Chinese Americans may bring back gifts to help fight air pollution, soccer players get treated right by FIFA, and pension reform is aimed at ending the 2-track system.
Pension reform
Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Hu Xiaoyi said the central government will reform the double-track pension system, Economic Information reported.
The double-track system refers to the different pension plans for people at government institutes and those in other sectors – the former are included in the state budget, while the latter is paid by social security.
Related:
China aims to extend pension scheme
Used home sales
This week has seen a very different picture of the housing market in Beijing: the contracted volume of new houses increased 97 percent over the past week, while secondhand house sales fell sharply, China News Service reported.
Housing industry insiders are expecting a winter of secondhand houses.
Related:
Frenzy of interest in subsidized homes project
Clean air gifts
When Chinese Americans visit China over Spring Festival next year, they will bring PM 2.5-fighting masks and air purifiers as presents, World Journal, a Chinese newspaper based in North America, reported.
The price of air purifiers in the US is only about 70 percent of China's.
Related:
Air purifier sales offer hope for retailer
Digital repairs
The repair rate for digital cameras sold in China is about 20 percent, according to a survey by China Electronics Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Times reported.
Repairing digital products, including cameras and phones, can be costly, because service outlets often try to sell extra parts.
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Liaoning pollution fine
The Department of Environment Protection of Liaoning province levied 54.2 million yuan ($8.93 million) in fines for air pollution between May 2012 and October 2013, and will use the money on environment management, Beijing News reported.
In May 2012, the department began imposing penalties in its 14 cities if they failed to meet air quality standards.
Related:
8 Liaoning cities fined for excessive smog
Nephew killing
Songjiang District People's Procuratorate in Shanghai approved the arrest of a 22-year-old woman who confessed to the intentional homicide of her nephew, Xinhua reported.
The Shanghai police received a report saying a 4-month-old boy was missing from his home in late November. The body of the boy was found in a washing machine in his own home three days later.
Related:
No charges to be filed in toddler attack
FIFA accommodations
Players from the Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club received good accommodations at FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA provided 50 round-trip plane tickets to each competing team, including 35 business-class tickets, and arranged rooms at luxury hotels. (www.163.com)
Related:
Evergrande makes history in Guangzhou
Funny captions
A post from Xinhua featuring fifteen cartoons with captions about traffic rules attracted attention on Sina Weibo. Written in the tone of traffic police, the captions are humorous, such as, "Do not try the patience of our camera, it will remember your car plate, though not your name."
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