential areas of partnerships, but because of congressional restrictions right now, the two countries are limited to merely multilateral activities. He said engagement always beats isolation. U.S. Congress passed a law in 2011 prohibiting NASA from hosting Chinese visitors at its facilities. The law also bans working with researchers affiliated to any Chinese government entity or enterprise. In April, China said it's open to space cooperation with all nations including the United States. It said cooperation between major space players will be conducive to the development of all mankind. This is Special English. The civil aviation authority is making efforts to prevent terrorist attacks on passenger planes and airports, including for the first time requiring that all industry employees receive security clearance. According to the draft of the revised Regulation on Safety and Security of Civil Aviation, all of the country's civil aviation personnel must undergo background security investigations. Additionally, civil aviation and public security administrations, airports and airlines are asked to enhance their anti-terrorism intelligence capabilities. Safety and security plans drafted by foreign airlines that operate in China also must conform with China's laws and regulations, and the plans need to be examined and approved by local civil aviation administrations. Besides anti-terrorism measures, the draft also bans passengers from attacking or occupying check-in counters, security check lanes and boarding gates in airports. It stipulates penalties for various offenses. These parts of the plan are designed to deal with an increasing number of angry passengers who are frustrated by flight delays. The draft is posted on the website of the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office to solicit public opinion before May 20. The current regulation was adopted 20 years ago. Industry observers say the new requirement that all aviation industry personnel receive security clearance is an important measure. You are listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. A government investigation team has announced that the school at the center of an alleged pollution incident had relocated to contaminated land before remedial treatment of its soil had been carried out. The school made headlines after hundreds of students reportedly fell ill at the school. Eastern China's Changzhou Foreign Languages School found itself at the center of a media storm after reports claimed the school was built on toxic land contaminated by three chemical plants. The investigation team said the local district government failed to finish a soil treatment project in time and the school followed its original construction schedule. Students were moved to the new school in September last year. The city government said that all of those responsible, including people from the school and the chemical factories, will be investigated. Those found guilty will be punished. Some of them have already been detained for investigation. Health experts from the team said 909 students were examined at hospitals. Thyroid nodules were found in 247 of them, and 35 had lymphatic anomalies. However, the investigation team said it was hard to tell whether the conditions were directly related to pollution at the school site. This is Special English. China ranked at the top in a Save the Children survey of 18 countries in reducing discrimination against and neglect of children. More than 70 percent of Chinese people said they had seen an improvement. The survey results showed that 74 percent of Chinese people thought things were getting better. That's the highest proportion out of all the countries surveyed. Other countries in the survey included the United States, India and the United Kingdom. The survey also found that 77 percent of those who said they were affected by discrimination during childhood in China believed the situation in the country had improved. That represented the highest level among all the countries surveyed. India was second, with 61 percent, and Nigeria third at 55 percent. Worldwide, almost 40 percent of adults said they were discriminated against as children because of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability or because of where they lived. The survey interviewed 18,000 adults in the participating countries. Almost half of those surveyed in Asia said they faced discrimination as children. In China, the figure was 44 percent. The survey has been conducted for Save the Children by the international opinion research and consultancy firm GlobeScan. It was the largest survey of its kind undertaken by Save the Children, the world's leading independent organization advocating for children. You are listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. Overseas travelers passing through Beijing Capital International Airport no longer need to worry about communication breakdowns thanks to volunteers from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Starting this month, the students, based in a call center on campus, are offering interpretation services for passengers who do not speak Chinese. The volunteer service covers seven foreign languages including French, Arabic, Japanese and Korean, from 8 am to 6 pm. Passengers who are not at the airport can still make an inquiry about its services by calling the multilingual hotline on 96158. Student volunteers have been working in the languages, plus English, for emergency services since 2010. In order to qualify for volunteer work at the multilingual service center, students need to have foreign language proficiency level that is equal to or greater than a third-year bachelor's degree level. The job can also be physically challenging when interpretations are being provided for the emergency services, as calls can come in at all times of the day, including late at night. People made the calls to ask for medical help, inquire about delayed fights, or complain about disputes. This is Special English. （全文见周日微信。）

