China earthquake toll could reach 50,000

The rescue efforts in China are still continuing, and the latest reports suggest that the death toll might now reach 50,000.

The BBC have lots of updated reports, and also an interactive map showing the areas affected by the earthquake:

China Earthquake

You will, I imagine, have heard about the earthquake in China. Large areas were devastated by the 7.8 earthquake, which was felt over 900 miles away from the epicentre, and the death toll currently stands at 12,000. Rescue efforts are ongoing - hindered by heavy rainfall, and it is thought that there are a further 18,000 people trapped in one town.

The BBC have a Special Report which has lots of up-to-date information, video footage, etc..

China ban plastic bags!!

The Chinese government announced yesterday that it would be banning shopkeepers from handing out plastic bags from June this year, and stopping the production of ultra-thin plastic bags, in an attempt to cut down on pollution and resource use.

More from the BBC website here

Flooding in China

Thanks to Lauren for pointing out this news story about the floods and landslides that have killed more than 60 people, forced 600,000 people out of their homes, and caused an estimated £284 million worth of damage.

Wifeless future for Chinese men...

Yet another article from the BBC today (thanks Rob) about the problems China is facing as a result of the One Child Policy...

By the time these children - in a school where, according to the headteacher, one class has 39 boys and only 8 girls - are thinking about settling down, there may be 30 million men of marriageable age who will not be able to find a wife...


Click on the picture for the full story from the BBC. What do you think are the possible solutions? Is there anything China can do?

Fancy some sheep's feet for tea? Or perhaps fresh turtle hotpot?

...then get yourself off to Tesco! In Beijing!

Just days after fears about Tesco taking over Britain and putting local shops out of business, Tesco opened their first Chinese store this morning.

Click on the picture for the story from the BBC, or here to visit the new Beijing store!

A good healthy start to the day??

Not for children in the Shanxi Province of China - whose job it is to clean the soot and dirt away from the school gate before lessons start each morning...

The village of Gezhuotou, in China's "coal belt", is surrounded by coal-fired power stations - and everything and everyone in the village is "grubby", according to a news report from the BBC today. China has some of the worst air pollution in the world, and it is estimated that each year in China, 400,000 people die prematurely - from pollution-related diseases.

But, it's the middle of winter... More than a billion people to keep warm... What are the alternatives??

Click on the picture for the full story...

Chinese men struggle to find wives...

According to China's State Population and Family Planning Commission, there will be 30 million more men of marriageable age than women in China by 2020, which could lead to "social instability".

This is one of a range of problems in China, blamed on the One Child Policy which was introduced by the Chinese government in 1980 to reduce the rapidly increasing population.


Click on the picture for the story from the BBC, where there is also an excellent "In Depth" guide looking at lots of other China stories...