News 2006-11-22
2006-11-22 13:36:21 CRIENGLISH.com


Bank Chief Urges China to Deal with Pension Crisis

Zhou Xiaochuan, the head of China's central bank, urged the country to urgently address the nation's looming pension and health care crises while the government still has the financial resources to tackle the issues.

The People's Bank of China governor called for the introduction of a mix of private health and pension insurance schemes and cash support for the poor as part of an overhaul of the welfare system.

Poll: 80% of Japanese Oppose Change of Non-Nuclear Policy

About 80 percent of Japanese citizens opposed a change of the country's non-nuclear policy amid calls for debate on whether Japan should go nuclear, according to a poll released by Japan's Yomiuri newspaper.

The face-to-face interview on Nov. 11-12 showed that 79.9 percent of 1,757 interviewees favored preserving the current non-nuclear principles, which states that Japan would not produce, possess or allow the entry of nuclear weapons into its territory.

China to Build Harmonious Campus for Students

The Chinese government will tighten safety provisions in elementary and secondary schools after six children were trampled to death at a school in east China.

Local education departments should conduct thorough inspections of corridors and stairways and check school buildings, canteens, dormitories and bathrooms.

Fines to be Slapped on Noise Polluters

Construction companies will be fined up to 200,000 yuan, seven times as much as previous penalties, if they violate a new noise management regulation approved by the Beijing municipal government.

Under the regulation, loud construction work should not occur between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. or during middle school or college entrance examination days except for emergencies.

Ten Yuan to Watch homegrown Movies

The "Chinese Movie Supermarket" will air 26 homegrown movies for the bargain price of just 10 yuan each at 25 cinemas in Beijing over the next two weeks.