感谢热心听众【绿云扰-王佳云】对本文稿的贡献。Heyang: You are listening to Round Table. They pick you up for an early flight. They give you a ride home after late-night out work. The headlights of their cars warm up your heart on a windy night, and that ambiguous smell inside sends you straight to vomit hell. Let’s talk about Chinese cab drivers. This is inspired by WeChat account “Shameless”. They’ve got some good stuff there. But yeah, guys tell me more about your experience of all those years riding Chinese cabs.Ryan: Yeah, so I mean this “shameless” account breaks it down into five different categories of cab drivers. And I got to say that I definitely have a lot of stories considering this one kind of cab driver, The Raging Racer. And these guys drive fast. They are almost drifting in around corners and stops. No, I’ve never had that kind of experience. But I definitely have had cab drivers that are very aggressive drivers. And you know what? I liked it. I got to say I am a big fan of the raging racers. I remember one time I used to work on a Beijinghour we did a morning show so I’d wake up very early in the morning to get to the studio in babaoshan. (Heyang: How early was it?) Guys, I had to get up at 2:30 am, OK? (Heyang: 两点半 in the morning.) Yeah, and I live near Gulou so there is always taxi cabs there. But anyways I got one and this guy drove so fast and I ended up getting to work in the split nick of time and I was able to have a relaxing siesta on the couch before starting my shift even though at times I was a little nervous. But…..Luo Yu: Is it a bit scary for the driver to drive all the way from downtown Beijing to Babaoshan at 2:30 in the morning?Heyang: What’s scary about that? Luo Yu, let’s just let that out. Let’s just let it out. Why is it scary?Luo Yu: Because we’ve got the best cemetery here in Beijing.Heyang: Yeah, the cemetery, yeah, the graveyards.Ryan: I’ve definitely had like also what they called a road robber who wants to take you on the trip through all different areas of Beijing. So in these many mornings that I have commuted to babaoshan I have gone through many different routes. My favorite route though was of course going through the Forbidden City and Tiananmen. There was an amazing view. (Luo Yu: Is that going through?) (Heyang: Changan Avenue.) Changan Avenue, driving you through Changan Avenue is beautiful at night and I highly recommend it. But there also take like a bigillion other different ways. So apparently there is like a bigillion ways to get to babaoshan from where I live. But my favorite is Changan.Heyang: 长安街，yeah, Changan Avenue. OK, and I think talking about road robbers our listeners have something to say. PX says that there was once that you know she came back she wants to go into the city from the airport and every time the cab driver is being really really annoying and they just want to get the most money out of a trip from the airport to ……. OK, Luo YuLuo Yu: Tell me more about it. I used to live very close to Beijing Capital International Airport. You know it’s not walkable distance so I have to take a cab but I felt humiliated millions of times. Every time when I was hailing the cab and I said to the driver, “Sorry, I’m so sorry, shifu. I live nearby. I’ll give you…… ” Well, the fee is only fifteen kuai, starting fee, but I have to give him an extra twenty kuai. And he said, “Do you think twenty kuai compensation is enough?” So they don’t consider you as the valuable passenger. They just turn you down on most occasions. That’s happening a lot in a lot of cities in China.Ryan: Yeah, you know so we’ve talked about the road robber, we’ve talked about the raging racer, but there is also one that is called The Zero Sense of Direction. I’ve definitely had my fresh year though the other…… (Heyang: No way! A taxi driver should know the way, right?) The other night I was with a friend and I was coming back to my place from near like shuangjin. Anyways, I was trying to tell the cab driver, hey, like it’s north, it’s north, but for some reason he kept saying beixinqiao wherever was a complete different direction. We got very mixed up so I feel like even maybe I have the zero sense of direction. But I thought I was like spot on about where we needed to go.Heyang: Yeah, apparently the situation has only gotten worse as Uber and Didi are you know…Luo Yu: But they’ve got GIS and GPS inside the car.Heyang: Yeah, and I wonder if it’s OK. Well for me I think it’s fine if a taxi driver doesn’t know the way then just turn on the GPS. But that has changed. In the old days in Beijing when I was a little girl that was