IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Layoffs 'won't hurt' population boost

Worker layoffs as part of efforts to cut China's overcapacity will not affect people's hope for more children, a spokesman for the top political advisory body said on March 2. Wang Guoqing, spokesman for the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the job losses are temporary and the relaxation of the one-child policy was "a carefully made decision". China will work to ensure that its population grows in an orderly way, he said.

Young sexual abuse victims 'easier' targets

Chinese media nationwide reported 340 sexual abuse cases involving children under 14 last year, according a research released on March 2 by the the China Foundation of Culture and Arts for Children's Girls' Protection program. Up to 70 percent of the victims were aged 7 and 14, with the youngest only 6 months old, the research said. It found that more than 40 percent of children were uncertain about what parts of their bodies should be considered "private".

Work to start on floating nuclear power plant

China will start construction of a floating nuclear power station this year. The facility, designed to provide power for offshore oil and gas drilling, island development and remote areas, will be put into operation in 2019, according to Sun Qin, chairman of National Nuclear Corp.

Plea for help for hearing-impaired kids

China has 137,000 hearing-impaired children aged under 6 and they are in dire need of state support, according to Long Mo, deputy director of the China Rehabilitation Research Center for Deaf Children. Nearly 30,000 hearing-impaired babies are born each year, he said. Currently, the country has fewer than 10,000 audiologists, far behind the 53,000 needed to tackle hearing-impairment problems.

Panda sex experts go to Taiwan

Three panda experts from the Chinese mainland have been invited to Taiwan to help a mating pair of giant pandas conceive their second cub. Taipei Zoo residents, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, which were given as a goodwill gift to Taiwan in 2008, are around 11 years old. They had their first cub, Yuan Zai, in July 2013. The zoo has been attempting to help the pair conceive since last year, according to the China Conservation and Research Center for the GiantPanda.

Mobile HIV testing labs to hit streets in capital

Mobile HIV-testing vehicles will hit the streets of Beijing to provide free tests, with a particular focus on young gay men. The first five minivans were launched at an art exhibition on March 1 held by the UNAIDS China office and the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention Center to mark Global Zero Discrimination Day.

Capital reaps big harvest with tech startups

Beijing has the world's second-largest share of the most valuable tech startups, showcasing its advance in the sector. The number of unicorn companies - tech startups valued at more than $1 billion - has reached 40, second only to Silicon Valley in the United States, according to Great Wall Enterprise Institute.

Beijing center helps woo foreign talent

A support center for foreigners who start businesses or work in the Zhongguancun National Demonstration Zone was opened in Beijing on March 2. The center offers help with visas and residential permits, and is part of efforts to attract more overseas talent and investment to the technology zone.

Shanghai teachers win high marks

Experts have rated Shanghai's junior high school teachers among the world's most qualified, citing their diversified approaches, rounded training and rewarding career paths. The assessment came after local teachers' overall performance in nearly 40 indicators far exceeded the international average standard in a survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

35,000 punished for poverty graft

China punished 35,240 people for corruption in poverty relief in rural areas from 2013 to November 2015, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Feb 29. The number represents 22.3 percent of the work-related corruption that prosecutors dealt with during that period. Poverty relief corruption includes embezzlement by village officials due to lack of transparency or supervision.

Central govt finishes vehicle reform

A reform of the use of central government vehicles has been completed, the National Development and Reform Commission said on March 1. A total of 3,868 official cars across 140 departments were taken out of service last year, accounting for 62 percent of all government vehicles.

Major smuggling case cracked in Shenzhen

Shenzhen has cracked a smuggling case involving electronic products with an estimated value of 4.3 billion yuan ($655 million; 604 million euros), Shenzhen customs said on March 1. The customs agents and their counterparts in Guangdong province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region raided an operation in which suspects allegedly purchased cellphone motherboards, integrated circuits and camera lenses in Hong Kong, then mailed or shipped the items to Vietnam and eventually smuggled them over the Guangxi border.

Marathons get up and running

The number of marathons hosted in China more than doubled last year on 2014, the Chinese Athletics Association said. Four municipalities and 79 cities held marathons, 34 more than in 2014.

(China Daily European Weekly 03/04/2016 page2)