Briefly

TAIWAN

Building fire leaves six dead, six injured

Six people were killed and another six injured after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Taichung, Taiwan, on Sunday, the city's fire department said. Firefighters received the emergency call at around 4:29 pm on Sunday, with more than 30 fire engines and ambulances and several dozen firefighters mobilized to put out the blaze. The fire was contained about two hours later. An investigation has been launched.

BEIJING

Hundreds nabbed for illegal surveillance

Chinese police have apprehended more than 860 suspects involved in illegal surveillance and recording activities since November, the Ministry of Public Security said. Police have cracked more than 160 related criminal cases, seized 11,000 pieces of bugging or surveillance equipment, and busted 15 illegal workshops that manufactured such devices, the ministry said, adding that 30,000 hacked webcams had also been discovered.

Protecting minors key to procuratorate work

Procuratorates nationwide filed 6,633 public interest litigation cases to protect minors last year, 4.2 times more than in 2020, effectively promoting the resolution of prominent issues involving minors, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Monday. Na Yanfang, head of the SPP's ninth procuratorial office, said that problems like food and drug safety issues related to minors, illegal admission of minors to hotels, internet cafes and bars, and even businesses selling tobacco and alcohol to minors, have affected the efficiency of juvenile protection. Procuratorates have capitalized on public interest litigation and the amended Law on the Protection of Minors, Na said.

China Daily - Xinhua