a long time ago I’d to admit. OK, I’m not that old anyway. Stop laughing at me! If you are laughing with you are forgiven. OK, alright, so bad thing it was….. I love non-local people as well alright? But back then it was all old local Beijinger taxi drivers and they would talk about as if they’ve just had dinner with Jiang Zemin or Hu Jintao the night before rubbing shoulders with them. And also they know the road and they know every shortcut through every alleyway. They can be the raging racer, too. But they know the way and that is the most important thing which I do find these days becomes increasingly a luxury that a lot of these non-local taxi drivers they just don’t know where to go.Luo Yu: They can’t even speak mandarin as they are from outside Beijing so their Putonghua is not that good.Heyang: OK, not as standardized but you know you can pretty much understand but they don’t know the way and that the most annoying thing for me. OK, most annoying thing for you.Ryan: Sometimes the music. Sometimes the music I heard some great music in cabs and I heard some music that I was very confused about. But you know I’ve noticed that there is a quite different array of music. (Luo Yu: Like 凤凰传奇, the legend of phoenix.) There are different array of music being listened to in taxi cabs which is another criterion for one of the kinds of taxi cab drivers.Heyang: Yes, definitely. And I like to finish off today’s show with Bob’ comment. He says he just scolded a taxi driver because that dude was eating instant noodles, cup instant noodles, and just threw the garbage out of the window and that’s not some behavior he can condone and I totally understand that.

This is Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. Here is the news. U.S. space agency NASA says it views China as a potential partner, not a threat, in the civilian space area. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden made the remakes at an event hosted by the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Bolden discussed his agency's role in U.S. international affairs. Bolden said that since he only views civilian space, he sees China as a potential partner. He said China is already a partner in some areas including Earth and lunar science. The United States and China have cooperated in areas including collaborative research on geodetics and glacial characterization in the Himalaya region. Bolden said there are potential areas of partnerships, but because of congressional restrictions right now, the two countries are limited to merely multilateral activities. He said engagement always beats isolation. U.S. Congress passed a law in 2011 prohibiting NASA from hosting Chinese visitors at its facilities. The law also bans working with researchers affiliated to any Chinese government entity or enterprise. In April, China said it's open to space cooperation with all nations including the United States. It said cooperation between major space players will be conducive to the development of all mankind. This is Special English. The civil aviation authority is making efforts to prevent terrorist attacks on passenger planes and airports, including for the first time requiring that all industry employees receive security clearance. According to the draft of the revised Regulation on Safety and Security of Civil Aviation, all of the country's civil aviation personnel must undergo background security investigations. Additionally, civil aviation and public security administrations, airports and airlines are asked to enhance their anti-terrorism intelligence capabilities. Safety and security plans drafted by foreign airlines that operate in China also must conform with China's laws and regulations, and the plans need to be examined and approved by local civil aviation administrations. Besides anti-terrorism measures, the draft also bans passengers from attacking or occupying check-in counters, security check lanes and boarding gates in airports. It stipulates penalties for various offenses. These parts of the plan are designed to deal with an increasing number of angry passengers who are frustrated by flight delays. The draft is posted on the website of the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office to solicit public opinion before May 20. The current regulation was adopted 20 years ago. Industry observers say the new requirement that all aviation industry personnel receive security clearance is an important measure. You are listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. A government investigation team has announced that the school at the center of an alleged pollution incident had relocated to contaminated land before remedial treatment of its soil had been carried out. The school made headlines after hundreds of students reportedly fell ill at the school. Eastern China's Changzhou Foreign Languages School found itself at the center of a media storm after reports claimed the school was built on toxic land contaminated by three chemical plants. The investigation team said the local district government failed to finish a soil treatment project in time and the school followed its original construction schedule. Students were moved to the new school in September last year. The city government said that all of those responsible, including people from the