Floods along river

    China’s flood control authorities are warning of possible big floods this summer as weather and other factors closely resemble* those of 1998, when floods killed at least 3,000 people nationwide.

    Because of the strong El Nino phenomenon* — an oscillating* band of warm surface water in the ocean — there is a possibility that floods will hit the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, according to Liu Ning, vice minister of water resources, at a meeting on Thursday in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The Yangtze is China’s longest river and the world’s third-longest. Massive floods ravaged* the river’s areas in 1998, claiming thousands of lives. El Nino was blamed.

    Promotion hurdle

    A recent policy change by top authorities means that people seeking higher ranks in technical and professional fields will no longer need to pass an English language test as part of the promotion process.

    The new policy, issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, aimed at breaking down barriers in evaluating and promoting talented professionals. The change was announced before the latest annual English test was held on Saturday.

    Disney-mad boy

    A 7-year-old boy in Shanghai is using his own lucky money to take a dozen classmates to visit the newly constructed Shanghai Disneyland.

    The boy’s father, surnamed Zheng, said he didn’t realize his son was making such an offer until a ticket verification* message was sent to his mobile phone. The boy bought 20 tickets for his classmates and his parents. Zheng said he and his wife are usually very busy with work and had little time to travel with their son.

    Innovation encouraged

    China’s State Council on March 23 announced a string of new policies to encourage innovation as the country seeks to foster new engines for growth.

    China will set up three new “national innovation demonstration zones” in the provinces of Henan, Shandong and Liaoning, bringing the number of such areas to 14, according to a statement issued after a State Council meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.(SD-Agencies)