Culture and Life News People's Daily Online, All rights reserved! http://english.people.com.cn en-us Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:05:05 +0800 144 58 http://english.people.com.cn http://english.people.com.cn/images/en/top_logo_e.gif http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Russia has launched a campaign to promote the national language after almost two decades of retreat - to match the country's increasing economic and political confidence. 2007-7-3 10:09:04 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Thousands of smokers defied the introduction of the smoking ban across England on Sunday by lighting up in pubs, claiming that the legislation was an infringement of civil liberties. 2007-7-3 10:08:48 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html One billion people will die of tobacco-related diseases this century unless governments in rich and poor countries alike get serious about preventing smoking, top World Health Organization (WHO) experts said yesterday. 2007-7-3 10:08:42 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Following last summer's successful "swimathon", this South China city is planning to hold another mass swimming event across the Pearl River in the very near future. 2007-7-3 10:04:38 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Most addicts in the city use synthetic drugs and start before they are 30 years old, according to a survey. 2007-7-3 10:04:14 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html The country's largest inland lake, Qinghai Kokonor, will stop "shrinking" and start reverting to its former level within a decade, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said yesterday. 2007-7-3 10:02:15 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Beijing has become the first city in China to meet the required safety standards of potable water. 2007-7-3 10:02:01 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Leading experts and officials are studying the feasibility of a strategic environmental impact assessment system (SEIA) in China, sources said. 2007-7-3 10:01:34 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html Despite being the world's most prolific producer of television dramas, about 40 percent of the 12,000 episodes Chinese firms produce each year never see the light of day. 2007-7-3 10:01:07 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html A growing number of Beijing residents are opening up their homes to four-legged tenants - during the first six months this year, about 50,000 households registered dogs for the first time. 2007-7-3 10:00:24 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=1246576928&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_1246576928.html http://english.people.com.cn/200707/03/eng20070703_389638.html Lightning storms normally occur in summer; but recently, the lightning storm in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province really scared people. According to incomplete statistics from Zhejiang's meteorological department, since June 21st, the lightning strikes were centralized in Zhejiang. On June 21st, for one day only, lightning struck the ground up to 20,000 times in the entire province and more than 6,000 times in the Hangzhou area alone. Seven lightning casualties occurred in one week within the province, as the lightning killed ten people and injured twelve. Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:59:10 +0800 http://english.people.com.cn/other/book/guestbook.php?book_id=389638&link=/200707/03/eng20070703_389638.html