Around China

Guangxi

10 die, 10 hurt in minibus plunge

Ten people, including five children, were killed and 10 others injured when a minibus fell into a mountain valley on Friday in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The nine-seater vehicle was traveling from the regional capital Nanning to Dahua county, a county government spokesman said.

Shandong

Research ship back from mission

The Dayang Yihao ("Ocean No 1") research vessel ended its 26th global exploration and returned to its home port in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao on Friday, completing a 245-day research journey that covered more than 38,036 nautical miles. According to the ship's chief scientist Tao Chunhui, a wide range of surveys on the deep-sea environment, biodiversity, and polymetallic sulphides were conducted in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, and Nigerian waters during the mission.

Guangdong

Two pupils killed in restroom collapse

Two children were killed and two others injured when an outdoor restroom collapsed at a primary school in Silun township in Luoding, Guangdong province, on Friday. The accident happened around 8:10 am at the primary school in the city's Silun township. Local authorities are looking into the case, and the city has ordered safety inspections for its middle and primary schools.

Beijing

Carrier features on gold, silver coins

The People's Bank of China on Friday issued a set of gold and silver commemorative coins featuring China's first aircraft carrier. The set, consisting of two gold and two silver coins, are legal tender in China, according to the PBOC.The Liaoning was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army Navy on Sept 25. A plane successfully landed on the carrier in November.

First rare-earth export quotas set

The Ministry of Commerce has announced the first round of rare-earth export quotas for 2013. The first batch of quotas totals 15,501 metric tons, about half the quota set for 2012. Of the total, 13,563 tons are allocated for light rare earths, while 1,938 tons are for medium and heavy rare-earth metals. Twenty-four companies will share the quota.

Public security minister appointed

China's top legislature on Friday appointed Guo Shengkun as minister of public security, replacing Meng Jianzhu. Guo, 58, was previously Party chief of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Guo holds a doctoral degree in management and has long experience in the nonferrous metals sector.

Cold winter linked to sea ice loss

China's unusually cold winter this year may be the result of the record loss of Arctic sea ice in the summer, Chen Yu, senior engineer with the National Climate Center, said on Friday. Figures from the United States show Arctic sea ice shrank to a record low on Sept 16.

CNOOC oilfields start production

China National Offshore Oil Co Ltd on Friday said two of its oilfields in the South China Sea have started production. CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil and gas producer, said both fields are in the Pearl River estuary basin.

Air quality datato be released

Starting next year, the residents of some Chinese cities will be better informed about air quality, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Friday. A network of 496 monitoring stations will start releasing reports about air quality in 74 Chinese cities on Jan 1.

Shanghai

Residents satisfied with government

Shanghai residents have given their government 82.2 out of 100 for its performance in 2012, according to a study released by the city. The score was arrived at through online public evaluations, comments from representatives of the Shanghai People's Congress and Shanghai People's Political Consultative Conference, and a survey by the city's statistical bureau.

Jilin

Siberian tiger eats sheepdogs

A Siberian tiger has eaten two sheepdogs this month in Hunchun in Jilin province, forestry police said on Friday. A resident called police on Wednesday to report that his sheepdog had been eaten by a wild animal. Based on footprints and other clues, police concluded a Siberian tiger is the culprit. They believe the tiger also killed a sheepdog on Dec 15.

Liaoning

Heating resumes for some residents

Heating was being restored for some residents of Liaoyang in Liaoning province on Friday. Homes in the city were left with freezing temperatures when a boiler failed at a power plant on Tuesday afternoon. However, heating was not being restored immediately to all 70,000 households, Hongyang Thermal Power said, due to the city's size.

Sichuan

Landslide injures 2 near dam

A landslide on Friday near the Three Gorges Dam left two people with minor injuries. It happened at about 10 am and damaged the Zhaojun Bridge. One car was damaged, and traffic was disrupted. The cause of the landslide is under investigation.

China Daily - Xinhua

(China Daily 12/29/2012 page2)