Broadcasting Time: 07:00-08:00, GMT+08:00, 2010-04-17
Hello and Welcome to News and Reports on China Radio International.
In This Edition:
Rescuers continue to search for survivors three days after an earthquake leveled homes in northwestern China, killing over a thousand people.
The world's leading emerging countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China, say they will push for a swift reform of international financial institutions to give developing countries a greater voice.
A United Nations report says Pakistan has failed to properly protect its former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and "severely hampered" a UN inquiry into her assassination .
China's property market undergoes a new round of tough government regulation amid unaffordable housing prices and fears of an asset bubble.
Hot Issue Reports
Death Toll Rises to 791 in NW China Quake
Rescuers continue to search for survivors three days after an earthquake leveled homes in northwestern China, killing over one thousand people.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake, which struck Yushu county in Qinghai province early Wednesday, has left more than 11,000 people injured, including some 12 hundred serious cases. More than 400 people remain missing.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited the quake zone to oversee the rescue work. He pledged not to give up while there is still hope of finding survivors.
"Just as I said, our priority is saving lives. As long as there is the slightest hope, we will make efforts that are 100-fold and never give up, especially within the 72 hours after the quake."
The premier visited survivors and local residents who were made homeless by the quake. He assured them that the government will pull out all the stops to help them.
"Now is the critical period for saving lives. We must unite to rescue people."
At a meeting with local officials, the Premier demanded they act fast in treating the injured and transport the seriously injured to better hospitals in neighboring cities as soon as possible. According to the Health Ministry, more than 1,000 critically injured survivors have been transferred out of the quake zone.
The Red Cross Society of China said that it had allocated more than 410,000 U.S. dollars of relief funds and goods to the quake –hit region.
Red Cross Regional Disaster Management Delegate Gu Qinghui said more attention will be given to take care of the injured.
"For the moment, I mean, the priority is still getting to the search and rescue for the people still under the rubble, but, moving on from this in the next 48 hours we'll really be focused on how to support those people injured, and how to get them proper medical treatment."
Around 7,500 rescuers working in Jiegu Town, the worst-hit region, have saved about 6,900 people. Another 2,500 rescuers are on their way.
BRICs to Push for Reform of International Financial Institutions
The world's leading emerging countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China, say they would push for a swift reform of international financial institutions to give developing countries a greater voice.
CRI's Xiao Yi reports.
Reporter: The leaders of the so-called BRIC countries met in their second summit in Brasilia, reiterating their call for the G20 group to play a central role in global financial decision-making. They expect the quota reform of the International Monetary Fund to be concluded by the G20 Summit in November this year.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told a news conference after the summit that the BRIC nations have an essential role in restoring the new global international order.
"Brazil, Russia, India and China have a fundamental role to play in the construction of the new international order which is more fair, representative and secure."
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev also spoke highly of BRIC's role.
"Russia has benefited from the development and cooperation that comes from our participation in the BRIC group. It has been crucial in order to get over the international economic crisis and reform the world's financial institutions."
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh explained that the BRIC grouping was not born out of a crisis but an act of long-term faith in the four economies as the group is becoming increasingly influential.
"The global economic and financial crisis has permitted a new relevance for the BRIC. Sustaining global economic recovery and making it inclusive would be the major challenges before us in the near future."
Chinese President Hu Jintao, who decided to end his visit to South America early to oversee the relief effort following the strong quake in northwest China, said the summit had been productive.
"Our four countries are going to increase exchanges and cooperation in fields like trade, finance, technology and culture. We are also increasing communication and coordination on important regional and international issues. We will further expand practical cooperation to bring real benefits to our countries and their people."
The four countries also signed an agreement which will deepen cooperation among the four member countries' development banks, that would allow them to increase investment in various infrastructure projects and strengthen ties.
The leaders agreed to hold the next BRIC summit in China next year.
UN investigators blame bad security for Bhutto death
A United Nations report says Pakistan has failed to properly protect its former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and "severely hampered" a UN inquiry into her assassination .
Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack after an election rally in late December 2007, weeks after she returned to Pakistan from eight years in self-imposed exile.
The investigation was done by a three-member commission chaired by Chile's UN Ambassador Heraldo Munoz.
Munoz said that Bhutto's death could have been prevented if the government under then-President Pervez Musharraf, the Punjab state government, and the Rawal-pindi District Police had taken adequate security measures.
He urged the Pakistani government to conduct a thorough review of intelligence agencies "based on international best practices" and reform of the police.
"It remains the responsibility of the Pakistani authorities to do what has yet to be done, in the case of the assassination of Ms. Benazir Bhutto, that is to carry out a serious and credible criminal investigation that determines who conceived, planned, financed and executed this hideous crime and bring those responsible to justice.
The commission did not make a judgment on whether the failure to provide adequate security was deliberate.
Eruption of Icelandic Volcano Casts Shadow on Businesses
Some businesses across Europe have been severely affected by the eruption of an Icelandic volcano that has halted air traffic across the continent.
A flight ban was imposed because of concerns about pilot visibility and jet engine failure from the volcanic ash.
The impact has been immediate on the floral industry which relies on flowers being flown in from abroad.
Steve Holgate runs a flower wholesale business in Manchester, England. He says he is still trying to calculate the effect on his business.
"We have had problems already with some roses that we'd normally get from Africa. They again would come to us over the weekend, and they're not coming, and we don't know when they're coming yet."
