Beijing bites

Worker killed in lift fall

One worker died and his colleague was injured during a simplified lift incident at a construction site on Sunday, the Beijing News reported.

The two men were working on the 6th floor of the building, when the lift they were taking malfunctioned and plummeted to the ground. One man was injured after jumping off and landing on the fifth floor. The other man was killed. Their workmate said the lift often malfunctioned and the protection net was removed several days ago. The worksite manager said they would pay the injured man's medical costs.

Demanding "girlfriend" caught

A man who swindled 8,000 yuan ($1,200) from his friend after pretending to be his girlfriend was found guilty of fraud by the Fengtai court, the Beijing Times reported yesterday. He was sentenced to six years in prison with one year of probation and a fine of 5,000 yuan.

The 18-year-old man, surnamed Wang, is a student from a vocational high school. He claimed to have introduced a girl to his friend, surnamed Zhao, in mid-May. He then pretended to be that girl, using short messages to have a fake relationship with Zhao. Before being caught in early of June, Wang used all kinds of excuses to ask money from his friend.

Sign injures three people

Three passers-by, including two females, were injured when a restaurant sign fell down in strong winds on Wangfujing street on Sunday, the Beijing News reported yesterday. One of the female victims, a tourist from Shandong province, hurt her left leg. She said the sign was about 2 m long with iron on its corners.

The restaurant manager said they apologized for the incident and assisted in treatment for the victims.

How to survive in China

A conference, which aims to help make expat life and work easier, will be held on Saturday in Beijing. The conference entitled "Bridging the Cultural Divide: The Key to Success in China" will have speakers including Wee Theng Tan, former president of Intel China and is organized by China Transition Institute.

Animal collector charged

A man, who illegally purchased more than 400 butterfly dry bodies at low prices, appeared in Xicheng district court yesterday.

In 2007, the defendant, surnamed Xia, illegally acquired rare butterfly species - national first-level protected wild animal products - after paying 18,000 yuan. In early 2008, Xia illegally acquired five golden turtles - national second-level protected wild animals products - for 3,340 yuan. In March 2008, Xia illegally acquired 13 rare butterflies, and worth 43,420 yuan.

National Day parade assault

A 31-year-old man, who disrupted the National Day parade rehearsal and assaulted a police officer, was charged with preventing public officers from performing duties at the Chaoyang district court on Sunday.

The Beijing Evening News reported that the man rode a bicycle into a sealed-off security zone along Jingtong expressway on Aug 26. When he was stopped by a police officer he punched the 41-year-old officer in the face causing minor injury.

Arrest over best-selling book

Two men were arrested by Daxing police for illegally printing and selling more than 7,000 copies of Zhu Rongji Answered Journalists' Questions, a Q&A book between the former premier and journalists, the Beijing News reported yesterday.

A man, surnamed Jiang, and the owner of Shunfang Press, surnamed Kang, started their illegally printing operation of the best selling book from Nov 2008 published more than 7,000 more copies. A local resident reported them to the police. On Sept 11, Beijing police cracked down the illegal printing house, and confiscated 3,000 unfinished copies and as many as 5,190 copies of other books.

Fake interviewee arrested

A man who allegedly blackmailed the owners of several auto repair shops was arrested by Chaoyang police, the Beijing Times reported yesterday.

The man, surnamed Dong, has had job interviews at auto repair shops frequently since 2008. He is accused of often stayed longer after finishing interviews, and trying to steal the keys of those cars that were under repair. He then allegedly blackmailed the owners of the auto repair shops with the stolen keys, asking for amounts between 500 and 2,000 yuan. Before being detained by Chaoyang police on Sept 29, he successfully blackmailed more than 10 shop owners and asked for at total of 10,000 yuan, police said.

"Hotel" built on public toilet

A builder is defying a local government ban and is continuing is plan to build a makeshift "hostel" on the top of a public toilet in Haidian district, Qianlong.com reported yesterday.

After he finishes the 10m long, 5 m wide apartment in Jimenli Community he then plans to rent it out. The walls are made of plastic foam and metal plates.

The construction team leader, surnamed Liu, guaranteed that people could stay in the makeshift. A neighbor reported the project to Haidian government urban administrators once it started one month ago and the authorities told the man to stop. But construction is still underway.

Hiker falls off cliff

A Canadian Chinese hiker is recovering in hospital after falling off a mountain cliff in Miyun county on Saturday.

The man was climbing a mountain with a group of friends and because of exhaustion his legs were paralyzed and he stumbled off the path. Miyun firefighters and medical workers rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call and took to hospital where he was in a stable condition, the Beijing Evening News reported yesterday.

Subway TV

Subways passengers will be able to watch the TV programs produced by the Beijing Subway and make phone calls on all eight lines early next year, the Beijing Morning reported on Sunday. Gao Zong, deputy director of Beijing subway operator, introduced the new TV programs on the Beijing Subway Development and Management Summit.

The new TV shows will feature short, less dialogues but more information, to satisfy the audiences. Based on current TV system on all lines, the subway company can broadcast eight different programs for each line at the same time.

(China Daily 10/20/2009 page26)