school and the chemical factories, will be investigated. Those found guilty will be punished. Some of them have already been detained for investigation. Health experts from the team said 909 students were examined at hospitals. Thyroid nodules were found in 247 of them, and 35 had lymphatic anomalies. However, the investigation team said it was hard to tell whether the conditions were directly related to pollution at the school site. This is Special English. China ranked at the top in a Save the Children survey of 18 countries in reducing discrimination against and neglect of children. More than 70 percent of Chinese people said they had seen an improvement. The survey results showed that 74 percent of Chinese people thought things were getting better. That's the highest proportion out of all the countries surveyed. Other countries in the survey included the United States, India and the United Kingdom. The survey also found that 77 percent of those who said they were affected by discrimination during childhood in China believed the situation in the country had improved. That represented the highest level among all the countries surveyed. India was second, with 61 percent, and Nigeria third at 55 percent. Worldwide, almost 40 percent of adults said they were discriminated against as children because of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability or because of where they lived. The survey interviewed 18,000 adults in the participating countries. Almost half of those surveyed in Asia said they faced discrimination as children. In China, the figure was 44 percent. The survey has been conducted for Save the Children by the international opinion research and consultancy firm GlobeScan. It was the largest survey of its kind undertaken by Save the Children, the world's leading independent organization advocating for children. You are listening to Special English. I'm Ryan Price in Beijing. Overseas travelers passing through Beijing Capital International Airport no longer need to worry about communication breakdowns thanks to volunteers from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Starting this month, the students, based in a call center on campus, are offering interpretation services for passengers who do not speak Chinese. The volunteer service covers seven foreign languages including French, Arabic, Japanese and Korean, from 8 am to 6 pm. Passengers who are not at the airport can still make an inquiry about its services by calling the multilingual hotline on 96158. Student volunteers have been working in the languages, plus English, for emergency services since 2010. In order to qualify for volunteer work at the multilingual service center, students need to have foreign language proficiency level that is equal to or greater than a third-year bachelor's degree level. The job can also be physically challenging when interpretations are being provided for the emergency services, as calls can come in at all times of the day, including late at night. People made the calls to ask for medical help, inquire about delayed fights, or complain about disputes. This is Special English. （全文见周日微信。）

This is NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news. The top medical authority aims to root out the practice of reselling hospital outpatient appointments. The National Health and Family Planning Commission said the campaign will be rolled out across Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. In addition, policy will follow, aiming to address the deep-seated problems feeding hospital appointment scalping. A system is needed to enable patients to go to different hospitals according to their illness, rather than crowding big hospitals regardless of their actual needs. Moreover, referral services will be promoted, so that patients can book doctor visits via their community doctors or family doctors. Hospital appointment scalping entered the media spotlight earlier this year following a video posted online that showed a woman in a furious fit of rage with a scalper after she failed to get an appointment. The woman said she had been waiting for an outpatient appointment for two days, and could still not get a ticket. A scalper offered her an appointment for 4,500 yuan, roughly 680 U.S. dollars, a huge markup on its 300 yuan face value. The video amplified public ire over access to medical care. This is NEWS Plus Special English. Travel agents across China are advising outbound tourists to be extra cautious as three of the country's Zika patients caught the virus while on vacation. Hangzhou travel agency has urged travelers to avoid places with a Zika problem. The Zika virus spreads to people through mosquito bites. The symptoms include fever, joint pain, rash, conjunctivitis, as well as headaches and muscle pain. Many countries in South America have been labeled risky, including Brazil, which will host the Olympic Games this year. The agency says the risk of infection will be reduced during the second half of the year when temperatures drop in the Southern Hemisphere. China's National Tourism Administration has urged travelers to keep up-to-date with information from the World Health Organization, the Chinese government and tourism destinations. Travel agencies are also asking outbound tourists to protect themselves against mosquito bites to prevent potential infection. With five confirmed infections, China is on high alert against the virus. In Shanghai, health authorities have prepared emergency sickbeds and held training sessions for staff. Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center plans to carry out research on how the virus develops and its long-term impact on human health. This is NEWS Plus Special English. One downside of the two-child policy will be a shortfall in pediatricians. The National Health and Family Planning Commission says China will strive to increase the number of pediatricians from 118,000 to 140,000 by 2020. That means there will be an average of 6 pediatricians for every 10,000 children. China's 36,000 health institutions with pediatric departments receive 470 million outpatient visits annually, and provide care to 22 million inpatients on average. In per capita terms, each pediatrician has to see 17 outpatients every day, more than double the average of other specialists. To ease the shortfall, China will improve the training of pediatric resident doctors, train doctors who shift to pediatric care, and provide bespoke courses. The Ministry of Education is addressing the demand for pediatricians triggered by the introduction of the two-child policy. The ministry requires the country's top 38 medical schools to enroll more students on post-graduate pediatric courses, and aims to have at least one higher learning institute in each region offering undergraduate pediatric courses. You're listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. The Ministry of Public Security has released a host of measures to help Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park attract and hold overseas talent. The measures took effect on Tuesday, and are aimed at four groups including high-end foreign professionals, overseas Chinese who start businesses in Beijing, foreign students in Beijing and foreigners who work for entrepreneurial startups in the city. The ministry is working with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Public Security to set up a service center to review residency and visa applications from foreign professionals working in the Science Park. The science park is a high-tech hub in the capital that covers 500 square kilometers and currently has more than 20,000 companies. The center will also provide consultation services to foreigners. Foreign nationals can consult or submit applications at the Beijing security bureau's exit and entry administration hall in Dongcheng district or at the bureau's administration office at Beijing Capital International Airport. The ministry stipulated that immigration officers must respond to applications for permanent residence by high-end foreign professionals within 50 working days after an application is submitted. The current review requirement is 180 days. Those professionals' spouses and children under the age of 18 will also be qualified to apply for permanent residence in China. This is NEWS Plus Special English. Two smog hot spots in the already badly polluted Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei cluster have been identified by a national environmental think tank. China Research Academy of Environmental Sciences said the areas not only suffer from worse air pollution than their neighbors, but also have longer lasting smog. The hot spots are located in the cluster's northern and central areas, covering some parts of Beijing as well several cities in Hebei province. The area has consistently been among the worst of China's 74 major domestic cities for smog since 2013. An official from the academy says the hot spots needed "extra strict" regulations to reduce pollutant emissions and help alleviate regional smog issues. The minister of environmental protection has previously highlighted the importance of tackling air pollution in the core cities including Beijing and Tianjin through regional control efforts that include adopting unified standards on issuing smog alerts. Since November, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster has been hit by three bad spells of smog. In December, the average concentration of PM2.5 climbed to 143 micrograms per cubic meter, the highest monthly reading since February 2014. PM2.5 is particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns that is hazardous to health. You're listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. You can access the program by logging onto NEWSPlusRadio.cn. You can also find us on our Apple Podcast. