Nail households fight on Internet

A game called "Nail Households Battle Demolition Team" has become extremely popular on the Internet since it was launched yesterday, dayoo.com reported. It's been called a Chinese version of "Plants vs. Zombies," as the game features fierce combat between nail-house residents and the demolition team that possesses strong Chinese characteristics.

China's C-section rate 2nd in world

A report by World Health Organization found that China's cesarean section delivery rate reached 46 percent from October 2007 to May 2008, behind only Mexico, which had a 50 percent rate, the Yangcheng Evening News reported. The rate is even higher in large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, which had rates of 60 percent to 80 percent. Twenty percent of women who have C-sections were able to have vaginal births.

Most C-sections occur in August. Parents want their children to be born before Aug. 31, the cutoff date for primary school admission. Children born on Sept. 1 or after will have to wait a full year before entering school. Other parents prefer their babies being born on lucky days, such as a day with two eights in it. Another possible reason is that C-sections cost roughly twice as much as vaginal births, so some hospitals encourage women to choose the surgery.

11 hit by dengue fever in Guangdong

11 cases of dengue fever, an acute infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes, have been confirmed in the city of Dongguan in Guangdong Province, according to the local health bureau, the Guangzhou Daily reported. The first case was confirmed on Sept.10th. Six of those infected have been cured and the remaining five are in hospital in a stable condition. The city has launched an all-out effort to eliminate mosquitoes starting today and lasting until Nov. 27.

Hungry population falls, still large

The number of undernourished people in the world decreased this year for the first time in 15 years, but the level remains higher than before the 2008 food crisis, and the volatile state of prices gives cause for unease, the New York Times reported. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's report, the number of hungry people fell to 925 million from the record high of 1.02 billion in 2009, with much of the improvement tied to income growth in the Asia-Pacific region and to a drop in food prices. The report also stressed the world is far from achieving the U.N. promoted Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of undernourished people from 20 percent in 1990-92 to 10 percent in 2015.

Shanghai is the sexist city

A serial survey on Chinese cities issued by Horizon Research Consultancy Group showed Shanghai is the sexist city in China, Chongqing Evening News reported. Respondents said that modernization makes Shanghai sexy, and the World Expo adds more sex appeal. Hong Kong ranked second for its numerous celebrities and internationalization. Chongqing came in third for its beautiful women, stunning scenery and tasty food, while Beijing finished fourth, mainly for its profound history.

Fish kill hits Mississippi River

Massive numbers of dead fish, which include several different species, as well as crabs, shrimp, freshwater eel and a dolphin, were floating atop the Mississippi River, just north of the Gulf of Mexico, a spot that's been affected by the BP oil spill, AOL reported.

Massive numbers of dead fish, which include several different species, as well as crabs, shrimp, freshwater eel and a dolphin, were floating atop the Mississippi River, just north of the Gulf of Mexico, a spot that's been affected by the BP oil spill, AOL reported. It reported that fish kills can be caused by hypoxia, or low levels of oxygen in water, and the northern Gulf of Mexico is known as the largest so-called "dead zone" in the United States. But those fish kills usually only involve one species, and are usually not these sizes. Local authorities have investigated the cause of the fish kill.

Could glasses soon be history?

BBC reports that scientists based in London have identified a gene that causes myopia and are confident that drugs could be developed to halt the distorted growth of the eye that brings about the condition. In about 10 years, myopia could be cured through eye drops, says Dr. Chris Hammond, who led the research at King's College London.

Chinese oil firms eye Brazil resources

Sinopec and CNOOC may offer at least US$7 billion for Brazilian oil assets and a less-than 30 percent stake in OGX Petroleo and Gas Participacoes SA of Rio de Janeiro, Bloomberg reported. Chinese direct investment in Brazil increased to US$367 million in the first half of 2010 from US$73 million in the same period last year, according to the Brazilian central bank.

Car-painting market rising

The domestic car-painting market is growing, according to the report by dzwww.com. A paint job can cost between 5,000 - 50,000 yuan. And the pattern will be drawn by the artist in accordance with the requirements of the car owners. It also said that the monthly salary of a qualified car-painting artist is above 10,000 yuan.

Lennon tribute concert to be held in NY

A benefit concert will be held to mark the 70th anniversary of John Lennon's birth on Nov. 12 at New York's Beacon Theater, Reuters reported. Among the musicians slated to pay tribute to Lennon are Jackson Browne, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, Aimee Mann and Shelby Lynne. The concert is one of several events and parties being held in New York and around the world to honor what would have been Lennon's 70th birthday on Oct. 9. Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, is expected to mark the anniversary day in Iceland. She will help release Lennon's eight reissued solo albums, plus new collections called the John Lennon Signature Box on Oct. 5.

Here is the news: I quit!

Norwegian radio hostess Pia Beate Pedersen of the public broadcast station NRK had an on-air meltdown and dramatically told startled listeners that she had quit her job and scolded her employers, the Daily Mail reported. Pedersen announced to the listeners that she was 'quitting and walking away' because she 'wanted to be able to eat properly again and be able to breathe.' Her comments were part of a two-minute diatribe, in which she accused her NRK employers of putting too much pressure on staff. 'Nothing important has happened anyway,' she snapped before walking out of the studio.

(China.org.cn September 15, 2010)