IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Graft watchdog removes 2 officials

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on Sunday it had removed two former officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Party for serious disciplinary violations. Bao Xuequan, former director of the ministry's Welfare Lottery Center, and Wang Yunge, its former deputy director, were found to have violated discipline, such as receiving cash gifts or shopping cards, having improper sexual relationships and using their positions for personal profit, the CCDI said. It had been announced in February that the two had been placed under investigation.

Early rice yield lower this year