 Short Takes
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-24 07:31 Beijing Ban on hawkers Hawkers and night food stalls will be banned around Olympic venues during the Games, an official said yesterday. There will also be a crackdown on the illegal use of motorcycles and rickshaws, and the posting or spraying of advertisements, Dong Qijun of the city's urban management bureau said. The city's airports, Tian'anmen Square, major commercial areas and tourist attractions will also be monitored, he said. Trading in pins begins The first trading in Olympic pins was held yesterday sponsored by Olympic partner Coca-Cola. At the Olympic pin trading center, Wangfujing Gongmei Mansion, fans traded pins with each other. Olympic pins have been traded for more than a century and have become a special way of celebrating the Olympics and preserving memories. Urumqi Tighter airport security Chinese authorities have beefed up security checks at all airports in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Explosives detectors have been installed to foil possible terror attacks before and during the Games. A total of 42 explosives trace detectors, or ETDs, have been installed at all entrances to terminal buildings of the 13 airports in the region, Zhong Conglin, an official at Xinjiang Airport Group Co Ltd, said. Shenyang Security rewards Police in the Olympic Games co-host city of Shenyang are offering rewards of up to 500,000 yuan ($73,500) for information about security threats. People who provide valid information or assist police in important cases could be rewarded with between 100 yuan and 500,000 yuan, according to a circular issued by the public security bureau. Wellington Blue skies, fresh air New Zealand Olympic team chef de mission Dave Currie has played down the impact of Beijing's pollution, less than three weeks before the start of the Games. Currie has been in the Chinese capital for a few days setting up New Zealand's Olympic base in the village. He said the air has been fresh and there does not seem to be a problem, New Zealand's Newstalk ZB radio reported. Since arriving, he has enjoyed blue skies, fresh air and sunsets, he said. China Daily - Xinhua (China Daily 07/24/2008 page6) |
