Country establishes national festival celebrating contributions of farmers

China will host more than 100 activities nationwide to celebrate the first Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Thursday.

Doctor suspended for overpriced insoles

One of the top hospitals in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, suspended the head of its elderly rehabilitation department on Wednesday for his role in the sale of overpriced and ineffective corrective insoles used inside patients' shoes.

Details released on driver who rammed crowd; 11 dead, 44 hospitalized

A 54-year-old man detained for driving an SUV into a crowd in Hengdong county, Hunan province, on Wednesday night and then attacking people with a shovel and dagger, has a criminal record and has been jailed several times for drug dealing, public brawling and intentional injury, local police said on Thursday.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Officials liable for wetlands violation

Sixty-two officials in Hunan province have been held accountable for a businessman's illegal enclosure of a key wetland preserve for business purposes, the province's top discipline watchdog said on Wednesday.

Internet brings English classes to rural schools in Guangxi

At the beginning of this month, third-graders at Minzu Shiyan Primary School had their first English class. But their teacher, Lai Lusi, was not standing in the classroom.

Poplar trees get new status under BRI

China has launched cross-border partnerships with several international nongovernmental and civic organizations to create three "green economic belts" in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Global vision drives iris-recognition technology

Eyes are the windows of the soul. They're also a record of a person's identity, and China is embracing biometric technology to take advantage of the unique properties of the iris.

Licensing of businesses eased again

China will decouple business licenses and operating permits - both required for starting a business - as part of a nationwide policy rollout starting in November.

Foreign companies welcome, FM says

Beijing reiterated on Wednesday that it welcomes foreign companies, including those from the United States, to invest and operate in China, and is willing to share development opportunities with them to achieve mutual benefits.

Taiwan applicants rush for mainland resident card

More than 22,000 Taiwan residents had applied for mainland residence permits 10 days after applications opened on Sept 1, An Fengshan, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Former lottery head probed for violations; ex-inspector guilty in another case

Wang Suying, former head of the China Welfare Lottery Distribution and Management Center of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, was placed under investigation for severe disciplinary violations, according to an announcement on Wednesday.