Around the nation: Foshan’s air quality worst in Guangdong during final quarter of last year
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 25 January, 2015, 10:10pm
UPDATED : Sunday, 25 January, 2015, 10:10pm
Smoke billows from the chimney of a factory in Foshan, which recorded Guangdong province's worst air quality in last year's final quarter. Photo: SCMP Pictures
GUANGDONG
Foshan: first in smog
Foshan recorded the worst air quality in the province in the final quarter of last year, the Yangcheng Evening News reports. Shanwei, in the east of the province, had the least smog, according to Guangdong’s environmental protection bureau.
Killed over grudge
A man from Shaoguan, who nursed a grudge for 20 years after a neighbour accused him of stealing, has been arrested for her murder, Guangzhou Daily reports. The woman had accused the man of stealing her television in the early 1990s, the report said. He is accused of going to her home one morning earlier this month, hitting her with an electric baton and then slashing her on the head and back with a cleaver.
BEIJING
Tycoon sues blogger
The founder of the e-commerce company JD.com, Liu Qiandong, is planning to sue a blogger for allegedly damaging his reputation, the Beijing Times reports. Liu said the blogger, a lecturer at Tianjin University of Commerce, claimed he had used the break-up of his relationship with his girlfriend as publicity to promote his company. Liu said this had hurt his and his firm’s reputation and he wanted an apology and 5 million yuan (HK$6.3 million) in damages.
Soccer test option
Children in the capital will be able to choose a soccer test as one of the examinations to get into high school, Xinhua reports. Other sports including volleyball were previously included among the tests children had to pass to enter school. The move is part of plans to improve soccer education and training in the capital. Football training centres will also be built and more foreign coaches employed in the city.
CHONGQING
Tree thefts for love
A man has been jailed for eight months for stealing 50 trees to show his love for his girlfriend, the Chongqing Morning Post reports. The woman was obsessed with the romantic film Under the Hawthorn Tree directed by Zhang Yimou so the man decided to steal trees of a similar species from three gardening firms. The girlfriend said she had no idea they were stolen until the police came to take them away.
Thailand tops poll
Official figures have confirmed that Thailand was the favourite overseas destination for travellers from the municipality last year, the news website Cqnews.net reports. Data from the local tourism bureau showed the more than 1.2 million people from Chongqing went abroad last year and nearly 40 per cent went to Thailand. Xinhua reported in November that nearly 40 flights a week left for the Southeast Asian nation from the municipality. Visitors enjoyed Thailand’s warm climate and low costs. Numbers visiting Hong Kong and Taiwan largely stayed unchanged. Travellers visiting Japan tripled in number compared with the previous year.
HENAN
Mother ‘sold her baby’
A mother has been charged with conspiring with a doctor to sell her baby for 42,000 yuan, Xinhua reported. The mother-in-law of the woman initially notified the police in Henan that she suspected the boy had been sold. The woman had previously told the family that the baby died soon after birth. A couple paid for the child and 7,000 yuan went to the obstetrician who helped find the buyers.
Heavy snow on the way
The province is expecting heavy snow tomorrow, which is likely to bring disruption to the roads, the news website Dehe.cn reports. Temperatures could fall to as low as minus 12 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas in the west.
JIANGSU
‘Pants building’ delay
The Gate of the Orient skyscraper in Suzhou is unlikely to be completed by the end of this month, the fourth time a deadline for completion has been missed, Xinhua reports. Construction began in 2004. The 300 metre tall building is nicknamed the “pants building” because it looks like a giant pair of trousers. The developer has had repeated financial problems. The report did not say what the revised deadline was for completion.
More surveillance on lines
A network of 4,600 surveillance cameras has been set up on five subway lines in Nanjing, the Modern Express reports. Police said the surveillance system would help ensure safety during the forthcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Travellers have been warned to keep an eye out for thieves around the festive period.
SHAANXI
Panda dies of distemper
A third panda has died of the viral disease canine distemper at a wild animal breeding and protection centre in Xian, the news website Chinanews.com reports. Another panda is in a critical condition with the illness. Experts said the disease, which affects dogs and other animals, was often fatal in pandas.
Fake medicines scam
Three people have been arrested in Xian for allegedly masterminding a fake medicine and health products scam, Huashang Daily reports. Police found more than 200,000 packs of fake medicines, eye drops and diet tea in a house in a suburb of the city. One batch of fake diet tea was destined for sale in South Africa.
SICHUAN
Gold robber caught
A man was arrested in Leshan after he allegedly robbed a jewellers shop and took gold jewellery worth over 600,000 yuan, the Chengdu Economic Daily reports. Police said the suspect, 33, was released from prison in September and broke into the store brandishing what appeared to be a replica gun. The robbery lasted only two minutes. Police recovered most of the jewellery, including 124 gold necklaces, 47 bracelets and three pendants.
Fiery test of exam focus
Pupils at a middle school in Cangxi county near Guangyuan stayed in their classroom and completed their examinations on Friday morning after more than 100 teachers rushed to help put out a fire in a five-storey canteen, the news website Scol.com.cn reports. Firefighters were called to put out the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.
ZHEJIANG
Housewife drug takers
Police in Wenzhou raided a karaoke club and arrested 20 people, mainly middle-aged housewives, for drug offences, the news website 66wz.com reports. Police found powder and liquids suspected to be the drugs ketamine and GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy. The suspects, including 16 women aged 38 to 54, told police they were bored with housework and wanted to try something different. They met regularly for a drugs party under the guise of going to a sports meeting. Police are still tracing the source of the drugs. The karaoke club has been ordered to close down.
Business incentive scheme
Hangzhou has rolled out a series of financial initiatives to encourage more people to start their own business, Xinhua reports. Entrepreneurs from overseas could receive as much as 5 million yuan to open new business in the city, with up to 20 million yuan in financial support. Housing allowances ranging from 600,000 yuan to 1 million yuan are also on offer. The city has also set up a 100 million yuan fund for university graduate entrepreneurs.
