Researcher is accused of stealing specimens from botanical garden

Nanjing's Sun Yat-Sen Botanical Garden is not a place you would expect to be the scene of theft. But according to a deputy curator of the specimen gallery, a researcher at the garden last week took parts of 12 precious plant specimens.

Court streamlines reduced sentences, paroles

China's information-sharing platform for handling parole applications and sentence commutations was launched on Thursday, with the aim of improving judicial transparency and reducing trivial matters in legal systems.

Plans in works for a 'naturally' beautiful Xiongan

The central government has set up a special fund of 500 million yuan ($76 million) for an ongoing "face lift" project aimed at making ecological improvements in the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province before construction begins.

Chengdu-Xi'an train link promotes travel, tourism

The trial run of a bullet train from Chengdu, Sichuan province, to Xi'an in neighboring Shaanxi province took about four hours on Wednesday morning, cutting travel time between the cities by about six hours.

Pyongyang flights suspended due to lack of demand

Air China, the nation's flagship carrier, has suspended flights between Beijing and Pyongyang due to a decline in market demand, a company spokesman said on Wednesday.

'Lake chiefs' to keep eye on environment

"Lake chiefs" will be appointed in China to keep an eye on water pollution, based on the successful introduction of "river chiefs" last year. The first meeting of the Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform of the 19th CPC Central Committee, held on Monday, approved the measure, among others.

Foxconn says it has corrected internship overtime issues

Foxconn Technology Group, Apple's main supplier in Asia, released a statement on Tuesday in response to a Financial Times report that said the company had been illegally employing students, working them overtime to help assemble the iPhone X.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Bridge cost overrun 'acceptable'

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said on Tuesday that the main section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is expected to exceed its budget by 10 billion yuan - but that's "acceptable" according to a legislator who represents the engineering sector.

Police recover Buddha heads

Police in Suining, Sichuan province, captured nine suspects and recovered seven Buddha heads that were stolen from a temple over the summer, according to information released on Wednesday.

100k reward offered for shooter's capture

Police in Guangdong province are offering a reward of 100,000 yuan ($15,000) for the capture of the suspect in a mass shooting on Tuesday nightin Raoping county.

School ordered to return parents' 'donations' for weekend classes

A middle school in Sichuan province has been ordered to return money that it had asked parents to donate for after-class services.