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know by e-mailing us at mansuyingyu@cri.com.cn. That's mansuyingyu@cri.com.cn. Now the news continues. Amid outcries for reform of the taxi market, a tourist destination in Eastern China's Jiangsu province has abolished the monthly franchise fees charged to taxi drivers as of March 1. The new policy in Suzhou city near Shanghai means each taxi driver is freed from at least 1,000 yuan, roughly 150 U.S. dollars a month. Suzhou is an ancient city located on the lower reaches of Yangtze River and known for its stone bridges and meticulously designed gardens. The change affects 9,000 taxis in the city, including 500 electric cars and thousands of cabs in some regions that already benefit from the new policy. Some 40 million yuan will be returned to taxi companies or other operators. China's taxi management companies have to pay local traffic authorities for the right to operate their businesses. The cost is actually paid by the taxi drivers and deducted from their monthly income. The taxi industry is struggling and drivers are upset by growing competition from ride-hailing apps backed by Alibaba and Tencent. Drivers have been demanding a reduction in rental contract fees that cut into their profit. You're listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Family members will be encouraged to share the same tombs, and ecologically friendly funerals will be promoted over the next five years in China. That's according to a guideline jointly issued by central government departments designed to save land resources by stepping up funeral reforms. The guideline has been issued by nine departments including the Ministry of Civil Affairs and National Development and Reform Commission. It says the country will further promote eco-friendly funerals in the next five years. Eco-friendly funerals include sea burials and tree funerals, where ashes are buried and a tree is planted on the spot. The guideline promotes burials that take up little or no land. In densely populated areas, authorities suggest vertical burials, including ways to store cremated remains in buildings, walls or towers. The authorities are urging the use of smaller tombs and tombstones. Funerals that leave no ashes of the deceased are encouraged. The guideline notes that the funeral traditions of ethnic minority groups will be respected, and it is calling on people from these groups to choose burial methods consistent with both their cultural traditions and the eco-friendly burial requirements. This is NEWS Plus Special English. A guide dog that was stolen from a blind masseur in Beijing has been returned with a note from the dognappers, asking for forgiveness. The 7-year-old black Labrador was stolen by an organized gang of dog thieves. The dog's owner, 47-year-old Tian Fengbo, from Shunyi district, says the gang approached and took the dog when a worker at his massage parlor was walking it around outside. The worker did not use a lead and the dog was grabbed by the occupants of a silver van that was passing by. The distraught owner called the police, and the Beijing Public Security Bureau immediately released information about the incident on its micro blog, hoping for public assistance. Local police also investigated. The thieves sent the dog back secretly the following day. A note with apologies was pasted onto the dog. The thieves are still at large. Guide dogs, often Labradors or golden retrievers, are sent to foster families as puppies for almost a year of socialization. Dogs that show promise receive another year of training before becoming guide dogs of the families. This is NEWS Plus Special English. The deaths of seven Przewalski's gazelle, a species even more endangered than the giant panda, have aroused debate over whether grassland fences should be removed completely. The antelopes were killed by barbed wire fences around Qinghai Lake, the last stronghold of the species, in northwest China's Qinghai Province. The animals were caught by fences when they tried to jump over. The deaths were discovered by an environmental volunteer and herdsman when he was patrolling the lake on his motorcycle. The local government has sent investigators to the site. The antelopes died in different locations and at various times. Some may have been chased by predators when they tried to jump the fences. Przewalski's gazelle has China's highest level of protection. Once the animal was found all over north and northwest China, but now the gazelle is seen only around Qinghai Lake. It was named after the Russian explorer who collected a specimen and took it back to St. Petersburg in 1875. This is not the first time that fences have killed gazelles during their migration. The tragedy questions the future of the fences, originally built to restrict the movement of livestock, mark ownership of grassland, and increase productivity. This is NEWS Plus Special English. （全文见周六微信。）

This is NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Liu Yan in Beijing. Here is the news. Police in central China's Henan Province have arrested a real estate tycoon who allegedly robbed a bank 16 years ago with four other suspects. The billionaire surnamed Shi was arrested on Oct. 21 in Zhumadian City. Three others were apprehended the same day, and a fifth suspect on Oct. 24. Back on Dec. 5, 1999, Shi and the other four suspects broke into a bank branch in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. They took 2 million yuan, roughly 320,000 U.S. dollars, in cash, and seriously injured two bank workers. Shi is alleged to have masterminded the robbery. The event shocked the nation, but the five suspects have eluded the law ever since. Police say Shi, previously a construction project contractor, claimed most of the money from the robbery and used it to develop real estate in Zhumadian, earning billions in the process. This is NEWS Plus Special English. Beijing's quarantine authority is warning against the mailing of unauthorized dangerous substances through the postal or parcel delivery service after HIV-antigens were found in two regular packages. Beijing Capital International Airport says around 29,000 cases were found at the airport in the first nine months of this year, involving international parcels and luggage that contain dangerous and illegal substances. The figure represents a 2 percent increase from that of the same period last year. Among them, around 1,100 pest-infested items were found in parcels and luggage brought to Beijing. A variety of non-Chinese fauna and flora species have been detected in the parcels. The authority says these are only a fraction of the total number of illegal parcels delivered in China, because only 3 percent of regular packages are routinely checked by quarantine officers. （全文请浏览微信周日第三条。）

