Briefly

XINJIANG

Residents tell of happiness, safety

A seminar introducing various aspects of people's lives and development in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was held by the regional government and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva via video link on Tuesday. Putting people first in development, the regional government said it has put great efforts into improving people's livelihoods in the past few years, adding that residents have been given more and better services in education, healthcare, social insurance and employment. During the webinar, a few residents from areas including Kashgar and Hotan shared details of their daily lives and jobs with guests from home and abroad, expressing their growing senses of fulfillment, happiness and safety.

BEIJING

Authorities protect minors from vaping

Chinese authorities including the Ministry of Public Security and the national market regulator have launched a campaign to crack down on the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and related crimes. Before the end of April, the authorities will take a series of tough measures including clearing out e-cigarette sales outlets and vending machines in the vicinity of schools, closing unlicensed businesses and deleting some harmful online information, the ministry said on Tuesday. Spot checks will be carried out at some key places and destinations frequented by minors, such as amusement parks, the ministry said, adding that publicity efforts will be stepped up to enhance juveniles' awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes and build a social protection network.

GUANGXI

30,000 affected by extreme cold weather

Approximately 30,000 residents of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have been affected by extreme cold weather since Feb 18, the region's emergency management department said on Tuesday. The freezing weather had also damaged more than 196 hectares of crops, with 7 hectares destroyed. Since Feb 18, most of the region has seen rainy days, with part of Guangxi suffering heavy rainstorms. Some mountainous areas in northern Guangxi have reported icy road conditions or sleet. Nine cities and 23 county-level regions in the region have logged direct economic losses caused by the extreme weather totaling more than 25.8 million yuan ($4 million), the department said.

China Daily - Xinhua