Around China

Now that's a giant panda One thousand stuffed pandas are displayed at the Shanghai World Financial Center on Friday. Organizers of the exhibit said the stuffed animals were made with different materials, such as rattan, to promote Chinese traditional handicraft. By Lai Xinlin / for China Daily

Shaanxi

County official accused of raping subordinate

A county urban management official in Shaanxi province was detained after allegedly raping his female subordinate, Huashang Daily reported on Friday. The former director of Luochuan county urban management bureau, surnamed Dang, reportedly raped the woman in his car on Monday night, and he was arrested the next morning. Dang was dismissed from his position on Tuesday. The case is under further investigation.

Beijing

Man opens rail station with his own house key

A man was arrested for opening a gate at Beijing South Railway station with his own key and letting passengers enter the station illegally, Beijing Times reported on Friday. The man, surnamed Tang, apparently discovered in July that one of the entry locks at the station was similar to his home's and that he could open it. Three women paid Tang 150 yuan ($24) to let them in on Aug 1, bypassing the security check. The move was caught on the station's surveillance cameras, and Tang was arrested.

Man charged with taking millions in guise of charity

A man cheated 280 people out of more than 46 million yuan ($7.5 million) under the guise of charity, Beijing News reported on Friday. Li Changbin reportedly lured the people with high interest as bait and collected the money from them to invest in a so-called charity project from March 2011 to March 2012. Li stood trial on Thursday in the city's No 2 intermediate court and denied cheating anyone. The trial will continue.

Housemaid confesses to stealing jewelry

A woman who worked as housemaid in Beijing was detained on suspicion of stealing gold jewelry valued at more than 10,000 yuan ($1,624) from her employer's home, Beijing Times reported on Friday. The 44-year-old woman, surnamed Zhao, from Hubei province, was hired in May by an elderly man surnamed Zhang to look after his sick wife. Zhang reported his gold jewelry missing on July 22. Police say Zhao has confessed to taking it.

Fujian

Faulty poison foils man's plan to kill self, wife

A man in Zhao'an county was arrested because he wanted his wife to commit suicide with him, Xiamen Daily reported on Friday. The 47-year-old man, surnamed Xu, was ill and wanted to die. Thinking his wife might marry another man after his death, he decided to make her join him in his suicide plan. On June 2, he forced her to eat some rat poison and then ate the rest. The rat poison was apparently bogus, as the couple did not die. Xu's wife told police what happened, and they caught him after he fled on July 21. The case is being investigated.

New frigate Quanzhou has been commissioned

A new type of frigate has entered into the service of the People's Liberation Army navy. A commissioning ceremony for the Quanzhou was held at a military port in Xiamen on Friday. Independently designed and produced by China, the frigate features stealth, electromagnetic compatibility and other advanced technologies. Among its assignments will be maritime patrol, surveillance, escort and anti-submarine tasks.

Sichuan

Falling knife stabs passer-by in the head

A man in Guangyuan was injured when a knife fell from a building onto his head, Southwestern Metropolis Daily reported on Friday. The 57-year-old, surnamed Xiao, went to buy vegetables on Thursday morning when he was injured. Police said the knife was being used for planting flowers. Xiao was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Hunan

Police officer catches suspect after long run

A policeman chased a drug-taking suspect for 4 kilometers, voc.com.cn reported on Friday. When Dai Tao, a policeman in Linli county, Hunan province, was checking a hotel on Tuesday, the suspect tried to flee. Dai finally caught him, and the suspect confessed but said he thought Dai couldn't catch him as he used to be long-distance runner. He didn't know that Dai also was once a champion runner.

Officials really sacked during TV broadcast

A TV show broadcast in Hunan province was suspected of being a publicity stunt, but the station said it was real, Beijing News reported on Friday. During the show on Tuesday about the government of Hengyang, Hunan province, the mayor fired two local officials. Some experts have questioned whether the dismissals complied with organizational procedures.

Chongqing

Suicidal man defies odds in plunge off bridge

A man in Chongqing tried to kill himself by jumping off a 50-foot-high bridge, but he survived and left the hospital after two days, treatment, Chongqing Evening News reported on Friday. The man jumped into the river early on July 1 but was quickly rescued by firefighters. Doctors were surprised that he was alive, as he jumped from such a height, and they were even more surprised when he left the hospital in good condition after two days.

Zhejiang

Expectant mothers steal clothes from 11 stores

Six pregnant women in Hangzhou were arrested after they stole designer clothing worth more than 100,000 yuan ($16,236), Qianjiang Evening News reported on Friday. With pregnancy as their cover, the women stole garments from 11 shops within three hours on Aug 2. Police caught them, and they are now under residential surveillance and will be imprisoned after their lactation period is ended.

China Daily-Xinhua