详细内容请关注周日微信，或登录以下网址： http://english.cri.cn/7146/2014/12/22/2582s857713.htm This is NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Yun Feng in Beijing. Here is the news. China's Education Ministry has taken a critical step in its initiative to reform the college entrance exam system, aiming to reverse the exam-oriented education to help fuel future growth. According to the ministry, university entrance will no longer be solely determined by students' score in the Gaokao, the national college entrance exam. In addition to exam results, students will also be evaluated on their morality standards, physical health, art cultivation and social practice. For example, volunteer activities will result in merits. China resumed the Gaokao system in 1977. Since then, the exam has been called a "single-plank bridge" because of the wide gap between applicants and admissions. But in recent years, Gaokao has attracted criticism for its suffocation of students' innovative spirit. This is NEWS Plus Special English. China has approved the construction plan for a new international airport in Beijing that will enable the Chinese capital to handle 72 million more passengers each year. The project will involve investment of almost 80 billion yuan, roughly 13 billion US dollars, and take about five years to complete. The new airport will be located 46 kilometers south of Tian'anmen Square in Daxing district, and is expected to become operational in 2018. The airport is designed to handle 2 million metric tons of cargo and 620,000 passenger flights on an annual basis. It will include 150 parking aprons for passenger jets and a terminal building with a floor space of 700,000 square meters. Officials say that the new airport will serve the rising demand for air transport in Beijing, boost the balanced development of the capital city's northern and southern areas, and strengthen China's competitiveness in the civil aviation sector. A 66-kilometer rapid transit line will be built to link the city's northern areas to the new airport. Passengers will spend less than 30 minutes getting to the city center from the airport. Currently, Beijing has two airports that serve civil aviation flights. Beijing Capital International Airport, located in northeastern Beijing, served 84 million passengers last year and was one of the busiest airports in the world. This is NEWS Plus Special English. China's drug watchdog has ordered a severe crackdown on the illegal sale of cough syrup that contains codeine, a potentially addictive prescription drug. China's Food and Drug Administration and the Public Security Ministry have released a joint statement saying that pharmaceutical companies and drug retailers must be stripped of their licenses if found to have illegally sold cough syrup containing codeine, and they will be banned from future trading. In recent years, some pharmaceutical companies and drug retailers have been found to have sold the products in large quantities. The statement says that as a result, abuse of this substance is worsening, and addiction and death from abuse of codeine had caused severe social impact. The administration has vowed to cooperate with the police in "resolutely putting an end to the abuse issue", and has boosted supervision and control on manufacturing, distribution and purchase of the product. You are listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Yun Feng in Beijing. U.S. space agency NASA says that its Mars Curiosity rover has measured a tenfold spike in methane, a potential sign of life, in the atmosphere around it and detected other organic molecules in a rock-powder sample collected by the robotic laboratory's drill. Researchers say that the temporary increase in methane, sharply up and then back down, shows there must be some relatively localized source; and there are many possible sources, biological or non-biological, such as interaction of water and rock. The researchers used Curiosity's onboard Sample Analysis at Mars laboratory a dozen times in a 20-month period to sniff methane in the atmosphere. Curiosity also detected different Martian organic chemicals in powder drilled from a rock dubbed Cumberland, the first definitive detection of organics in surface materials of Mars. NASA said these Martian organics could either have formed on Mars or been delivered to Mars by meteorites. The researchers say that Curiosity's new findings are not enough to reveal if Mars has ever harbored living microbes, but the findings do shed light on a chemically active modern Mars and on favorable conditions for life on ancient Mars.

