Convictions herald a prolonged fight

Eight provincial and ministerial officials were sentenced to terms of up to life in prison for graft on Wednesday, highlighting that China's sweeping fight against corruption is far from over. Among the convicted, four officials were found guilty of accepting bribes worth over 100 million yuan ($14.7 million), including Liu Zhigeng, former vice-governor of Guangdong province and Wang Baoan, former head of the National Bureau of Statistics.

Two girls killed by neighbor, police say

Two girls who went missing on International Children's Day were found dead in the room of a neighbor, police in Dalian of Liaoning province said on Friday.

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HIV students to get a separate gaokao

A school for children infected with HIV in North China has been given permission to hold the national college entrance examination in its classrooms to prevent potential disruption for other students taking the test.

Religious freedom protected in Xinjiang

A white paper released on Thursday said that China has fully implemented a policy of freedom of religious belief in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, protecting normal religious activities and ensuring the public's freedom of religious belief.

US returns Chinese fugitive, a suspected rapist

A fugitive on China's most-wanted list who is suspected of rape was repatriated to China from the United States on Thursday afternoon, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Navy brings supplies, medicine to flood-ravaged Sri Lanka

The Chinese Navy provided supplies and medical workers on Wednesday for relief efforts in Sri Lanka's flood-hit regions as the death toll in the country's worst monsoon disaster since 2003 climbed to 203.

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Women slammed in lecture

A lecture held at a university in Jiangxi province that included what to many seemed like discrimination against women - as well as flouting common sense in science - has remained a topic of heated discussion online over the past two weeks.

China among best in Asia for children

China was ranked as the best developing country for children in Asia, with its children experiencing the safest and happiest childhoods, according to a report released on Thursday, International Children Day.

Shanghai's smoking ban is paying off

Three months after Shanghai introduced its strictest ban ever on indoor smoking, the number of venues in which inspectors have found violations has risen as a result of more vigorous enforcement and tighter regulations, according to a report released by the Shanghai Health Promotion Commission on Wednesday, which was World No Tobacco Day.

New media reach expands further

New media in China is continuing to grow, according to a report released by the All-China Journalists Association on Wednesday.