Hainan to phase out single-use plastic bags by 2020

China's island province of Hainan will phase out single-use nonbiodegradable plastic products starting next year, becoming one of the first Chinese regions to set a timeline for such a ban.

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New center to improve lives of veterans

The National Veterans Service Center was set up in Beijing on Tuesday, marking the latest step by the central government to improve the welfare of military retirees.

Refined stubble could be coal substitute, team finds

Members of a Chinese research team said they have invented a new technology that could transform largely useless farm stubble and straw into fuel that's just as efficient and environmentally friendly as natural gas but at a much lower cost.

Diplomats from 8 countries visit Xinjiang

URUMQI - Senior diplomats from the permanent missions of eight countries to the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland, visited the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region from Feb 16 to 19 at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ancient texts preserved in Tibet's Potala Palace

China plans to spend 300 million yuan ($45 million) over the next 10 years to preserve ancient documents and anthologies at the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, the palace's administration office said on Tuesday.

Private firms get postponed payments

Over the past three months, governments at all levels and large State-owned enterprises have paid private enterprises more than 160 billion yuan ($24 billion) in postponed payments, with migrant workers the first to receive delayed wages, high-ranking officials said on Monday.

County suspends shale gas extraction after quakes

Rongxian county in Sichuan province announced the suspension of shale gas extraction on Monday.

Multiple violations set stage for 22 deaths at mine

Multiple violations are believed to have led to the deaths of 22 people at a mine in Xiliin Gol League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Saturday morning.

Seals rescued from poachers to be sent back to wild

Local authorities in Dalian, Liaoning province, said on Monday that a group of spotted seal cubs rescued from poachers will soon be released into the wild.

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Tibet works to guard its jewels of nature

The Tibet autonomous region has been making great efforts to protect its natural environment and has vowed to maintain the region as one of Earth's purest landscapes.