One of Holgate's customers, florist Fiona Stirling, is also worried about her business. She says she hopes the flights will soon resume in time for the busy wedding season.
"Well, it is a worry if we can't get carnations into the country by flight. You know, we'd certainly miss these as a good sale. They're very popular, the spray carnations from Israel, roses from Kenya. A lot of florists would worry with all the weddings that are pre-booked for this season."
Flight delays and cancellations will continue as the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption is expected to move south and east
Light News
Q&A China's stock-index futures debut
China's much-anticipated stock-index futures market was launched on Friday.
According to the securities regulator and the China Financial Futures Exchange, the futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell the CSI 300 Index at a preset value on an agreed date.
Earlier, CRI's Larry Chen spoke to Dow Jones Newswires Shanghai Bureau Chief Shen Hong, about how stock-index futures trading will influence China's investment market.
Experts Call for Market-Oriented Measures to Make Homes Affordable
China's property market is undergoing a new round of tough government regulation amid unaffordable housing prices and fears of an asset bubble.
Some economists predict that the government's measures will keep property speculation in check and satisfy low-income residents' housing needs.
But others argue that the government should take more market-oriented policies to assist disadvantaged citizens rather than merely interfering in the property market.
Xu Weiyi reports.
Reporter:
The State Council, China's Cabinet, has decided to raise the minimum down payment for second-home purchases to 50 percent.
It's also set a 30 percent minimum down payment for purchases of first homes that are larger than 90 square meters.
Yao Jingyuan, chief economist with the National Bureau of Statistics, says the measures are aimed at curbing property speculation.
"Property speculation is one of the driving forces behind the surge in housing prices. With the new measures, speculative home buyers will have to pay higher costs when investing in the housing market. So, housing prices may go down to some extent as property speculation will be on the decline."
Meanwhile, the State Council has strengthened its efforts to help low-income house buyers.
It's urged local governments to increase land supply for the construction of government-controlled houses to 70 percent of the total land approved for property development.
But, Dong Fan, a researcher from Beijing Normal University, does not favor the measure.
"If we build government-controlled houses on a massive scale, we cannot prevent corruption among some officials and property developers during the process of construction and delivery of the houses. Thus, the needy group of home applicants still cannot obtain a house."
The Ministry of Land and Resources has announced that the government will build three million non-commercial flats for low-income residents.
Dong Fan points out that the government should also explore other effective ways to meet residents' housing needs.
"The government-controlled houses are a good way to solve the housing problem. But we should not build so many. I think the government should take more market-oriented policies and avoid harming the natural operation of the property market. For example, the government can directly subsidize low-income home buyers and tenants to satisfy their housing needs."
The National Bureau of Statistics has reported that the average housing prices in 70 major Chinese cities rose nearly 12 percent in March from a year earlier.
Among them, two cities in southern Hainan Province recorded the fastest growth rates, both exceeding 50 percent.
Such soaring prices have deprived many residents of access to a decent house.
For CRI, this is Xu Weiyi
Q&A with Paul Ryding on Formula One Racein Shanghai 2'06
As Shanghai prepares for the Formula 1 race this weekend, all eyes are on the Red Bull Racing team that won the previous race in Malaysia. However, it would be a mistake to count the other teams out as two practice sessons got underway.
Earlier, CRI's Larry Chen spoke with Paul Ryding who is in Shanghai covering the match.
That was CRI Paul Ryding who is in Shanghai for the race. For more indepth coverage, log on to our website at crienglish.com for our special coverage.
India's Queer Film Festival Is On the Horizon
In other news....
India's movie capital Mumbai is getting ready to host the International Queer Film Festival during which it will showcase more than 100 gay, lesbian, and transsexual-themed films from 25 countries.
The organizers say "queer" is an umbrella term that includes people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.
Adeem Ahir is a representative of transgender community and film festival jury member.
"We look forward to this film festival, and this is basically an initiative to mainstream issues about transgender and also put them in very nice manner so that people really understand the meaning of being a transgender."
The festival is called "Kashish," which means "attraction or allurement."
Festival director Sridhar Rangayan hopes that more people will attend the festival.
"You know it's the film festival for everybody. We want everybody to come and see and understand what being queer means."
The four-day event will begin on April 22. It will bring together filmmakers, writers, academics, activists and movie stars to celebrate diversity in human sexuality.
Media Digest/Stock/Weather
China Daily reports that commercial cinema has all but forced Chinese art films out of movie theaters and they are in urgent need of support, if they are to survive.
Wang Quan'an, whose drama "Apart Together" won best screenplay at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, said despite an investment of no more than 2 million yuan for his films, making money in the domestic art film market is almost impossible, given the lack of media promotion and screening venues.
Some estimates of box office earnings for art films shown in cinemas in the past few years put the figure at no more than 3 million yuan.
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National Geographic's Magazine reports that astronomers have found dozens of new planets within our solar system; with half a dozen have "wrong way" orbits.
Each of the six extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, orbits in the opposite direction as its star's rotation. Such backward motion is unlike anything seen in our solar system. What's more, the discovery of these odd exoplanets challenges a leading theory for the formation of planets, which in turn means that fewer Earthlike planets may exist in the universe.
In general, it's believed that all planets form out of disks of dust and gas that swirl around some young stars. The theory goes that these disks should rotate in the same directions as the stars inside. Planets that coalesce out of the disks should therefore share the same orbital direction.
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