National security law adopted China’s top legislature* on July 1 adopted a new national security law highlighting cyber security and demanding the setup of a coordinated* and efficient crisis management system. The new law, which will enter into force once signed by President Xi Jinping, covers a wide spectrum* of topics including defense, finance, science and technology, culture and religion. Airbus A330 deal inked China has signed a deal with France to purchase 45 Airbus A330 passenger planes, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced on June 30 at a joint press conference with visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. “China is today the most important market for aviation* in the world; we can be confident that air transport in China will continue to undergo* rapid growth,” Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier said in a statement. Pilot shuts off wrong engine A pilot, described by colleagues as nervous, mistakenly throttled down* a still-running engine following a glitch* with the other engine in an airline crash that killed 43 people in Taiwan in February. A preliminary investigation after the February 4 crash of TransAsia flight GE235 already had indicated that the pilot shut off the remaining engine after one of them went idle*. Both the pilot and co-pilot died. Rescue underway Rescue and relief work continues following the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China, on July 3. So far, there are three confirmed deaths and 71 injured. The Xinjiang government has earmarked 20 million yuan (US$3.2 million) in disaster relief money. Those affected by the quake have received 1,500 tents, 2,000 quilts and 2,000 coats. The quake shook Pishan County, Hotan Prefecture, at 9:07 a.m. The epicenter* was recorded at 37.6 degrees north and 78.2 degrees east at a depth of 10 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.(SD-Agencies) |