Tidbits

Cleaner fireworks light up sky

Fireworks set off on Monday night near the Olympic Stadium in Beijing were free from heavy metals and contained less sulfur. As a result, the smoke produced was much lighter than that from normal fireworks, and the amount of smoke was reduced by 30 percent, according to Zhao Jiayu from the Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing Times reported. Zhao said the new standard for fireworks is expected to be applied all over Beijing in three years to reduce air pollution.

Putin gift made in China