完整文稿请关注周日微信，或登录以下网址： http://english.cri.cn/7146/2014/06/09/2582s830617.htm This is NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Yun Feng in Beijing. Here is the news. Air China will offer non-stop flights between Beijing and Washington, D.C. four times a week from June 10 this year in the latest move to expand its network in the United States. The flight is scheduled to leave Beijing at 1 p.m. Beijing time and arrive at 2:35 p.m. Washington time on the same day. The return flight is expected to depart at 4:35 p.m. and arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport at 6:15 p.m. the next day. Flight numbers for the Beijing-Washington service will be CA 817 and 818. The United States is a popular destination for the increasingly affluent Chinese travelers. China is expected to be the top tourist source market for the United States in 2018 with the number of Chinese visitors hitting almost 5 million. This is NEWS Plus Special English. China's eastern city of Suzhou has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize for its sound planning principles and good urban management. The nominating committee for the prize praised Suzhou for its achievements in economic prosperity and preservation of celebrated cultural and historic heritage, despite numerous challenges amid the rapid industrialization and urbanization processes in China. Suzhou was selected from among 36 cities. The biennial Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize honors outstanding achievements and contributions to the creation of livable and vibrant urban communities around the world. It seeks to recognize and celebrate efforts in furthering urban solutions and sustainable urban development. The Orange County Water District, which manages a groundwater basin in Orange County, California in the United States, also received the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize at the same ceremony. Orange County is honored for its pioneering work in groundwater management and water reclamation using advanced water reuse technologies. The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize is the highlight of the Singapore International Water Week. It was launched in 2008 to honor outstanding contributions by individuals or organizations towards solving the world's water problems by applying innovative technologies or implementing policies and programs which benefit humanity. You're listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Yun Feng in Beijing. Mobile devices have become part of people's daily life nowadays and many passengers bring their devices aboard the plane; but without in-flight WiFi service, they only can play Angry Birds game during the boring flight period. That will change on the flights of Air China, the country's flag carrier. Air China has signed an agreement with U.S. technology company Honeywell International, and will begin testing the system in the second quarter of next year. The system, GX Aviation, is a high-speed in-flight connectivity service powered by satellite networks to enable ships to stay in touch with the shore or call for help. With this technology, passengers on the airplane can expect a 60 percent faster download speed compared with now. The first GX satellite was launched last December, and two new ones are scheduled for launch by the end of this year. The satellites will span the globe and provide a more stable signal. The service can provide real-time data to the ground maintenance center when the airplane is flying, and display the flight routes to passengers. Currently, there are two different solutions to provide in-flight connectivity services, either through ground bases or satellites. This is NEWS Plus Special English. Samsung Electronics, one of the world's biggest smartphone makers, has unveiled its first smartphone powered by Tizen, an open-source operating system, to rely less on Google's Android. The Samsung Z was on show at the Tizen Developer Conference held last week in San Francisco, the United States. The South Korean tech giant says that the phone is optimized with the Tizen software, which will offer a faster startup time and immediate multi-tasking capabilities. The smartphone comes with a 4.8-inch display and Quad-core processor. It features a distinctive home and application layout for easy access to favorite apps. Samsung has been struggling to develop its own operating system to rely less on the Android, which has been working on supports for other Android-based device makers. The Samsung Z will be available in Russia in the third quarter of this year, and is planned to expand to other markets. This is NEWS Plus Special English. Japan has begun its first 4K ultra high-definition broadcasting trail TV service. The Channel 4K is operated by "NexTV-F", meaning "Next Generation Television and Broadcasting Promotion Forum". The channel will air contents provided by member TV stations, covering live music, travel and sports programs, for roughly six hours a day during the preliminary period. Viewers need a 4K television, tuner and antenna. They also need to send an application to the operator to watch the channel. NexTV-F was set up in Japan in May last year to promote 4K broadcasting. It has over 60 corporate members consisting mainly of TV stations, electronics makers, ad agencies and trading houses. The Japanese government is aiming to begin the commercial service for 4K broadcasting in 2016.

A bowl of Chinese noodles costs 88 yuan, or $14.50, and 10 steamed dumplings, 60 yuan. The high price of food at restaurants inside Taoxian Airport, Shenyang, Liaoning province, has drawn complaints from travelers. One customer says prices at the airport are much higher than at other airports such as Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, and is comparable to some five-star hotels. Airport food is expensive, but should there be a limit? Is it normal that airport food is expensive?

On March 8th, 2014 Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 En route from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport was lost to air traffic controllers 1 hour after take off and was never seen again. Military radar had sporadic hits of its location which showed it dipping altitude do avoid radar and making erratic manoeuvres in the sky. The last known location was west of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, hundreds of Kilometres off course. The plane was never located expect for a possible few bits of scrap, and no survivors were ever found. What led to this mysterious disappearance of a fully loaded commercial airliner? The theories are endless. From pilot suicide, to aliens and everything in between, the theorists discuss the most probable causes of such an incident.