IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Free gas safety upgrades for Sichuan's poor families

Chengdu Gas Co in Sichuan province has put about 4 million yuan ($634,921) into a charity program to replace the old gas hoses for low-income families in the city.

A spokesman for the company said starting on Nov 5 the program will give approximately 30,000 low-income families a door-to-door free service that will upgrade their gas hoses to minimize safety problems in winter.