【新闻英语】2014 Mar 24

CHINA DIALY National search platform launched National search platform ChinaSo, with the English domain name chinaso.com, is now active. ChinaSo has been designed as a communication platform to help strengthening China's transmission capabilities. China's search engine market continues to heat up, with the number of Internet users in China now over 600 million. GLOBALTIMES More fiber optic connections China's minister of industry and information technology says authorities are planning to put fiber optic connections into 30 million more homes nationwide this year. The move will bring the total number fibre-optically connected homes to nearly 200 million by the end of this year. A mobile 4G network is also part of the plan, with 30 million new TD-LTE users and 300-thousand new base stations expected this year. SHANGHAI DAILY Shanghai first with balanced education New analysis is suggesting Shanghai has became the first Chinese city to pass an evaluation for the balanced development of compulsory education. A team organized by the Ministry of Education has visited 204 local schools as part of the study. The results show all 17 districts and a county in Shanghai are meeting the national standards for balanced education at primary and middle school levels. BEIJING NEWS Authorities mull gaokao reform An education official is suggesting authorities are planning to unveil a new reform plan for the national college entrance exams, the gaokao. As part of the plan, authorities are considering two separate tests for technical and academic students. WEST CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY Multi-tier gas pricing China's pricing watchdog is planning to launch a multi-tier pricing mechanism for household natural gas before the end of next year. The new program will include three tiers. The benchmark tier will cover around 80 percent of households. Consumption beyond the benchmark will be charged at a rate of between 20 and 50-percent in the other two tiers. GUANGZHOU DAILY Unified property registration Authorities here in China are planning to launch a unified national property registration system this year to regulate the real estate market and push forward urbanization. The new registration system will also cover registation when it comes to agricultural lands. BEIJING MORNING POST Jobs affect people's sleep A Sleep Quality Index survey published by the Chinese Medical Doctors Association is suggesting those with stable jobs are more likely to get a good night's rest. The sleep quality of teachers and civil servants rank the first and second. The report also contends the people with the worst sleep patterns work in advertising, public relations and the media.